Racing Nuggets

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.

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--and pay attention to where he tells you how to get a free drink from him at the track!

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 Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame. He's a guy who fully understands that luck is when preparation meets opportunity--and when opportunities didn't present themselves, he managed to create them himself.

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 Sales for the ASA STARS National Tour. 

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 mentoring and supporting the young phenom from Minnesota, Ty Fredrickson.

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.

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.

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 demolished his race car. He managed to walk away from that horrific impact.  When something like that happens, emotions tend to run high. However, Andy was calm, cool, and collected in an interview on the broadcast immediately afterward. He exuded a real positive energy in the face of disaster, and that struck many as powerful and highly respectable, given that most others would NOT be that positive in the darkness.  Listen to learn more about Andy, his impressive character, and the values he brings to the track week in and week out.   

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 his family-owned team has grown, learned, and discovered more success in racing.

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 has been a part of from years of being around racing. Sit back and enjoy some great stories from Tommy White.

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.

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 started making some noise in super late model circles.  Listen in as we hear Weinkauf's racing origin story, his plans for 2024, and some of his adventures throughout his career, which started in 1990. 

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 racing story.