141 Speedway

141 Speedway (formerly Super 141 Speedway) is a dirt racing track located between Maribel and Francis Creek, Wisconsin. The track is ​1⁄3-mile and hosts a weekly racing program with numerous International Motor Contest Association classes.

141 Speedway
IMCA Modifieds racing at 141 in 2013
LocationMaribel, Wisconsin
Capacity3,000 (grandstands)
Owner
  • Toby Kruse
  • Dan Ratajczak
  • Scott Ratajczak
Operator
  • Toby Kruse
  • Dan Ratajczak
  • Scott Ratajczak
Broke ground1960
Opened1960, 1998
Closed1990 - 1997
Major eventsCurrent: United States Modified Touring Series, "The Creek" series
Former: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, INEX Legends Dirt Oval Nationals, Dirt Kings Tour, Mid-American Stock Car Series
1/3 mile
Surfaceclay
Length0.33 mi (0.53 km)
Turns4
1/4 mile
Surfaceasphalt
Length0.25 mi (0.4 km)
Turns4

History

The land for 141 was acquired in 1959 by original owner Dick Grall; the track was built and the then-Super 141 Speedway opened in 1960.[1] Grall operated the track until 1975 and leased the track until 1990, when a promoter reneged on two years' worth of leasing agreements, closing the track while litigation played out.[2] Grall lost the desire to lease the track, but Matt Rowe bought the track from Grall in late 1997 and re-opened the track for the 1998 season.[2]

The track was originally an asphalt oval, but management made the decision to convert to a dirt track before the 2010 season.[3] The resulting dirt track was ​1⁄3-mile, as the asphalt track was ​1⁄4-mile.[4] After the 2013 season, previous owners Bruce and Renee Conard sold the track to Scott Ratajczak, local racer Dan Ratajczak, and Iowa dirt racing promoter Toby Kruse.[5]

In 2017, the track sued Manitowoc County over parking on a parcel of land across the road from the track; the parcel was later rezoned by a county board to allow parking.[6]

141 Speedway as an asphalt track in 2007

Events
2018 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series on frontstretch

141 hosts a series of "The Creek" events: The Clash at the Creek, described as a crown jewel IMCA Modified race;[7] the King at the Creek, an IMCA Stock Car event,[3] and the Captain of the Creek, an IMCA Sport Mod event.[8] The track has also hosted the IRA Sprints,[9] and has also been a national championship venue for INEX dirt oval legends cars.[10] In 2018, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series visited the track.[11]

The track held a Mid-American Stock Car Series date in the 2000s.[12]

Sanctioning

The Eastern Wisconsin Racing Association sanctioned the track from 1971 until 1978,[1] and the track entered into a sanctioning agreement with the International Motor Contest Association in 1986.[13] It lost IMCA sanctioning in 2011 when a change to Saturday night events resulted in conflicts with other local IMCA-sanctioned tracks.[4]

Images
  • 2019 U.S. Dirt Legends Nationals
  • USMTS modifieds race in 2017
  • 2016 U.S. Dirt Legends Nationals
  • 2009 IMCA Sport Modifieds as an asphalt track

References
  1. "141 Speedway will feature new races, classes for 1985 season". Manitowoc Herald-Times. April 13, 1985. Retrieved October 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. Rhoden, Jerry (May 18, 2001). "Racing loses friend in Grall". Manitowoc Herald-Times. Retrieved October 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Verdegan, Joe (April 12, 2019). "141 Speedway ironman Whitman going for sixth straight IMCA modified title". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Gannett. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  4. Verdegan, Joe (April 15, 2011). "It's back to Saturdays at 141". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Retrieved October 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Lehman, Bert (August 14, 2014). "141 Speedway has new ownership in 2014". Full Throttle. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  6. Schafer, Alisa M. (May 17, 2017). "141 Speedway gets parking, camping OK". The Herald Times Reporter. Gannett. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  7. "Thornton Rules Clash At The Creek Once Again". Speed Sport. June 19, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  8. Rodda, Ron (August 21, 2020). "Richards Is The Captain Of The Creek". Speed Sport. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  9. "Balog and Ray Win Features at 141 Speedway". TJ Slideways. July 5, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  10. "CHAMPIONSHIP COUNTDOWN; Drew Papke: Dirt Oval Pro Champion". INEX Legends Cars. January 4, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  11. Lehman, Bert (May 17, 2018). "Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series coming to 141 Speedway May 18". Full Throttle. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  12. Verdegan, Joe (June 26, 2009). "Wood hopes to turn corner at 141". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  13. "141 Speedway". Appleton Post-Crescent. April 13, 1986. Retrieved October 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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