2019 Season Championship Awards Presented For Chateau Speedway

December 7, 2019

The 63rd Anniversary Season of Racing at Chateau Speedway in Lansing was officially wrapped up on Saturday Night with the Awards Banquet held at Lansing Corners Supper Club. The annual awarding of Trophy’s saw the top five drivers in each of the six full time classes (Y Waste WISSOTA Hornets, Power 96 WISSOTA Pure Stocks, Adams Graphix WISSOTA Street Stocks, WISSOTA Midwest Modified, Action Builders USRA B Mod, and French’s Repair USRA A Mod) picking up hardware as well as the top three in the one part time class (KEVKO Outlaw Mini Mods). The Track took the opportunity to make it a “Toys for Tots” collection night and those in attendance did a great job of bringing something to contribute to the charitable effort.

Final numbers for the season were pretty impressive with 352 drivers and cars competing over the course of the 19 shows that were run at Chateau. Of those over one-third of them, 126 drivers, took home at least one win on the season be it a Heat, Consy or Feature. Adding together all the events that were run, Heats, Consys, and Features there were 382 races run.

Even more impressive was the fact that of the nine classes that ran either on a weekly basis or during specials seven track records were set. Leading the way was USRA A Mod Driver Jason Cummins of New Richland who reset the record for that class. He also ran the fastest lap of the season, a 15.309 tour of the track which comes out to an average speed of 78.384 MPH. Blake Anderson of Elk Mound Wisconsin broke the record for the Traditional Sprints during their Special in August with a 15.501 lap (77.414 mph). During the IMCA Stock Car Special in May Dean Cornelius of New Prague reset the record for that class at Chateau with a 17.535 (68.434 mph) lap. Records also fell in the Pure Stock Class where Brady Krohnberg of Walters shaved a few hundredths off their mark, Kory Adams of Stacyville Iowa lowered the record for the Street Stocks, Seth Scholl of Holmen Wisconsin reset the record in the Hornet Division, and Nathan Kilwine of Glenville reset the mark for the Outlaw Mini Mods. The only two classes that ran at all during the season that did not lower their record times were the Midwest Mods and the B Mods. Kylie Kath of Claremont had the fastest lap of the season in the Midwest Mods but was about two tenths slower than the 2014 record set by Cory Crapser of Chippewa Falls Wisconsin. Kadden Kath of Owatonna had the fastest lap of the year in the B Mods but was still 2 ½ tenths slower than the mark set by Troy Hovey of Decorah Iowa in 2016. The overall Track Record still belongs to Late Model Driver Jason Utter of Columbus Junction Iowa in 2012. Jason laid down a 14.936 second lap which comes out to an average speed of 80.342 MPH, the only driver to ever go under 15 seconds on the 3/8 mile oval. The rest of the top 5 fastest speeds at the track belong to four other Late Model Drivers from that night, Chad Simpson of Mount Vernon Iowa (15.075), Jason Rauen of Farley Iowa (15.105), Chris Simpson of Oxford Iowa (15.114) and Brad Waits of Rochester, than from Zumbrota (15.188).

The 2019 list of Champions included Five First Time Champions in the Seven Divisions including one first year driver. And Among the 33 drivers honored on the night were 12 former Track Champions accounting for 32 Past Titles. So at the end of the night there were 17 Champions with 40 Titles among them among those honored on the night.

The first awards for the night were handed out to the Outlaw Mini Mods. The class, which ran a part time schedule at Chateau Speedway, had trophy’s handed out to the top three. Leading the way with his first Track Championship was Michael Bryant of Mason City Iowa. The second year driver had a pair of feature wins on the season as he improved on his fourth place finish from his rookie campaign last year. Another second year driver, Logan Brown of Clear Lake Iowa with three feature wins moved up from a seventh place finish in his first season last year to take second this season. Rounding out the top three honored was rookie driver Bobby Ruhlow of Mason City Iowa who had one feature win in his rookie campaign.

The Point Champion for the year in the Hornet Division was Justin Schelitzche of Cologne whose stellar season featured five Feature wins. It was Justin’s first Championship at the Track in his first year of racing. TJ Barnett of Owatonna finished second in points. The second year driver was twelfth in his rookie campaign last year. Dan Knish of Kilkenny with three Feature wins finished third in points. Nick Sillman of Minnesota Lake took home the fourth place hardware. Sillman has been top five in each of his five seasons at Lansing. Second year driver TJ Pearson of Burnsville rounded out the top five drivers for 2019 in the Hornets.

Another First Time Track Champion was crowned in the Pure Stock Class with the top award going to Troy Maas of Faribault. Troy, who finished third in points the last two years, had a pair of feature wins on his season ending resume. Rookie driver Kyndra Nies of Chatfield who picked up her first career checkered flag with a heat during the season finished second in points. Michael Wick of Faribault improved on his fifth place finish last year to finish third this season. The second year driver had two feature wins on the season. Another second year driver, Josh Sousa finished fourth in points after finishing twelfth in his rookie season last year. Rounding out the top five was Brady Krohnberg of Walters. Krohnberg, in his eleventh year of racing at the track, actually lead the class with seven feature wins but not being there every night kept him from finishing any higher on the podium,

Zach Elward of Hayfield was yet another First Time Track Champion as he took top honors for the Street Stocks. Zach led all drivers in all classes with nine feature wins as he streaked to the title. Kory Adams of Stacyville Iowa, a Three Time Track Champion, finished second in points. Kory, who had won the Championship the last two years and three of the last four, has now finished first or second in the class for seven straight seasons at Chateau. Jason Newkirk of Austin, a three time Track Champion in the Pure Stock Class, finished third in points for the Street Stockers. Bernie Adams of Stacyville Iowa finished fourth in points running his streak to six straight seasons finishing in the top five for the class. A three time Track Champion in the Pure Stock Class and who was the two time defending Track Champion in that division, Jesse Stahl of Austin picked up one feature win on the year on his way to finishing fifth in the points for the Street Stocks.

