Joe Verdegan

joeverdegan.com

Leisure EN ↓ 218 episodes

Racing interviews

Author

Joe Verdegan

Category

Leisure

Podcast website

www.joeverdegan.com

Latest episode

Jul 6, 2026

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Episodes

DAN PETERMAN - TALKIN' WIR 1/4 MILE SPORTSMAN SCRUMS 12.05.2021

Brillion, Wisconsin's Dan Peterman was always in the thick of things in the Fox River Racing Club's sportsman division races on the quarter-mile oval at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. Listen in as Dan talks about the strength and parity within the class and the move from the quarter-mile to the half-mile and the evolution to what was referred to as a 'limited late model' a...

MIKE SCHMELZER - RACING FROM HIS DOOR COUNTY ROOTS 10.05.2021

Door County native Mike Schmelzer is most well-known for being the man behind Bay Speed Center in De Pere, Wisconsin. However Schmelzer had a racing career in northeast Wisconsin from the 1970s through the 1990s where he'd often race four nights a week on both dirt and asphalt. Listen in!

MATT PANURE - TALKIN' TUNDRA SUPER LATE MODELS 06.05.2021

Matt Panure wears many hats. He's the voice of "Thursday Night Thunder" at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. He calls the action on the Dirt Kings late model tour. He one of the main players involved in promoting the TUNDRA super late model series. Listen in as Matt discusses the unique business plan behind this series and why it remains an affordable option for both racers a...

JASON SHULTZ - BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE DIRT KINGS TOUR 03.05.2021

What prompted Jason Shultz to put together the Dirt Kings late model tour? Listen in to find out!

MIKE KUDICK - RETIRED LAKESHORE RACER 29.04.2021

Manitowoc, Wisconsin native Mike Kudick grew up in a racing family racing. Retired from racing for a bit now, Kudick talks about moving up north, running his own business and that non stop temptation to possibly return the the race track. Enjoy!

GENE COLEMAN - THE PRIDE OF MENOMINEE, MICHIGAN 22.04.2021

It was a race track in Peshtigo, Wisconsin of all places where Gene Coleman's passion for stock car racing was ignited as a youngster. Listen in as we chat with a legendary racer, car owner and true business success story who emerged from humble beginnings in Menominee, Michigan.

RORY MELBINGER - TOP FLIGHT WHEELMAN ON DIRT & TAR 19.04.2021

Marshfield, Wisconsin's Rory Melbinger has been a winner on both dirt and asphalt ovals in his career in central Wisconsin. Listen in as he talks about his racing career that started in the mid 1970s!

STEVE GEISE TALKS WIR 1/4 MILE SPORTSMAN SCRUMS 12.04.2021

Menasha, Wisconsin's Steve Geise battled in the rough-and-tumble 1/4 mile sportsman class in Fox River Racing Club action at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. After hanging up the helmet Geise served as a steward for the FRRC. Join us as Steve reflects upon his racing career which began at the now defunct Outagamie Speedway in Apple Creek. 

THE 'BRANCH FLASH' - GREG HERRMANN 05.04.2021

Not many know where Branch, Wisconsin is, but it's the hometown of 'The Branch Flash' Greg Herrmann. Herrmann is a former Eastern Wisconsin Stock Car Association (EWSC) and Mid-American sportsman racer. He's also a race car builder and as of late has been instrumental in breathing new life into the Wisconsin and Michigan dirt street stocks through the Unified Street Stock rules package. Listen in!

'DON'T MESS WITH NESS' - CATCHING UP WITH GREEN BAY NATIVE GREG NESS 29.03.2021

The Ness name has been a popular one in the Green Bay area racing circles dating back to Earl Ness' dominance at the Brown County Fairgrounds in De Pere in the '50s and '60s. Greg Ness kept that family name alive in local racing circles for several seasons beginning in the late 1980s. Listen in as Greg talks about his career which started out in Shawano Speedway's hobby stock division.

JIMBO SCHLEIS - FROM RACER TO TRACK OFFICIAL 25.03.2021

When it was time for Manitowoc, Wisconsin's Jimbo Schleis to hang up his helmet he found a way to stay involved with the sport he loved - he became a track official. Listen in on this interview as Jimbo talks about the mini champ era that was strong in the 1980s at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek and eventually at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. Schleis also wheeled a Mid-American Sport...

JERRY MUENSTER - LIVING LIFE IN THE FAST LANE 22.03.2021

Green Bay's Jerry Muenster shows no signs of slowing down. He'll turn 80 in May, yet he plans on a full season of racing his IMCA modified at Shawano Speedway in Saturday nights in 2021.

