1981–1989
9 editions
YearWinner
1981Dick Trickle
1982Dick Trickle
1983Kevin Stepan
1984Tom Reffner
1985Dick Trickle
1986Kevin Cywinski
1987Tom Reffner
1988Wayne Breitenfeldt
1989Wayne Lodholz
Upper Midwest Special Event Archive
Larry Detjens Memorial Race
46 Editions of Wisconsin Short-Track Memorial History
First run in 1981, the Larry Detjens Memorial honors one of Wisconsin short-track racing's standout drivers and has carried his name across generations of late model competition. The Museum preserves a year-by-year winner chronology through the 46th running in 2026.
Editions Preserved
46
Years
1981–2026
Different Winners
28
Most Wins
Mark Mackesy • 4
Honoring Larry Detjens
A Wisconsin short-track standout remembered through an enduring late model tradition.The Memorial began in 1981 after Detjens died in a racing accident earlier that season. His career included the 1977 State Park Speedway championship and major victories such as the Slinger Nationals and Oktoberfest. The annual race became a lasting part of Wisconsin's late model calendar and a gathering point for generations of regional racers.
The Tradition Continues
From State Park to the modern Dells era.State Park Speedway became the race's longtime home, with other Wisconsin venues appearing in the event's history. After State Park Speedway closed, the Memorial continued at Dells Raceway Park. Casey Johnson won the 46th annual running there in 2026.
From the Museum Photo Collection
Remembering Larry Detjens
Original period images supplied to the museum archive.
Multiple-Time Winners
Drivers with More Than One Memorial Victory
Mark Mackesy leads the museum chronology with four wins.
4 wins
Mark Mackesy
1999 • 2006 • 2012 • 2025
3 wins
Chris Weinkauf
2003 • 2010 • 2011
3 wins
Dick Trickle
1981 • 1982 • 1985
3 wins
Donnie Woller
1991 • 1994 • 1997
2 wins
Casey Johnson
2018 • 2026
2 wins
Chris Wimmer
2000 • 2017
2 wins
Eugene Gregorich Jr.
2007 • 2008
2 wins
Justin Mondeik
2020 • 2024
2 wins
Kirby Kurth
1992 • 1995
2 wins
Scott Wimmer
2001 • 2002
2 wins
Tim Sauter
2013 • 2014
2 wins
Tom Reffner
1984 • 1987
2 wins
Wayne Breitenfeldt
1988 • 1996
Museum Chronology Note
This archive preserves the continuous 46-edition lineage from 1981 through 2026.Some later retrospective winner lists differ on four early/middle-era entries. The museum chronology shown here preserves 1988 Wayne Breitenfeldt, 1989 Wayne Lodholz, and Eugene Gregorich Jr. in both 2007 and 2008. Deeper finishing orders are published only where a reliable surviving source supports them.
Complete Winner Chronology
1981–2026 Winners by Year
46 editions • 28 different winners • deeper finishing orders are shown below where preserved.
1990–1999
10 editions
YearWinner
1990Bryan Reffner
1991Donnie Woller
1992Kirby Kurth
1993Joe Krzykowski
1994Donnie Woller
1995Kirby Kurth
1996Wayne Breitenfeldt
1997Donnie Woller
1998Jesse Haase
1999Mark Mackesy
2000–2009
10 editions
YearWinner
2000Chris Wimmer
2001Scott Wimmer
2002Scott Wimmer
2003Chris Weinkauf
2004Charlie Menard
2005Allen Check
2006Mark Mackesy
2007Eugene Gregorich Jr.
2008Eugene Gregorich Jr.
2009Andrew Morrissey
2010–2019
10 editions
YearWinner
2010Chris Weinkauf
2011Chris Weinkauf
2012Mark Mackesy
2013Tim Sauter
2014Tim Sauter
2015Johnny Sauter
2016Derek Kraus
2017Chris Wimmer
2018Casey Johnson
2019Gabe Sommers
2020–2026
7 editions
YearWinner
2020Justin Mondeik
2021Ty Majeski
2022Jonathan Eilen
2023Brock Heinrich
2024Justin Mondeik
2025Mark Mackesy
2026Casey Johnson