Ryan Goergen of Stacyville Iowa picked up his fourth Track Championship and second in the Midwest Modified Division. Ryan was also Track Champion in the class in 2016 as well as a two time Champion in the IMCA Stock Cars when Chateau Ran that division. Those titles came in 2011 and 2012. Ryan notched three feature wins on the season. Michael Wytaske of Hartland finished runner up in points, moving up from a fourth place finish last year. Michael had one feature win on the year. Third place hardware went to Jeremy Misgen of Ellendale; it’s the seventh top five finish, sixth in the Midwest Mod Class, for the fifteen year veteran. A four time Track Champion in the Pure Stock and USRA B Mod Classes, Kylie Kath of Claremont finished fourth in the Midwest Mod class this season. Kylie had four feature wins on the year. Cole Kroneman of Austin finished fifth in his second year in the class bettering his seventh place finish from last season.

Yet another First Time Chateau Speedway Track Champion was crowned in the USRA B Mod Class as ninth year driver Noah Grinstead of Austin finally found his way to the top of the podium. Grinstead, basically a rookie in the class, was in his first full season in the class after running just four nights in the division last year. Noah had one feature win on the year. A Three Time Track Champion in the class, and the two time defending Champion, Kadden Kath of Owatonna picked up the second place Trophy this year. The eight year driver, Kath had six feature wins and has finished in the top five in points every year. His first season was in the Midwest Mods before moving into the B Mod Division. A two time Track Champion in the Pure Stock Class, Matt Brooks of Austin finished third in points for the third straight year in the B Mod’s. Matt had one feature win during the season. Alex Schubbe of North Mankato, who has never run more than a few shows a season at Lansing, ran a full schedule for the first time and finished fourth in points. Kobie Kath of Owatonna, running a full time schedule for the first time since 2014, finished fifth in points in his third season of racing at The Track. He had run just two nights last season and did not run between 2015 and 2017.

In USRA A Mods Brandon Davis of Hayfield won his fourth Chateau Speedway Track Championship. It was Davis’s third in the class. He had Titles in the A Mod’s in 2012 and 2013 and Midwest Mod in 2010. Brandon scored six feature wins in his Championship run. Davis also took the Fan Voted “Favorite Driver” Award as well. Jason Cummins of New Richland, a Four Time Track Champion in the A Mod’s finished runner-up after grabbing four Feature wins during the year. Twenty-five year veteran and Two Time Track Champion Darwyn Karau of Kasson finished third this year after taking the title last season. Jacob Stark of Austin, a former Track Champion in the Junior Hornets back in 2009 grabbed his first top five finish in the A Mods since moving into the division in 2017. Greg Jensen of Albert Lea rounded out the top five. Jensen has finished in the top five in nine of his sixteen seasons running in either the Midwest Mod or A Mod Classes at Lansing.

Along with all the Thank You’s and awards a few announcements’ were made concerning the 2020 Season. The biggest announcement was actually made a few weeks back, that being the return of the WISSOTA Super Stock Class to The Track next year. The class has had its struggle with car counts but with the fans asking for their return and Brauer Roofing stepping up as a sponsor for the class it was decided to give them another chance. With drivers expressing their intent to run next year hopes are high. The class last ran full time in 2009 at Chateau. To make room the decision was made to cut the Outlaw Mini Mods part time schedule.

The Season Opener will once again be the first weekend of May which will make it May 1st. A test and tune session will be scheduled for the Wednesday before (April 29th). Also highlighting the schedule again this year will be the “Spirit of 83 Memorial” which will feature the 22nd Mike Guttormson Memorial A Mod Feature. The Memorial Day Weekend Event will be on Sunday Night May 24th with a 6:00 start time. The Track announced sponsorship opportunities for 83 individuals or businesses for the Memorial Event. The Track is looking for 83 sponsors at $83 per sponsor to add to that night’s purse and before the night was over the first 20 or so sponsors had already stepped up and put their money down. Anyone interested in signing up to be a sponsor the Spirit of 83 Memorial need just contact The Track.

The popular Kids Car Rides and Bike Giveaway highlight the May schedule as well. The weekend of June 12th will feature a Veterans Salute Night. The night leads into Flag Day which is June 14th. The Track will also present their 2nd Annual Hall of Fame Awards in June. Also highlighting the schedule will be the “Pack the Stands” night on Friday Night August 14th. Admission $5 for everyone on that night in August. Back to School Night and Back Pack Giveaways will be part of the August 28th program. Another Sunday Night show will be on Labor Day weekend. The Labor Day Dash will run on Sunday September 6th at 6:00. Season Championship Night will be on Friday Night September 4th. The Track is also planning on hosting SMP Promotions Season Ending Enduro in September as well as the” 3rd Annual Autumn Extravaganza”. Those dates however have not been set yet. Plans are for the 2020 Awards Banquet to be the first Saturday in December again next year which will be December 5th. Site should once again be the Lansing Corners Supper Club and with the great response to those in attendance this year it will once again be a “Toys for Tots” collection night.

Ticket pricing for regular show for the 64th Anniversary Season will remain unchanged with $10 Adult Grandstand Admission, $5 for Juniors age 6-12, and 5 and under free. Pit pricing will continue to be $25, ages 6-12 $15 and under 5 free. Special pricing will be in effect for Marquee Events (Such as the Spirit of 83, Labor Day Dash and Extravaganza or any other specials added) and will be announced ahead of time. If Mother Nature cooperates there are currently 23 nights being planned for not including the Test and Tune Night or the Enduro.