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 ‘sh…

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.By PJ Nuttleman

One of the owners of Cedar Lake Speedway, Brad Both, joins us in this episode of the Racing Nuggets Podcast. Brad shares some of his background in racing that led him to be so involved at Cedar Lake. He's a passionate race fan and loves what he does at the famed dirt track. With plenty of exciting events on the calendar in 2025, listen to Brad Both…

Todd Behling's voice has been heard in the Wisconsin racing community for many decades--as the host and creator of the LTN Hour (Let's Talk NASCAR), heard on Fox Sports 920 out of Milwaukee--as well as on the PA at both Slinger Super Speedway and for a time, Madison International Speedway too. Behling has also been elected to the esteemed Southeast…

Marty Melo has been passionate about auto racing since he was a kid going to dirt tracks out west. He is incredibly adept at marketing the sport and crafting win-win opportunities for all involved. His superpower is bringing people together and hammering out solutions. Listen in to our conversation with Marty Melo, the Director of Operations and Sa…

In this episode of the Racing Nuggets Podcast, we sit down with Charlie Menard, a racer who has many wins and championships to his name and continues to keep a finger on the pulse of motorsports. Charlie reminisces about his time racing at his beloved La Crosse Speedway with Toby Nuttleman and the sport of racing itself. He also talks about mentori…

Bentley Thompson may only be 12 years old, but he has clinched SIX Bandolero Championships in the 2024 season alone. Listen to this reserved yet insightful young racer as he reflects on his season.By PJ Nuttleman

Dan Plan, proprietor of the Midwest Racing Connection and sometimes co-host of this podcast, sits down to let PJ ask him questions about his life in auto racing. He is, first and foremost, a fan of auto racing, and that passion comes through in all projects he is involved with to support the sport.By PJ Nuttleman

Andy Monday has been a fixture in the racing scene around the Midwest, particularly at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. Last Tuesday, he competed in the 2024 Dixieland 250—now the Ganrude Auto Group 250—with the ASA Midwest Tour at WIR. During that event, he took an incredibly brutal hit to the inside retaining wall that completely demo…

Gleason, Wisconsin's Justin Mondeik is this week's guest on the podcast. He is fresh off his big win in the Midwest Tour "Larry Detjens Memorial 125" at State Park Speedway in Wausau. The race could very well be the last for the Midwest Tour at the famed track, as it has exchanged hands, and its fate is unknown at this time. Mondeik talks about how…

Tommy White, aka Tomasso Blanco, is our latest guest on the Racing Nuggets Podcast. Most people are familiar with Tommy as the flagman for several different series or venues, like the Midwest Tour and the Midwest Trucks. Most people don't realize just how close he was to Midwest short-track legend Joe Shear or how much first-hand racing history he …

Luke Fenhaus is our guest in this episode. He chats about his first experience driving in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for ThorSport and future events with the team. Learn some of the things that make this young hotshoe tick, a little more about his background, and his upcoming racing plans for the remainder of the 2024 season.…

Levon Van Der Geest joins us on the Racing Nuggets Podcast to chat about his efforts behind the wheel of the #23 super late model race car, how his learning curve is getting better for helping to set the car up for success, and his work with the Kulwicki Driver Development Program. ALSO: You'll never guess where the #23 comes from in his family!…

In this episode of the Racing Nuggets Podcast, we sit down with photographer QC Willy, aka William Prutz. He often shoots photos at State Park Speedway in Wausau, Golden Sands Speedway in Plover, and many other venues across the Midwest.By PJ Nuttleman

Chris Weinkauf is arguably one of the most liked drivers in Wisconsin. He's seemingly a friend to everyone and always takes the time for fans after piloting his sweet-looking #75 around various tracks across the Midwest. Lately, Weinkauf has been focusing on mentoring and being crew chief to Levon Van Der Geest, an up-and-coming driver who has star…

Racing is in Dean Strom's blood. He grew up at the short tracks in Wisconsin and went on to be actively involved in public relations/media for racing organizations and behind the mic announcing races. He even recently competed in the Boston Marathon. Getting this man, who is always on the go, was quite a feat to sit down with us and chat about his …

Minnesota's Ty Fredrickson, the 15-year-old phenom, captured his first super late model win at Dells Raceway Park on April 13, 2024. We sat down with him to learn more about him and get his thoughts on the season ahead. This episode was recorded before heading to Slinger Super Speedway for the first time. That race is/was part of the ASA Midwest To…

