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William Lange (Cody Papke Photo)
Lange’s WISSOTA career launched with Hornet ROY honors & three wins
By Meghan Diemel, Editor
STAPLES, MN — He might be just a freshman at Staples-Motley High School in Staples, Minnesota, but William “Will” Lange made an impact in the WISSOTA Hornet ranks during the 2025 race season.
The 14-year-old placed second in track points at Granite City Motor Park, fourth in points at Princeton Speedway, and won three times — twice at Fiesta City Speedway and once at Madison Speedway. He ran 43 times, collecting 21 top-five finishes, 39 top-10s — and the WISSOTA Hornet Rookie of the Year crown.
He also had several highlights from the specials and invitational season. He said at Fiesta City Speedway for the Hornet special, it was the first time not racing in second gear. He missed his shift in the heat and ran it in fifth gear and ended up not finishing well. (He reported his sister also did this her first time not racing in second gear!) In the feature he started 23rd and moved ahead 17 spots and to ultimately finish sixth, but was passing for fifth at the checkered flag. In the following weeks the team made a couple trips back down to “Monte,” and finished third in his next appearance, breaking through for the win and a clean sweep — his first-ever feature victory — the next week. He then returned the following week and repeated those efforts, ending his time at Fiesta City on a high note.
Lange also ended with a podium finish at the MPH Invitational, finishing third, with a clean sweep at the Madtown Showdown.
Finally, he scored a third-place finish at the Gopher State Showdown to hang onto ninth in overall WISSOTA national points.
Lange’s cheering crew includes his mom and dad, sister Ellie (the 2024 WISSOTA Super Stock National Rookie of the Year), and his Granny and Papa.
All The Dirt! Racing News: What was your favorite racing-related memory from the 2025 season?
William Lange: Madison Madtown [Showdown], night one, holding off national point leaders Anthony Jenson and Jeff Rohner.
ATD: What was the low light, racing related, of the 2025 season?
Lange: During the feature at North Central Speedway, a car in front of me spun out and I checked up and changed lines. The car behind me wasn’t looking past his bumper and drove through me and I proceeded to spin and hit the wall and was hauled back to the pits on the hook.
ATD: What is your background in racing, and who has helped your racing career along the way, whether family, friends, or other racing mentors?
Lange: I ran four times in 2024 at Bemidji Speedway to see if I would enjoy it, which I did and decided to run full time in 2025. My sister was my biggest mentor and coached me during the season. A lot of other drivers also helped during the season like Jensen, Backstroms, Kast, and 03Bill with parts and advice.
ATD: From a wider perspective, what are a few of your favorite moments from your career to this point?
Lange: Winning National Rookie of the Year title; picking up my first-ever heat win; and then later winning a feature. [And], hanging out with other drivers at the track.
ATD: Break down the reality of a racing season for you. What is your advice regarding how much time and effort goes into a successful season like you’ve had, for drivers just getting their start in dirt track racing?
Lange: Seat time is the most important; it doesn’t matter where you finish, you need to just learn and get used to the car. Racing is not just a one-night-a-week commitment, you need to look over the car after every race and may need to replace worn parts and do your maintenance in order to finish consistently.
ATD: What can be the hardest or most trying part of racing season for you, and why?
Lange: End of the season. We started watching point standings and needed to have some solid nights to drop some of our earlier events. Also had to miss a couple of football games in order to race the two-day shows.
ATD: What is your favorite event of the year and why?
Lange: WISSOTA MPH, our 100; [I] was able to run with a lot of the top drivers and the event is focused on the entry-level classes. Was able to pull of a podium finish and win some great contingency prizes. Thank you James for putting in the extra work for the event.
ATD: Is there a race or race track you have you never raced in/at, and why do you want to race there?
Lange: Thunder City Speedway — it would be cool to race in another country.
ATD: What will be your favorite part of the offseason, as we head toward late 2025 and early 2026, for you?
Lange: Not having late nights and then having to get up early for school the next day.
ATD: What are your racing plans for 2026?
Lange: I plan on racing in the Hornet class in 2026. [We] will see how the season goes and if it goes well we might end up chasing national points.
ATD: Who are your sponsors you’d like to thank?
Lange: ACIETA; Block North; Central McGowan; Central Building Supply; Frost Heaters; Heights Pizza Man ; Holst Construction; Lakeland Trailers; Lange’s Nursery and Landscaping; Lucky Seven General Stores; Motley Dairy Queen; NAPA Central MN; Quadna Hills Golf Course; and Staples Precision Metalcraft.