AUTO RACING

Race day (and a little extra in the wee hours) at Slinger Speedway's 45th Slinger Nationals

Portrait of Dave Kallmann Dave Kallmann
An emotional Brad Mueller wipes away tears after being declared the winner of the 45th Slinger Nationals in the early hours of Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at the Slinger Speedway in Slinger, Wisconsin.
An emotional Brad Mueller wipes away tears after being declared the winner of the 45th Slinger Nationals in the early hours of Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at the Slinger Speedway in Slinger, Wisconsin.
Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
A car flashing by on the front stretch is seen between two men in the pits.
A car flashing by on the front stretch is seen between two men in the pits.
Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Johnny DeAngelis cleans his car before practice.
Johnny DeAngelis cleans his car before practice.
Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Three-time and defending winner Ty Majeski keeps track of other drivers’ laps before getting into his car.
Three-time and defending winner Ty Majeski keeps track of other drivers’ laps before getting into his car.
Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Gio Ruggiero (22) drives into Turn 1 during practice.
Gio Ruggiero (22) drives into Turn 1 during practice.
Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Six-time track champion Steve Apel sits in his car between runs.
Six-time track champion Steve Apel sits in his car between runs.
Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Andrew Morrissey (39) drives into Turn 1 during practice.
Andrew Morrissey (39) drives into Turn 1 during practice.
Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Max Kahler (17) drives down the front straight during practice.
Max Kahler (17) drives down the front straight during practice.
Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Johnny Sauter drives down the back straight in practice.
Johnny Sauter drives down the back straight in practice.
Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Four-time Nationals champion Rich Bickle makes a practice run while crew chief Tony D’Ambrose watches.
Four-time Nationals champion Rich Bickle makes a practice run while crew chief Tony D’Ambrose watches.
Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Preece waits between sessions.
NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Preece waits between sessions.
Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Levon VanDerGeest sits in his car before a run.
Levon VanDerGeest sits in his car before a run.
Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Steve Apel (in red) talks with teammate RJ Braun as Austin Nason (14) drives by in qualifying.
Steve Apel (in red) talks with teammate RJ Braun as Austin Nason (14) drives by in qualifying.
Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Ty Majeski, left, talks with Austin Nason after they qualified. Nason was elevated to first after Andrew Morrissey's time was disallowed.
Ty Majeski, left, talks with Austin Nason after they qualified. Nason was elevated to first after Andrew Morrissey's time was disallowed.
Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Andrew Morrissey (39) talks with track owner Todd Thelen after his qualifying effort was disqualified for a weight violation. The team said the car was three pounds light due to the gas tank not being full.
Andrew Morrissey (39) talks with track owner Todd Thelen after his qualifying effort was disqualified for a weight violation. The team said the car was three pounds light due to the gas tank not being full.
Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Levi Nason, the 6-year-old son of driver Austin Nason, sits on the window ledge of his father’s car during opening ceremonies.
Levi Nason, the 6-year-old son of driver Austin Nason, sits on the window ledge of his father’s car during opening ceremonies.
Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
A fan records a parade lap.
A fan records a parade lap.
Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Fans watch the start of the Slinger Nationals at dusk.
Fans watch the start of the Slinger Nationals at dusk.
Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Ty Majeski’s crew works on his car after he was involved in a crash early in the feature.
Ty Majeski’s crew works on his car after he was involved in a crash early in the feature.
Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Jordan DeVoy (38), RJ Braun (92) and Ryan Preece (62) battle on the track.
Jordan DeVoy (38), RJ Braun (92) and Ryan Preece (62) battle on the track.
Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Derek Kraus (9) and Brad Mueller (89) race for position in the Slinger Nationals. Mueller was declared the winner after post-race inspection.
Derek Kraus (9) and Brad Mueller (89) race for position in the Slinger Nationals. Mueller was declared the winner after post-race inspection.
Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Ryan Preece looks over his car after being involved in a crash on the 146th lap.
Ryan Preece looks over his car after being involved in a crash on the 146th lap.
Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Derek Thorn, left, helps Andrew Morrissey open a bottle of bubbly in victory lane. Morrissey crossed the finish line first but was disqualified, leaving Brad Mueller as the winner and Thorn second.
Derek Thorn, left, helps Andrew Morrissey open a bottle of bubbly in victory lane. Morrissey crossed the finish line first but was disqualified, leaving Brad Mueller as the winner and Thorn second.
Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Andrew Morrissey talks with track owner Todd Thelen in the inspection area after the feature. Morrissey took the checkered flag first but was disqualified for violation of rules related to the body on his car.
Andrew Morrissey talks with track owner Todd Thelen in the inspection area after the feature. Morrissey took the checkered flag first but was disqualified for violation of rules related to the body on his car.
Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel