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Joe Shear at Capital Super Speedway
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Upper Midwest Special Event Archive

Joe Shear Classic

Madison's Spring Memorial for a Midwest Short-Track Legend

Madison International Speedway and the ASA Midwest Tour have honored Joe Shear with the Joe Shear Classic since 2008. The race began as a 100-lap event and became a 200-lap Super Late Model test in 2017.

View All WinnersMadison / Capital Archive
Editions
19
Years
2008–2026
Current Distance
200 laps
Most Wins
Ty Majeski • 3
Honoring Joe Shear
A driver deeply tied to the Oregon, Wisconsin half-mile.

Madison International Speedway's history credits Shear with four track championships at Capital Super Speedway — the earlier name of today's Madison International Speedway — and 66 feature victories at the oval. The memorial race keeps that Madison connection at the center of the event.

The Classic
From 100 laps to a 200-lap spring centerpiece.

The inaugural race was held May 4, 2008, with more than 40 cars entered and 28 taking the green. Dan Fredrickson won the first 100-lapper. The event expanded to 200 laps in 2017. The only edition away from Madison came in 2020, when the pandemic moved the race to Dells Raceway Park.

Joe Shear at Capital

Museum Photo Collection

Joe Shear at Capital Super Speedway, 1975.
Joe Shear at Capital Super Speedway in 1975
Joe Shear — Capital Super Speedway, 1975Mike Napierala photo
Multiple-Time Winners

Drivers with More Than One Joe Shear Classic Win

Ty Majeski became the first three-time winner with victories in 2016, 2023 and 2024.
3 wins
Ty Majeski
2016 • 2023 • 2024
2 wins
Andrew Morrissey
2012 • 2017
2 wins
Austin Nason
2018 • 2026
2 wins
Casey Johnson
2022 • 2025
2 wins
Johnny Sauter
2015 • 2020
2 wins
Nathan Haseleu
2009 • 2014
2020 Exception
One Joe Shear Classic was run away from Madison.

The 2020 event moved to Dells Raceway Park during the COVID-19 pandemic. Johnny Sauter won with a last-lap pass on Casey Johnson. The Classic returned to Madison in 2021.

Complete Winner Chronology

2008–2026

Winner lineage through the 19th running in 2026.
YearWinnerVenue
2008Dan FredricksonMadison International Speedway
2009Nathan HaseleuMadison International Speedway
2010Steve CarlsonMadison International Speedway
2011Ross KensethMadison International Speedway
2012Andrew MorrisseyMadison International Speedway
2013Travis SauterMadison International Speedway
2014Nathan HaseleuMadison International Speedway
2015Johnny SauterMadison International Speedway
2016Ty MajeskiMadison International Speedway
2017Andrew MorrisseyMadison International Speedway
2018Austin NasonMadison International Speedway
2019Bubba PollardMadison International Speedway
2020Johnny SauterDells Raceway Park
2021Rich Bickle Jr.Madison International Speedway
2022Casey JohnsonMadison International Speedway
2023Ty MajeskiMadison International Speedway
2024Ty MajeskiMadison International Speedway
2025Casey JohnsonMadison International Speedway
2026Austin NasonMadison International Speedway
Primary Event History
Madison International Speedway maintains the official Joe Shear Classic history.

The museum chronology follows Madison's published past-winners list through 2025 and the track's 2026 report identifying Austin Nason as the May 3, 2026 winner.

Madison International Speedway event history →
Special EventsBrowse all events →Madison / CapitalOpen track archive →Dells Raceway Park2020 host →