12/2/2025
Dells Raceway Park
DETJENS MEMORIAL RACE MOVES TO ALIVE FOR 5 SERIES IN 2026
Wisconsin Dells WI-This year will mark the 46th running of the Larry Detjens Memorial Race and be held at Dells Raceway Park as the headliner for the Alive for 5 Super Late Model Series on Saturday August 8th. Over the past four decades the event has changed locations and formats, moving from State Park Speedway to Golden Sands Speedway and then back to State Park Speedway and now onto Dells Raceway Park where Detjens recorded 18 feature wins in his career.
The Larry Detjens Memorial was started in fall of 1981 after the former short track racing star lost his life in a racing accident earlier that season at Wisconsin International Raceway. Saturday night August 8th Dells Raceway Park will continue the tribute to one of the greatest short track racers of his time. Larry tallied ten ARTGO wins, three ASA wins including the Minnesota State Fair, was the 1977 State Park Speedway and Capital Super Speedway Champion, won the Slinger Nationals in 1980, was a two time Oktoberfest winner, won in Florida during New Smyrna’s World Series of Asphalt, and won three times in California at Mesa Marin and All-American Speedway and was scheduled to make his first NASCAR start before his untimely death.
“To win this race is huge,” says four time winner, Mark Mackesy, “So many drivers have raced in it and tried to win it because of their respect for Larry. This race for me is like Daytona, there’s so much history in it.”
It's been nearly 46 years since his accident, but Detjens is still fondly remembered by those who met him. Which is why every year, this race is viewed as a fitting tribute to his legacy. "It's nice when you can honor someone that was basically an icon in the racing community." said Ron Wimmer, the former owner of the now closed State Park Speedway. "Larry, everybody knew him in his short life, he was such an easy going guy.”
Five divisions will be on hand for the August 8th event and the headliner will be the Alive for 5 Super Late Models along with the NASCAR 602 Late Models in Plus the Midwest Dash Series and the INEX Legends & Bandos. Fan Gates will open at 3pm with qualifying at 4:30 and Racing at 6pm.
The list of past Detjens Memorial Race winners reads like a who’s who in Midwest racing royalty.
Past Detjens Memorial Winners
2025 Mark Mackesy (4)
2024 Justin Mondeik (2)
2023 Brock Heinrich
2022 Jonathan Eilen
2021 Ty Majeski
2020 Justin Mondeik
2019 Gabe Sommers
2018 Casey Johnson
2017 Chris Wimmer (2)
2016 Derek Kraus
2015 Johnny Sauter
2014 Tim Sauter (2)
2013 Tim Sauter
2012 Mark Mackesy (3)
2011 Chris Weinkauf (3)
2010 Chris Weinkauf (2)
2009 Andrew Morrissey (Golden Sands)
2008 Not Run
2007 Not Run
2006 Mark Mackesy (2)
2005 Allen Check
2004 Charlie Menard
2003 Chris Weinkauf
2002 Scott Wimmer (2)
2001 Scott Wimmer
2000 Chris Wimmer
1999 Mark Mackesy
1998 Jesse Hasse
1997 Donnie Woller (3)
1996 Wayne Breitenfeldt (2)
1995 Kirby Kurth (2)
1994 Donnie Woller (2)
1993 Joe Krzykowski
1992 Kirby Kurth
1991 Donnie Woller
1990 Bryan Reffner
1989 Wayne Breitenfeldt
1987 Tom Reffner (2)
1986 Kevin Cywinski
1985 Dick Trickle (3)
1984 Tom Reffner
1983 Kevin Stepan
1982 Dick Trickle (2)
1981 Dick Trickle