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WISSOTA Late Model Challenge Series to make a stop at Rice Lake on August 8

By Ed Reichert

RICE LAKE, WI (August 2) - The WISSOTA Late Models last raced at Rice Lake Speedway on July 27, 2024. That long break will be ending this coming Saturday, August 8, when the Structural Buildings WISSOTA Late Model Challenge Series comes to the track for round seven of its 2026 schedule.

The last time the Late Models raced at Rice Lake, Chad Mahder won the feature race and he will be among the favorites once again, when perhaps as many as 30 drivers fight for the $4,000 top prize in the 40-lap main event.

The series was rained out at the track in 2025, so this will be the first time many drivers have had the opportunity to race at the track. That makes this race especially interesting as there is no “home court” advantage. No one has had any laps around the track in more than two years and no one has raced on the track since the new clay was applied and the track reshaped following the 2025 racing season. It will be very interesting to see just how quickly the drivers adapt to the new surface and who is fast out of the gate.

The current Structural Buildings WCS point standings find Tyler Peterson leading by 24 points ahead of Kevin Burdick, and 27 points ahead of Shane Sabraski. Currently fourth is former Ashland racer and now Cameron transplant Kevin Eder, who is looking forward to racing at his own adopted “home track.”

As a bonus for the racing fans attending, a full program of heats and features will also be on tap for the WISSOTA Modifieds, Super Stocks and Street Stocks and “Iron Man” Sabraski is expected to enter a car in three of the racing divisions. There are only three track point nights left in the 2026 season and with close point races in several classes, these nights are especially important to the drivers.

Race time is 7 p.m. on August 8 with the pit gates opening at 4 p.m. and the grandstand one hour later. Rice Lake Speedway is located one mile north of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, midway between State Highway 48 and Barron County highway SS. The track phone number is 715-236-2002.

The speedway website and Facebook page will provide more information and updates this week as the race grows closer.