While one storyline is gone from the $15,000-to-win ASA Midwest Tour Gandrud Auto Group 250 on Aug. 4, the most pervasive one in recent year remains: Who can challenge Ty Majeski?
The winner’s list for the Tuesday night special at Wisconsin International Raceway reads like a who’s who of state greats of days past such as Dick Trickle, Joe Shear, Jim Sauter and Steve Carlson, and drivers who were on their way to NASCAR or already stars, such as Mark Martin and Kyle Busch.
The most dominant stretch in the race’s on-and-off 45-year history, though, belongs to Majeski, who scored five victories in six years from 2019-24 on the odd-shaped half-mile in Kaukauna.
Rising Cup Series star Carson Hocevar, who raced through the field to fifth in 2025 before being disqualified, had planned to try again in Wisconsin’s longest short-track race. He was forced to withdraw due to a schedule change in commitments to his NASCAR team, promoter Gregg McKarns said.
Here’s a look at the basics and some of the drivers – including defending winner Luke Fenhaus – who could be contenders in the 42nd running.
2026 Gandrud 250 schedule
2:15 p.m. – first of three Midwest Tour practice sessions
5 p.m. – qualifying begins with Midwest Truck Series; Midwest Tour to follow
6 p.m. – racing begins with Midwest Truck Series last chance race, followed by Midwest Tour last chance race, Midwest Truck feature (35 laps) and Midwest Tour feature (250 laps)
2026 Gandrud 250 tickets
Tickets for the Gandrud 250 cost $30 at the gate and are available for $25 via the Ticket Hoss app.
Seven drivers to watch in the Gandrud 250 at Wisconsin International Raceway
Luke Fenhaus: In addition to his victory in 2025, Fenhaus finished fourth or better in three of the previous four years and raced Majeski for the win in ’24 before finishing seventh.
Ty Fredrickson: The winner of the Midwest Tour’s most recent race (July 24, Madison International Speedway) also won WIR’s Spring Classic 75 in May and raced for the lead in the 250 last year.
Carson Hocevar: The lone NASCAR Cup representative is again in first-rate equipment from Wauters Motorsports, which is affiliated with his team, Spire Motorsports. After his qualifying time was disallowed in 2025 due to the car being underweight, Hocevar raced his way to the top five only to be disqualified for an axle-diameter violation on his car.
Casey Johnson: The winner after Kyle Busch was disqualified in 2017 still is looking for an on-track win. He was runner-up in 2022, and his car finished fifth with another driver in ’23 while Johnson was limited due to injuries.
Ty Majeski: The 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion from Seymour won five of six 250s from 2019-24 and was a contender last year before falling out after two spins that involved contact.
Austin Nason: After intending to retire after last season, Nason won the 2026 Midwest Tour opener at Madison. He was runner-up to Fenhaus last year and has finished fourth twice.
Gabe Sommers: Another consistent top-five finisher in the event, the two-time Midwest Tour champion actually took the checkered flag first in 2024 but was then penalized a lap for using an unapproved tire.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Seven drivers to watch in Wisconsin’s longest short-track race of 2026
Reporting by Dave Kallmann, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dave Kallmann, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
