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Rice Lake Speedway fans and friends welcomes new ownership group
By Ed Reichert
RICE LAKE, WI – On February 16 pens were put to paper, the final documents were signed, and the historic Rice Lake Speedway was officially sold. When the track opens for the 2024 racing season, it will be under the new ownership of Rice Lake Speedway LLC, comprised of Kolby Kiehl from Barron, Dean Kiehl from Cameron, and Dick Kalow from Rice Lake.
The Kiehl's have a locally based racing team and Kolby, 32, has raced for 13 years in the Pure Stock, Street Stock and Super Stock classes at tracks throughout WISSOTA. Kalow, meanwhile, is the owner of Mastercraft Industries in Rice Lake.
The group plans to continue Saturday night racing at the speedway on a weekly basis and they are already working on a number of improvement projects at the track.
“I was introduced to the sport of dirt track racing by the Kiehl family and when I visited the track, I was struck by the broad appeal that the racing had to many different groups of people, and I learned what a rich heritage that racing had in the Rice Lake community and throughout Barron County,” said Kalow. “When the track became available recently, I didn't hesitate to join with the Kiehls to get involved more deeply.”
With the unseasonably warm weather and lack of snow, the new ownership group has already been working at the track to assess upcoming projects needing to be completed so they can begin the season.
A rough list of things already in the planning and development stage for the track will include a revamping of the concession stand, all new planks for grandstand seating, 300 feet of new concrete retaining wall on the front chute, a new wheel fence, a new tech building, moving the scales, a new sound system and new track lighting, a new pit grandstand, and making the facility fully digital for payment systems.
New equipment has already been purchased for track prep, and former co-owner Mitch Hansen has agreed to stay on to assist with it. A number of new employees have been hired for key positions.
The Rice Lake Speedway Speed Pit Kart track was also a part of the sale, and Jake Alton and Travis Busch were hired to run the program there.
“We are working on a number of projects but our first order of business is to make a visit to the track as pleasant as possible for the fans, whether they are veterans of the track or first-time visitors,” said Kalow.
A number of new promotional ideas are in the works for 2024 and the future. Expect the track to present more special events and doubleheader weekend shows, and events that feature a wide variety of race cars. Plans are being made to make the 30th annual Street Stock Little Dream race the best ever, along with new events like the season-ending event, The Dairyland Dash.
Rice Lake Speedway LLC will continue to present five classes of WISSOTA racing on Saturday nights while also bringing in special events for Late Models, Sprint Cars and other various attractions.
More updates on the speedway and a race schedule for the 2024 season will be announced soon.
The former owners, Adams-Hansen Inc., hosted their final racing banquet on March 23 at the Rice Lake Elks Club. The annual car show at Rice Lake's Cedar Mall will be held this weekend on March 28-30 and the new owners of the speedway will be available at both events to meet the fans and drivers and provide more information on the upcoming racing season.
Anyone wishing to contact the new ownership group should e-mail them at ricelakespeedway@gmail.com. The track will soon have a new phone number that will also reach the new owners.