PETE CLOVER - A GREEN BAY COP WHO RACED 'UNDERCOVER' 19.03.2021

Green Bay's Pete Clover was a Green Bay police officer who was pressured to race under an assumed name - Joe Scharenbroch. Listen in on this funny story about a man who wheeled a race car during the popular coupe racing days in the '60s in De Pere and Luxemburg, WIsconsin.

MICHIGAN'S RON BACIAK - FROM DIRT TRACK WINGED MODS TO LATE MODELS ON THE TAR 16.03.2021

Norway (MI) Speedway 2017 Hall of Famer Ron Baciak of Vulcan, Michigan talks about his days of slinging clay with the big and powerful winged modifieds in the 1970's and the transition to pavement late models in the 1980's and beyond. Listen in!

ANDY GEIGER - FROM 100 CAR ENDUROS TO WIR SPORT TRUCK CHAMPIONSHIPS 12.03.2021

Brillion, Wisconsin's Andy Geiger got his racing career started racing full sized car enduros at 141 Speedway's paved track. From there he wound up toying with a mini champ and eventually scored a pair of Fox River Racing Club sport truck crowns at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. Listen in as Andy reflects upon his colorful career!

PETE BERKEN - MAKING WIR'S 1/4 MILE OVAL GREAT AGAIN 09.03.2021

Appleton, Wisconsin's Pete Berken has been involved in the stock car racing game since 1970. In recent years the former Fox River Racing Club sportsman champion has poured his heart and soul into breathing new life at WIR's 1/4 oval with the 1/4 mile late model class. Listen in on this dandy of an interview.

"TOM CAT" TOM SIPPEL - EARLY DAYS OF EWSC 02.03.2021

Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin's Tom Sippel recalls the days when you could throw a modified together pretty cheap with scrapyard parts. Sippel's career wrapped up in 1975. Sippel talks about racing at Plymouth, Chilton and Slinger Super Speedway when it was still dirt back in the day. Listen in!

BEETLE BAILEY - NORTHERN WISCONSIN RACING LEGEND 26.02.2021

Mike "Beetle" Bailey, who resides in tiny Argonne, WIsconsin (population 503) is a Northern Wisconsin racing legend who's still going strong in 2021. Bailey won the very first race ever held at KG Raceway (now Eagle River Speedway) in 1975. Listen in as Beetle talks about days gone by and his racing days ahead!

RICK LEMMENS - FROM DRIVER TO CAR OWNER 22.02.2021

Beginning in the late 1980's Kewaunee, Wisconsin's Rick Lemmens had a colorful racing career on both the dirt and paved tracks across northeastern Wisconsin and the Midwest. Listen to Rick talk about his own time behind the wheel and in 2021 as a car owner for his son Luke Lemmens.

"BROADWAY JOE" HAFERKORN GOES ON THE RECORD 15.02.2021

Norway, Michigan's Joe Haferkorn talks the winged modified era, pavement late model days, Forest County Potawatomi sponsorship and an incident in the IMCA claim area with Paul Thorpe. Great stuff! Give it a listen!

A LOOK BACK WITH THE "FRANKLIN FLYER" BILL PRIETZEL 08.02.2021

You'd have to look pretty hard to find a more diverse stock car driver in Wisconsin that Bill Prietzel.  The "Franklin Flyer" caught up with Joe Verdegan recently at the Luxemburg Racing Show and talked about the past and his 2021 racing plans. As you can imagine they don't include slowing down anytime soon! Give it a listen!

GOING 'OPEN WHEELIN' WITH RANDY SIPPEL 03.02.2021

Randy Sippel has been an integral part of the Midwestern open wheel scene for decades. The second-generation driver talks about his past days of racing sprint cars himself and transitioning into the crew chief/car owner roles. Enjoy!

REFLECTIONS ON A RACING CAREER - BRIAN THIELKE 29.01.2021

Green Bay's Brian Thielke is one of very few drivers who can lay claim to winning a feature in their first time out ever in a late model. That win and his hard-charging, aggressive style quickly earned him respect amongst his peers. We recently caught up with Brian and he reflected upon his brief, but colorful career in northeast Wisconsin! Listen in!

On The Record with Dave Valentyne 25.01.2021

After he racing days were wrapped up in the 1980's Kimberly, Wisconsin native Dave Valentyne became a "right hand man" so to speak for Roger Van Daalwyk at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. Dave is still a fixture at the track. We caught up with Dave as he talked about his colorful career which started in the wild and crazy Figure 8 division. Give it a listen!

"THE DUKE" STILL HAVING FUN DURING WIR'S "THURSDAY NIGHT THUNDER" 17.01.2021

Going on five decades now, Jim Duchow continues to be involved in stock car racing at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. Listen to this interview as the former quarter-mile sportsman standout and super late model competitor talks about the past, the present and the future of local racing.

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