Joe Verdegan

joeverdegan.com

Leisure EN ↓ 223 episodes

Racing interviews

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Author

Joe Verdegan

Category

Leisure

Podcast website

www.joeverdegan.com

Latest episode

Aug 26, 2026

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Episodes

THE HISTORY OF WIR'S EVE OF DESTRUCTION 18.02.2024

One of the more popular events at WIR's oval throughout the decades is the popular event that takes place every year in early September - the Eve of Destruction. Longtime track owner/general manager Roger Van Daalwyk talks about teaming up with Mike Bunnell and building this iconic event of epic proportions. It's the Daytona 500 for the Figure 8 drivers with a whole lot of mayhem thrown in...

THE DIXIELAND - WIR'S TRADITIONAL 'TUESDAY BIGGIE' 12.02.2024

In episode six with longtime WIR track owner/general manager Roger Van Daalwyk, Roger details the birth of the popular 'Dixieland' races on the first Tuesday night in August. The big event drew several big name NASCAR drivers over the years and continues to do so to this day. Give it a listen!

THE HILL RACEWAY IS READY FOR 2024 07.02.2024

We recently caught up with the new promoters of The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay. Listen and learn about what prompted John and Adam Sternard to take the plunge and keep the lights on for racing in Door County in 2024!

FOX RIVER RACING CLUB HISTORY 06.02.2024

For several decades the Fox River Racing Club (FRRC) has been the club that has promoted the weekly 'Thursday Night Thunder' races at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. Longtime WIR owner/general manager Roger Van Daalwyk talks about the history of WIR and working with the club officers over the years. Enjoy!

OUTAGAMIE SPEEDWAY - LOOKING AHEAD TO 2024 05.02.2024

Eastern Wisconsin Stock Car (EWSC) announced their 2024 season schedule for another year of weekly racing at the Outagamie County Fairgrounds. We recently caught up with EWSC's John Tienor who gave us a glimpse of what lies ahead on Friday nights this summer at the third-mile, clay oval located in Seymour, Wisconsin. Give it a listen!

THE BIRTH OF THE RED, WHITE & BLUE SERIES 30.01.2024

Dick Trickle was the first ever Red, White & Blue state champion at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna in 1972. In episode # 4 of our podcast series with longtime WIR owner/general manager Roger Van Daalwyk, Roger recalled how and why the RW&B series got started. Who was all involved in it's creation and all the top drivers who have competed in the prestigious series over the...

EVEL KNIEVEL'S TRIP TO WIR 26.01.2024

When legendary daredevil Evel Knievel made an appearance at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna in the early 1970's, Roger Van Daalwyk was sort of 'assigned' to be a personal assistant of sorts to the flamboyant showman. In episode # 3 Roger recalled his weeks when Evel stayed at the Van Daalwyk's home and what Evil was like. Give it a listen!

ROGER VAN DAALWYK - WIR'S GM @ 18 16.01.2024

The year is 1972. Richard Nixon is the president of the United States. Don McClean's 'American Pie' topped the billboard charts. And an 18-year-old Roger Van Daalwyk took over as General Manager of KK Sports Arena - later to be renamed Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. Listen in as Roger talks about his early tenure at the fabled oval!

ROGER VAN DAALWYK - KK SPORTS ARENA 12.01.2024

As a teenager, Roger Van Daalwyk performed any task whatsoever as directed by his dad, Joe Van Daalwyk, as KK Sports Arena hosted stock car races in Kaukauna, Wisconsin in the mid to late 1960's. Those tasks prepared him for when he would later take over as the track's general manager. Listen in to Roger's great stories!

TOM HOCKERS - FROM BIKES TO OFF ROAD TRUCKS & SUPER LATE MODELS 05.01.2024

De Pere's Tom Hockers has been in some form of motorsports nearly his entire life. We recently caught up with the current Fox River Racing Club (FRRC) president. Hockers reflects upon his own racing career, which began as a youngster racing motocross. Give it a listen!

CURT KEENE - 'HAS MICROPHONE - WILL TRAVEL' 24.08.2023

Whether it's announcing a stock car race, hockey game or hosting his radio show, Curt Keene has been announcing sporting events since his teenage years. We turned the tables on this Wausau native recently as Keene was on the other end of the microphone, sharing his stories. Give it a listen!

CRAIG KOWALESKI - RACING SPOTTER EXTRAORDINAIRE 14.08.2023

When it comes to spotters whether it's the paved short tracks or the bigger shows in ARCA and NASCAR, Green Bay's Craig Kowaleski has earned a reputation as one of the best in the biz. We recently caught up with Craig and he talks about how he got his start into being a top notch spotter and the incredible path and the number of drivers he's worked for over the years. This one's a...

ROSS GOLDBECK - RECALLING THE ULTRA TOUGH WIR SPORTSMAN DIVISION 14.08.2023

Ross Goldbeck was one of the competitors in the Fox River Racing Club's tough sportsman division that did battle on the quarter-mile oval at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna in the 1970's and into the 1980's. Goldbeck tells stories about his he got into the racing biz. Give it a listen!

