Midwest Truck Series Comes “Home” This Sunday Afternoon
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- 2 min read
By: Kevin Ramsell
Oregon, WI - On a sunny Saturday in September 1996, original Pathfinder Chassis owner Kevin Laatsch rolled out his latest chassis out of the trailer. This time, it didn’t have a late model body on it; it was a pickup truck body.
Inspired by the new NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series that debuted in 1995, Laatsch built the chassis with the hopes of creating a new division at Madison International Speedway.
Laatsch invited drivers Travis Kvapil, John Rucker, and Wayne Whitford to come out and take turns making laps around Wisconsin’s fastest half-mile oval. That test led to a new division being formed in 1997 at Madison, where Dave Grueneberg was the inaugural track champion.
Joe Wood and Jason Schuler would later purchase Pathfinder Chassis from Laatsch and focus on building more truck chassis. With the interest and growth, along with the plan of using the GM 602 crate engine, the idea of a new affordable series was born.
Today, the Midwest Truck Series is one of the top touring asphalt series competing across the Midwest.
This Sunday, May 3rd, the Midwest Truck Series returns to its birthplace for the Joe Shear Classic 36 presented by Bullseye Games.
Sunday’s event will be the 34th time the Midwest Truck Series has competed at Madison International Speedway.
Last year, Eugene Gregorich III broke through to claim his first-ever Midwest Truck Series victory at the Joe Shear Classic. Gregorich has been fast at Madison as he has won the fast qualifier award in two of the last four visits at MIS.
James Swan comes into Sunday’s race after winning the series’ recent visit last July. It was the fourth time at MIS, and he will be looking at another victory to tie him with Chester Ace with the most checkered flags.
Kevin Knuese has three victories while Jerry Wood and John Wood (series owner) have two victories.
Blake Brown won the season opener earlier this month at the Icebreaker at Dells Raceway Park. Brown could be looking for two in a row on Sunday as he was the last MIS truck division champion in 2014.
Two-time defending Series champion Brandon Reichenberger has one victory at MIS after winning the Howie Lettow Classic in 2024.
Other former winners expected to compete this Sunday include 2021 winner Tristan Swanson and 2024 winner Jeff Holtz.
So far, there are 33 entries for the Joe Shear Classic 36 by Bullseye Games.
Qualifying starts at 12:45 p.m. with racing at 2 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now at misracing.com. Fans who purchase advance tickets will be granted pit access from 9-11 a.m.
For more information about the Midwest Truck Series, please visit midwesttruckseries.com and on many popular social media platforms.