Bubba Pollard definitely brought the fan base to his NASCAR Xfinity debut at Richmond Raceway with JR Motorsports. His blue-collar likability seemed what NASCAR needed in a series filled with pay-to-play young drivers. We chatted with Bubba about that debut, what might be next, his family, their dirt track in Georgia, and more.…

Dick Johnson was quite the Renaissance man of auto racing in the Midwest through the 70s and 80s. From hand-drawing artwork for track logos and advertisements to scoring and race directing--and even using a typewriter to get the evening's race report put together while race directing the events--Dick Johnson was a valuable asset to Larry Wehrs when…

Derek Kraus started as a go-kart racer from Stratford, WI, and has been chasing his racing dreams with his family for quite some time now. Having tasted success in the ARCA West Series, enjoyed some solid runs in the NASCAR Truck Series, had a few starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series--and now, thanks to Kaulig Racing--will be making a handful of sta…

This week on the Racing Nuggets Podcast, we sit down with the 2023 ASA Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year, Bryan Seyer-Keske. Bryan is a Minnesota racer who got to test drive an ARCA car at Daytona as part of his Rookie of the Year honors. He took his dad with him for that experience, which was a trip of a lifetime for them both.…

Todd Thelen, the owner and promoter of Slinger Super Speedway, has breathed new life into the Fastest 1/4-Mile in the World. He's been steering the track in the direction that reinvigorates the signature event, the Slinger Nationals, and the weekly race program. Thelen started as a racer himself. That experience and his business acumen give him sol…

Have microphone, will travel. Eric Huenefeld, announcer for various tracks and series across the Midwest and pit reporter at several national series events, joins us on the Racing Nuggets podcast this week.By PJ Nuttleman

Fresh off his second Snowball Derby win, Ty Majeski, a super late model hotshoe and NASCAR Truck Series driver for ThorSport Racing, joins PJ and Dan in this episode.By PJ Nuttleman

Ben Rhodes, two-time (and current reigning) NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion, joins us on this episode and shares some stories from his personal and professional life behind the wheel of the #99 ThorSport truck.By PJ Nuttleman

Toby Nuttleman started his racing career with Steve Holzhausen and has worked with many notable drivers over the course of nearly 50 years in the sport at the time of this recording. He just came off his most recent successful run with Ty Majeski, where they picked up their second Snowball Derby win in four years. Toby shares some insights and stor…

Twenty years ago, Travis Kvapil captured the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship. Here we are today, and Travis is helping usher his boys, Carson and Caden, into the racing world. Carson has already nailed down two CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour Championships, and Caden has grabbed the CARS Pro Late Model Tour Championship this season. The b…

Kenny Schrader is an American treasure. He's raced his entire life and has had incredible success behind the wheel. Whether it's dirt or asphalt, Kenny is a wheelman. His wife, Ann, also joins in the conversation, and together, they share some great stories of their history in racing.By PJ Nuttleman

Brent Kane and Dillon Sellner are both accomplished short-track racers. Friendship has taken their racing to new heights. From Oktoberfest RAce Weekend at La Crosse Speedway, where they got to know each other, to running door-to-door at Elko Speedway, the pair have forged tremendous respect for each other as they developed their race craft.…

Drew Kreibich started attending races as a youngster, modeling his dad in the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway flag stand. That passion for racing continued to grow as his journey in motorsports developed into a full-fledged career. Today, he is the Series Director for the Midwest Trucks and handles social media for many other entities. Listen to thi…

Chris and Craig Johnson are brothers who have been involved in racing for about 30 years--much of that together--working on other people's cars and helping them get to Victory Lane. Drivers like Steve Carlson and Ty Majeski have enjoyed tremendous success due in part to the hard work of this pair of brothers.…

David Deery spends some time with PJ and Dan on this Racing Nuggets episode to chat about the final countdown at the historic Rockford Speedway in this final race season. While many eyes are on the National Short Track Championships, several other events are slated into October, providing more opportunities for racers to turn laps at the track befo…

Jerry Mueller and his wife, Elaine, have been involved in auto racing for decades--helping Wisconsin drivers move up through the ranks and making friends and connections on the NASCAR scene. Listen to some great stories from the heyday of auto racing in the Midwest and NASCAR.By PJ Nuttleman

Two young women racers from Minnesota--Taylor Goldman and Julie Jorgenson join us on the Racing Nuggets podcast this week. Busch Light Beer has selected both ladies to be a part of their "Accelerate Her" program. They both come from racing families and they are extremely close friends who cheer each other on and support one another at the track. Ge…

This week on the Racing Nuggets Podcast, PJ and Dan catch up with Jacob "Jake" Nottestad and get to know him better. He's a young, up-and-comer who is a bit of an "old school" racer, implementing a conventional set-up in his race car and holding his own against many of the super late model teams.By PJ Nuttleman

