BIG 8 SERIES READY FOR TRIPS TO WAUSAU, KAUKAUNA

By: Eric Huenefeld

In the span of just four days, the Big 8 Late Model Series points race will go from early season to home stretch, thanks to a couple of big races scheduled just days apart.

This Friday July 28, ‘The Best Weekly Warriors in the Country” make their sixth stop at State Park Speedway in Wausau, Wisconsin as part of the annual Larry Detjens Memorial Race Weekend. Then, on Tuesday August 1, the Big 8’s best run in support of the ARCA Midwest Tour at Wisconsin International Raceway as part of the Dixieland 250.

Both events were candidates for “Race of the Year” in 2016, with Minnesota’s Michael Ostdiek holding off a solid field of contenders en route to his first ever Big 8 Late Model Series win at Wausau. Then just a few days later, it was Bilderback claiming his third win of the 2016 Big 8 slate at Kaukauna in front of a healthy Tuesday night crowd.

The entry list for Wausau boasts a very worthy group of contenders, including both Bilderback and Ostdiek, along with four-time Big 8 Late Model Series champion Jeremy Miller and former Rockford Speedway champion Tim Sargent. Young, talented hard-chargers Brody Willett and Derek Lemke are also entered for Friday night’s show in Wausau, along with a strong Minnesota contingent including Ostdiek and Lemke, Kyle Kirberger, Ryan Kamish, Bryan Wrolstad and Jared Duda. State Park Speedway point leader Adam Peschek looks to hold serve at his Thursday night home track, along with Loves Park Motorsports Rookie of the Year point leader Tyler Brown and Muskego Wisconsins’ Jake Zellmer, who is one week removed from his first feature win of the year at Dells Raceway Park. The Big 8 Series event at Wausau headlines the Opening Night of the two-day “Detjens Fest.”

Many of the same faces are headed to Kaukauna on Tuesday night to participate in the 38 lap ‘Dixieland Delight.’ Both Michael Bilderback and Jeremy Miller are past winners of the event at Wisconsin International Raceway and both look to nab a victory which will be key as the Big 8 Late Model Series championship chase heads into its homestretch starting in September. A typically solid local contingent will defend their home turf this Tuesday night. Other names to watch at Kaukauna include former Big 8 Series Rookie of the Year Jesse Bernhagen (second in Fox River Racing Club LLM points) and Norway Michigan’s Joey Pontbriand. The Big 8 Series race at Kaukauna Tuesday night is the undercard for the ARCA Midwest Tour Dixieland 250, which is set to include over 40 Super Late Models and NASCAR champion Kyle Busch.

For more information on the Big 8 Late Model Series, please visit big8series.com.

Larry Detjens Memorial
Expected Entries
as of 9 am Thursday

OO Brody Willett Alburnett, IA
O3 Cody Kippenhan Ypsilanit, MI
2 Michael Bilderback South Beloit, IL
2 Kyle Kirberger Ramsey, MN
3 Tyler Hromadka Brookfield, WI
5 Jeremy Miller Rockford, IL
13 Bryan Wrolstad Northfield, MN
18 Michael Ostdiek Lakeville, MN
20 Tyler Brown Carol Stream, IL
21 Mike Lloyd Davis, IL
26 Tim Sargent South Beloit, IL
40 Jeremy Lepak Wausau, WI
42 Ryan Kamish Lakeville, MN
49 Jerry Mueller Richfield, WI
53 Jared Duda St Michael, MN
66 Adam Peschek Oconomowoc, WI
71 Derek Lemke Shakopee, MN
79 Jeff Nowak Weston, WI
84 Jake Vanoskey Hartford, WI
99 Jake Zellmer Muskego, WI

**NOTE: Entries for WIR close on Friday. An Entry List for Tuesday Night’s Dixieland Delight should be available by Saturday on the Big 8 Series Facebook page.

EVENT DETAILS:

What: “Larry Detjens Memorial”
Where: State Park Speedway (located at 5711 North Mountain Road, Wausau WI 54401)
When: Friday July 28

Schedule and Information:
3 PM- Pits Open
4 PM- Practice Begins
4:30 PM- Fan Gates Open
6:10 PM- Big 8 Late Model Series Qualifying
7 PM- Racing Begins

Divisions Competing:
Big 8 Late Model Series (complete show highlighted by a 58 lap feature)
Mini Mods
Mini Stocks
Bandoleros

Admission Prices:
Adults (13 & up) $15
Kids (6-12) $8
5 & under are FREE

What: “Dixieland Delight”
Where: Wisconsin International Raceway (located at W1460 County Rd KK, Kaukauna, WI 54130)
When: Tuesday August 1

Schedule and Information:
10 AM- Pits Open
3:05 PM- Practice Begins
4 PM- Fan Gates Open
5 PM- Big 8 Late Model Series Qualifying
7 PM- Racing Begins

Divisions Competing:
Big 8 Late Model Series (38 lap feature)
ARCA Midwest Tour ‘Dixieland 250’

Admission Prices:
Adults: $20

REMAINING 2017 BIG 8 LATE MODEL SERIES SCHEDULE:
Fri July 28- Miller Lite Larry Detjens Memorial Race (State Park Speedway, Wausau WI)
Tues Aug 1- Dixieland Delight (Wisconsin Int’l Raceway, Kaukauna WI)
Sat Sept 23- 9th Annual ‘Thunderstruck 93’ (Elko Speedway, Elko New Market, MN)
Sat Sept 30- 52nd Annual National Short Track Championships (Rockford Speedway, Loves Park, IL)
Sat Oct 7- 48th Oktoberfest Race Weekend (La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway, West Salem, WI)

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please visit big8series.com