The final event of the season at Jackson Motorplex is the track’s marquee event as the 44th annual AGCO Jackson Nationals featuring the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will be held Thursday-Saturday.
Also, the Wyffels Hybrids RaceSaver Sprint Car Series will be the support class on Thursday and Friday, with the final night paying $1,000 to win. The Upper Midwest Renegades Sprint Car Series will be in action on Saturday.
Brad Sweet (Grass Valley, Calif.) is the WoO points leader. Donny Schatz (Fargo) won last week’s Knoxville Nationals.
David Gravel (Watertown, Conn.) is second in points, trailing Sweet by 68 points; and was second at Knoxville in the Big Game Motorsports No. 2.
“It’s a track I’m comfortable at,” Gravel said of Jackson. “I don’t think I’ve won a race there, but I’ve been on the podium multiple times. We have a unique format this weekend. We’ll take it one day at a time and try to accumulate those points to get us in position for Saturday.”
Logan Schuchart is the two-time defending Jackson Nationals champion. He’s among six drivers to win multiple Jackson Nationals sprint car championships.
Doug Wolfgang leads the list with four wins (1985, 1987, 1993, 1996).
Two drivers have won three, Jake Peters (1998, 2008, 2009) and Tim Monson (1990, 1992, 2001).
Winning two apiece have been Jack McCorkell (1980, 1981), Lou Kennedy, Jr. (1995, 1997), and Schuchart.
Other events
There are a number of other events in town addition to the three nights of racing.
It starts Wednesday with the annual golf tournament at Jackson Golf Club. A lunch is at 11:30 a.m. followed by a shotgun start at 1 p.m.
The hauler parade throughout downtown Jackson starts at approximately 6:30 p.m. and concludes at the track, where Fan Fest begins at 7 p.m.
There will be a special $6 deal for a burger, chips and a drink. Also, the Fat City All-Stars will be live on the Miller Lite Stage.
Each race day the Jackson Racing Hall of Fame display will be open in the Blue Building located was of the grandstand. Hours are 3-6 p.m. Thursday, and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. both Friday and Saturday.
There will be three new cars on display this year.
They are:
The 54 car of Don Reiners. That car is just being finished this week by Ron Fick, who has restored many race car such as the 4x, and 8d, and many others.
The 8 Ball that was driven by Leo Christensen at Jackson VFW Speedway. His family has allowed the Hall of Fame group to display the car.
The Pink Panther out of the L.L. Woodke Garage out of Lakefield. Lyle Haburn has worked for two years to get that car restored.
The Jeremy DeWall Band will play after the races each night; there will be a Lions Club pancake breakfast from about 8-11:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday at the Fairgrounds; and a 5K run/walk starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday presented by the Jackson Hall of Fame.
Jackson Nationals champions
1979: Marv DeWall
1980: Jack McCorkell
1981: Jack McCorkell
1982: Don Reiners Curt Thurmer (6 Cyl.)
1983: Rocky Hodges
1984: Bobby Davis Jr.
1985: Doug Wolfgang
1986: Bobby Allen
1987: Doug Wolfgang
1988: Steve Kinser
1989: Rickey Hood (410) Brett Geldner (360)
1990: Tim Monson
1991: Gary DeWall
1992: Tim Monson
1993: Doug Wolfgang
1994: Brian Schnee
1995: Lou Kennedy Jr.
1996: Doug Wolfgang
1997 Lou Kennedy Jr.
1998 Jake Peters
1999 Rob Tvedte
2000 Randy Nygaard
2001 Tim Monson
2002 Jake Peters
2003 Terry McCarl (410) Travis Whitney (360)
2004 Terry McCarl (410) Matt Folstad (360)
2005 Wayne Johnson (410) Scott Winters (360)
2006 Dusty Zomer (ASCS) Gregg Bakker (360) Bret Mellenberndt (Non-wing) 2006 Chris Graf (IMCA)
2007 Gregg Bakker (ASCS) Jeff Metli (305) 2007 Curt Lund (IMCA)
2008 Billy Alley (JSTS) Casey Friedrichsen (305) Jason Tostenson (IMCA) 2009 Jake Peters (360) Casey Friedrichsen (317)
2010 Lee Grosz (360) (Pt. champ - Brian Brown) Casey Friedrichsen (305)
2011 Jason Johnson (360) Alan Ambers (305)
2012 Skylar Prochaska (360) Bill Boles (305)
2013 Brian Brown (360)
2014 Matt Covington (360)
2015 Sammy Swindell (410) Thomas Kennedy (360)
2016 Kerry Madsen (410) Aaron Reutzel (360)
2017 Brad Sweet (410 Jack Dover (360) Brady Forbrook (305)
2018 Donny Schatz (410) Kaleb Johnson (305)
2019 Brad Sweet (410) John Lambertz (305)
2020: Logan Schuchart (410)
2021: Logan Schuchart (410)
IMCA Jackson Nationals champions
Modifieds
1989 Denny Hovenga
1990 Gary Schumski
1991 Kelly Shryock
1992 Curt Lund
1993 Bob Weber
1994 Bob Weber
1995 Dwaine Hanson
1996 Ron Jones
1997 Jeff French
1998 Kelly Shryock
1999 Willy Kraft
2000 Brad McEwan
2001 Greg Porth
2002 Greg Porth
2003 Todd Steuber
2004 Johnny Bone, Jr.
2005 Kelly Shryock
2006 Mike Steensma
2006 Kelly Shryock (USMTS)
2007 Clayton Christensen
2008 Chris Rakness
Stock cars
1990 David Kruger
1991 Terry Hanning
1992 Joe Wirtz
1993 Justin Neusch
1994 Bruce Bonnesen
1995 Bruce Bonnesen
1996 Randy Green
1997 Randy Green
1998 Jason Krohn
1999 Jim Horejsi
2000 Jason Krohn
2001 Bob Rebstock
2002 Randy Brands
2003 Roger Tripp
2004 Randy Brands
2005 Randy Brands
2006 Jim Larson
2007 Trent Schroeder
2008 Jason Mickelson
World of Outlaws
Point standings
Through Aug. 13
1. Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. 6470
2. David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. 6402
3. Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. 6356
4. Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio 6320
5. Donny Schatz, Fargo 6286
6. Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Penn. 6246
7. James McFadden, Alice Springs, NT, Australia 6114
8. Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, Ind. 6098
9. Jacob Allen, Hanover, Penn. 5854
10. Brock Zearfoss, Jonestown, Penn. 5782
11. Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. 5190
12. Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, Wash. 4948
13. Noah Gass, Mounds, Okla. 4834
14. Bill Rose, Plainfield, Ind. 4561
15. Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, Calif. 4244
16. Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. 3968
17. Robbie Price, Cobble Hill, B.C. 2836
18. Kerry Madsen, Knoxville 2444
19. Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. 2428
20. Brent Marks, Myerstown, Penn. 2418