Racing Nuggets

It's a Race Worth Winning to support ALS--but it almost didn't happen this year. The Thunderstruck 93, in memory of Elko Speedway racer Dan Ryan Sr., has been a mainstay at the Minnesota racetrack for more than two decades, and it nearly fell apart this season. Enter the Ryan and Fredrickson families. We sat down with Alison Gilbertson, Dan Ryan's daughter, and her good friend and family supporter, Nichole Fredrickson, to discuss how it all came together so quickly. Thunderstruck 93 will truly be a salute to short track racing in memory of the man who embodied the sport, Dan Ryan Sr.

Brock Heinrich from Wausau, WI has been a regular in super late model action for many years. After a bad accident at Norway Speedway in Michigan at the start of the season, he has been sidelined trying to piece his car back together. He still plans to slide back behind the wheel this season. We chat with him about that and what he's been doing for most of the race season while he continues to put the pieces back together for his 2026 season.

Aaron Baird has been involved in racing in Wisconsin since he was a pre-teen, almost always working in the background. His father's involvement with Slinger Speedway in the 1980s exposed him to the sport, leading to various roles, including scoring tower work, and eventually to becoming a superfan. Aaron continues to support many different avenues for the promotion of racing, as well as his hands-on team help through his connection with the Hassler family.

The Quarter Midget Phenom from Minnesota, Leighton Rose shares how he got the opportunity to run in the Tulsa Shootout this year, as well as his racing plans for 2026.

Grant Griesbach has been racing since he was a young kid. Of course, to many, he STILL IS a young kid, only now he has garnered several championships, all in this season. Griesbach won the Red, White, and Blue Series Championship at Wisconsin International Raceway, the superlates track championship at WIR as well, and he just nailed down the Slinger Super Speedway Championship for the superlates as well. He's definitely on a roll with some specials yet to come here at the end of the year for him to add to his illustrious season.

Matt Berger is not only a great racer in the Midwest, but he's an outstanding human as well. His unassuming and modest stature doesn't tell the whole story about his racing career. Matt started at Rockford Speedway in the Roadrunners division in the 90s and has won in every single division there was at Rockford, a feat that no one else has ever done. Take a listen to the story of a great guy who happens to love--and is really good at-- racing.

Rich Bickle is undoubtedly one of the most colorful characters in auto racing. He joins us as the first repeat guest on the Racing Nuggets podcast to discuss the upcoming special super late model event that he will be the guest of honor for at Jefferson Speedway: "From the Barnyard to the Brickyard 150." He also shares some insights on his next event behind the wheel--the Slinger Nationals and other events he anticipates entering this year.

John Close had a career in motorsports that few have duplicated, serving as a media member, public relations/marketing specialist, team manager/member, race day spotter/competitor, and author/historian. His work is featured in the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC, as part of the NASCAR Media Archive and in driver Matt Kenseth's Hall of Fame 'showcase.'

John was inducted into the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Radio TV Film 'Hallway of Fame' for his career media efforts in Professional Motorsports. In 2024, he was presented with the prestigious UW-O Distinguished Alumni Award – the highest honor the University of Wisconsin system can bestow on graduates.

These days, he's retired and resides in North Carolina, but comes back "home" to Wisconsin periodically to visit friends and family.

We sat down with Dave Kallmann from the Wisconsin Journal Sentinel to chat about some stories of his career in the media, particularly those from the racing coverage that he has provided over the years.