Races and events are back on track at the Crandon International Off-Road Raceway.
Last year, the raceway wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of turnout.
It pushed back the June Brush Run to the end of September and kept theOff-Road World Championships on its usual Labor Day weekend.
Raceway promoter Marty Fiolka said turnout was great for the Championships but down for the Brush Run.
“I think for every business, we tried to pivot as best we could to do all the legal things we needed to do here for state, county, local officials while we still had a fan base that wanted to come out and watch racing,” said Fiolka. “It was tough year, certainly for planning. We had to cancel a lot of our concerts, gatherings, that type and just kind of focus getting people to come out and the races safely, which we did.”
The raceway thought this year would mean more changes as well. Last November, the Crandon International Off-Road Raceway announced it was transitioning to a traditional business rather than as the non-profits its operated as for the last 51 years.
That transition isn’t happening this year, according to raceway Fiolka.
“In the subsequent months that opportunity fell through and we’re just going on as we always have as a non-profit to get through the season here in 2021,” he said.
While it will be business as usual, the raceway is finding more ways to bring people to the track.
It will be hosting the 28th annual Brush Run at the end of this month and the 52nd Off-Road World Championship over Labor Day weekend.
The raceway is also expanding its Forest County Festival over 4th of July weekend.
New this year, the raceway is opening its grounds to camping all summer long.
“A lot of people will come for a day or two or a week or a month and obviously that includes the big race weekend. We have also the big 4th of July Festival here too with one the largest firework displays in Wisconsin,” said Fiolka. “Also concerts by country band Diamond Rio, so we’re kind of opening the facility more which was part of the plan all along. We used to be open only 8 days a year for the two race weekends. Now we’re trying to expand the facilities and use it more.”
Fiolka said he’s excited to have big events back with the COVID-19 pandemic looming overheard.
You can learn more about the events planned as the new camping options on the Crandon International Off-Road Raceway website.
