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141 Speedway

Coordinates: 44°14′44″N 88°15′37″W / 44.2455°N 88.2603°W / 44.2455; -88.2603
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141 Speedway
IMCA Modifieds racing at 141 in 2013
LocationMaribel, Wisconsin
Coordinates44°14′44″N 88°15′37″W / 44.2455°N 88.2603°W / 44.2455; -88.2603
Capacity3,000 (grandstands)
Owner
  • Toby Kruse
  • Tim Czarneski
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 miles (0.53 km)
Turns4
1/4 mile
Surfaceasphalt
Length0.25 miles (0.4 km)
Turns4

141 Speedway (formerly Super 141 Speedway) is a dirt racing track located between Maribel and Francis Creek, Wisconsin. The track is 13-mile and hosts a weekly racing program with numerous International Motor Contest Association classes.

History

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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 13-mile, as the asphalt track was 14-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, 2007
141 Speedway as an asphalt track in 2007

Events

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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

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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

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References

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  1. ^ a b "141 Speedway will feature new races, classes for 1985 season". Manitowoc Herald-Times. April 13, 1985. Retrieved October 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b Rhoden, Jerry (May 18, 2001). "Racing loses friend in Grall". Manitowoc Herald-Times. Retrieved October 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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.