Canada's Cole Butcher is this week's guest on the Racing Nuggets Podcast. Driving primarily for Donnie Wilson Racing, Cole has continued to have success and grab checkered flags. Learn a little more about this quiet wheelman from the north along with PJ and Dan.By PJ Nuttleman

PJ and Dan sit down with the semi-retired, former General Manager and Promoter from La Crosse Speedway, Chuck Deery, to hear some stories about growing up as one of Hugh and Jody Deery's kids at Rockford Speedway. He also shares some insights on what the future of auto racing might look like as he hangs up his hat from managing operations at La Cro…

In this episode of the Racing Nuggets Podcast, Dan and PJ chat with Wisconsin's Robbie Reiser. He was a former racer, crew chief for Matt Kenseth, a mastermind of racing strategy, and his most important role that he continues to relish: DAD. Robbie shares stories, some laughs, and his love of Slinger Speedway. Will he make a pick for who will win t…

This week on the Racing Nuggets Podcast we sit down with Minnesota Young Gun, William Sawalich who is incredibly busy running four different divisions this year, including full-time with Joe Gibbs Racing in the ARCA Menards Series. We learn about his adventures as he starts to climb the racing ladder, who in the racing world are his friends (and wh…

This week on the Racing Nuggets podcast, PJ and Dan catch up with the new promoter at La Crosse Speedway--Austin Wells. This guy was practically born at Madison Speedway and has a boatload of experience he is bringing to La Crosse as he takes over the reins from Chuck Deery, who retired last year from promoter duties at the track. Take a listen and…

We have an announcement, and then we're just gonna BS. This is a "splash and go" pitstop for this week's Racing Nuggets Podcast.By PJ Nuttleman

This week PJ and Dan catch up with dirt and asphalt hot shoe Brad "JJ" Mueller. He grew up around the icons of short-track racing in Wisconsin and shares stories from them and interesting nuggets of recent years. We are not responsible if you blow your beverage out your nose laughing while listening to this episode!…

Rich Bickle Jr. is the ultimate storyteller and guest on the Racing Nuggets podcast. A racer from the heyday of Wisconsin short-track racing, he has stories for days that will make you laugh, cry, and pine for those days gone by. We definitely needed more than an hour and will have him back on to share more stories in the future--and who knows? May…

This week on the Racing Nuggets podcast, PJ and Dan sit down with Jerry Gille, the multi-champion title holder--who also has oodles of 2nd place finishes in championship battles at Rockford Speedway. Jerry is recovering from a torn shoulder but hopes to get back behind the wheel before this final season at Rockford Speedway comes to a close. He als…

This week on the Racing Nuggets podcast, PJ and Dan catch up with the multi-talented Dan Margetta of videography fame at Slinger Super Speedway, co-host on the LTN Radio Network, journalist, and so much more. He's a super fan of racing, which comes through in all he does in the racing community. Enjoy this chat with one of the colorful characters a…

In this episode, PJ and Dan catch up with dirt and asphalt racer Nick Panitzke from Lonsdale, Minnesota on the Racing Nuggets Podcast. He chats about their racing family--including his wife Morgan, a tire specialist for both him and their young son, Cam, who also races now. Good stuff from a good guy. Enjoy this episode!…

This week on the Racing Nuggets Podcast, PJ and Dan chat with Susan Deery from the Rockford Speedway. She, her brother David, and the entire team at Rockford Speedway are preparing for their final season opener--The Spring Classic--this Saturday (4/22/2023). Susan shares some awesome memories from her years at the track and how important the extend…

This week on the Racing Nuggets Podcast, PJ and Dan chat with a third-generation driver from Bangor, WI--Skylar Holzhausen. After having several seasons of not racing much and last year not racing at all, the young buck will be making a return to run the full season at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway in a car built by Toby Nuttleman, Chris Johnson, …

This week on the Racing Nuggets Podcast, PJ and Dan chat with Dells Raceway Park Promoter Jerry Auby. A formidable racer in his own right back in the day--these days, he is flexing his prowess as a promoter. He has many of the same challenges as other promoters. Still, Jerry definitely brings a racer's mentality to his problem-solving approach, mak…

This week on the Racing Nuggets Podcast, PJ and Dan catch up with Alex Papini--former Midwest racer who has moved to Florida. Alex is a very colorful character with a rich and deep history in his own family of racers--and quite a lot in his own right too. We cover plenty--from what it was like to witness his father's fatal accident at Rockford Spee…