PARKER RETZLAFF - LIVING THE NASCAR DREAM 02.08.2023

At just 20 years old, Rhinelander, Wisconsin native Parker Retzlaff continues to turn some heads in the NASCAR Xfinity series. We recently caught up with Retzlaff as he returned to his roots at Eagle River Speedway's third-mile clay oval. Give it a listen!

NASCAR'S JOSH BILICKI - "I'LL RACE ANYTHING WITH A MOTOR" 12.07.2023

It's not often a NASCAR Cup driver randomly shows up at a dirt track nestled in Wisconsin's northwoods on a Tuesday night in the middle of the summer. But NASCAR Cup driver Josh Bilicki of Richfield, Wisconsin did just that in a recent "pop in" visit to Eagle River Speedway. Bilicki talked about his road racing, the grind of beating the bushes to raise money to race in NASCAR, an...

WILLARD RADDANT - RECALLING WOLF RIVER RACING ASSOCIATION (WRRA) AND MORE 10.07.2023

Willard Raddant served as secretary of the Wolf River Racing Association (WRRA) and raced exclusively Ford stock cars with his brother LeeRoy Raddant in the 1970's and beyond. We recently caught up with Willard, who spends time in the summer months back in Wisconsin watching his grandson Kyle Raddant keep the family name going in the local racing circles. Give it a listen!

PETE VERCAUTEREN - REFLECTIONS FROM A LONGTIME MOTORSPORTS JOURNALIST 10.07.2023

De Pere native Pete Vercauteren had a great career as a motorsports journalist, covering races starting in the late 1960's at the long defunct Brown County Fairgrounds in De Pere, Wisconsin. We recently caught up with Pete and he reflected about his time covering races, a lot of great De Pere racing history, and much more. Give it a listen!

AL SNELLENBERGER - RECALLING THE COUPE ERA OF THE '6O'S 05.07.2023

Pulaski's Al Snellenberger is one of a few remaining folks left who battled in the ultra-popular coupe era of the 1960's at the Brown County Fairgrounds in De Pere and the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds in Luxemburg. Al reflects upon those days in this podcast. Give it a listen!

DILLON KRALOVETZ - NORWAY SPEEDWAY LATE MODEL DOMINANCE 28.06.2023

Bonduel, Wisconsin's Dillon Kralovetz enjoyed a ton of success at Norway (MI) Speedway - winning five straight late model championships before hanging up his helmet. At 35, Kralovetz recently became the youngest ever inductee into the Speedway's Hall of Fame. Kralovetz revealed what drew him to tow north from Shawano County all those years to battle weekend traffic on Friday nights. Give i...

TERRY MOTT - MEMORIES FROM A NORWAY SPEEDWAY HALL OF FAMER 27.06.2023

Norway, Michigan's Terry Mott got his start as a volunteer corner worker at Norway (MI) Speedway in the 1960's. The 2023 Norway Speedway Hall of Famer reflected upon his colorful career, which included racing, his famous Cadillac Seville in 1980, and serving in several capacities for the Dickinson County Racing Association. Give it a listen!

DON BRITTON - REFLECTS UPON RACING CAREER IN MICHIGAN, CANADA 24.06.2023

We recently caught up with 2023 Norway Speedway Hall of Famer Don Britton. The Marquette, Michigan native reflected upon his brief but successful racing career - one which saw him race four times in three days including twice on Sundays! Give it a listen!

EDDIE MUENSTER - CATCHING UP WITH A SHAWANO SPEEDWAY HALL OF FAMER 12.06.2023

Green Bay's Eddie Muenster is considered one of the pioneers of the northeastern Wisconsin IMCA modified racers dating back to the late 1980's. We recently caught up with this 2023 Shawano Speedway Hall of Fame inductee. Eddie reflected upon his career in motorsports, which actually began in motocross. Give it a listen!

ED REICHERT - DECADES OF COVERING DIRT SHORT TRACK RACING 07.06.2023

Spooner, Wisconsin's Ed Reichert has been covering the short track racing scene on dirt tracks for decades in Wisconsin, Iowa and MInnesota. We recently caught up with the retired school teacher and we talked about the days of the popular racing trade papers, short track trends over the decades and much more. Give it a listen!

GORDIE SEEGERT JR. - REFLECTIONS ON HIS DIRT LATE MODEL CAREER 06.06.2023

Gordie Seegert Jr. , a recent Shawano Speedway Hall of Fame inductee, had a solid career wheeling dirt late models at tracks like Shawano and Langlade County Speedway in Antigo. He actually cut his teeth at the long defunct Hales Corners Speedway near Milwaukee. We recently caught up with Gordie and he shared with us some great stories about his storied racing career. Give it a listen!

SCOTT HANSEN IS NAME DROPPIN' 02.05.2023

In our ninth and final segment with Scott Hansen we throw some names at Scott of fellow racers, friends and other players in the racing community and Scott provides his honest take on those folks. Everybody from NASCAR, ASA, ARTGO and many others. This one's a dandy folks and a great way to wrap up the "Titletown's Racing Champion" podcast series. Enjoy!

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