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Rick Thoennes named new WISSOTA Head Technical Advisor

ST. CLOUD, MN (December 22) - WISSOTA Auto Racing is proud to welcome Alexandria, Minnesota native Rick Thoennes to the team. Thoennes will serve as the new head technical advisor for the WISSOTA organization, beginning with the 2026 racing season.

Thoennes, who grew up in the heart of WISSOTA Country in west-central Minnesota, has a vast background in motorsports. His career in racing began as a racer in go-karts, moving on to Modifieds and Late Models and then racing in the ARCA Series for the better part of 35 years.

Along with his racing accomplishments, Thoennes also brings a depth of knowledge in race car set-up, front-end geometry, engine tuning and suspension dynamics to the role.

Thoennes is a highly accomplished and results-driven leader. He has worked with countless race teams in many capacities, building hundreds of high performance rearends and transmissions, as well as working directly with teams on chassis set-up, helping them improve their overall race programs.

This experience, plus Thoennes’ tenure in the racing industry, has equipped him with hands-on experience and technical acumen that align perfectly with the position. His education in machining and fabrication, as well as many years of building, driving and owning race cars, has provided him with the knowledge necessary to provide immediate expertise to this position.

Working with racers daily over the years has also allowed him to have a good understanding of what is working and what is not within the industry, including having a deep grasp of the costs associated with participating in this sport. He will undoubtedly be an asset to WISSOTA.

WISSOTA’s promoters and staff look forward to welcoming Thoennes to the team and are excited to see what he brings to WISSOTA into the future.

For more information on WISSOTA Auto Racing, log on to www.WISSOTA.org.