Ron Wimmer of State Park Speedway in Rib Mountain, WI. Image courtesy: WAOW TV
RIB MOUNTAIN, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – Being a driver is filled with a lot of highs, and lows. One of those lows is the closing of State Park Speedway.
Justin Mondeik is one of the regulars around the track. He and many other drivers have to block out all the emotions as they have one goal in mind, winning the race. “This is where I started stock car racing, it’s never good when a racetrack closes,” said Mondeik.
He said, “You hear so many rumors and a lot of things swirl around and hopefully something changes and maybe it wouldn’t close. But we’re preparing like it could be the last and that’s what we’re being told. So we’re just trying to have as much fun as we can every single night and soak in all the moments.”
The track’s centralized location made it easy for drivers from across the state to come and compete. But now many fear they may have to hang up their fire suit for good. “It means a lot of years that they’ve raced here they’ll have to find somewhere else to go or not race anymore,” said driver Mark Mackesy. Mackesy added, “Now you got to travel, you know where this is convenient. This is only ten minutes from my house and probably about the same for everybody else.”
Ty Majeski also spoke about his time at State Park Speedway. He currently races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series. He and many other big names in racing got their start right here in Rib Mountain. Majeski says, “It’s sad you know, it’s a great racetrack. A place I actually got my first win at in a full-size vehicle, in a Midwest Truck here. It’s always sad to see racetracks shut down. You don’t see any racetracks getting built so anytime you see one shut down.
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