Documenting the history of the Waukon, Iowa speedway

The Waukon Speedway ceased to exist as an operating racing track in 1978. It is the goal of this website to document the history of the track, stock cars and drivers who brought so much joy and entertainment to the Tri-State area during this time. The quarter mile dirt track may no longer exist but many great memories and legends live on. We ask your help in sharing those here.

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Gallery

We are always looking for more photos to add to our photo gallery. You can upload a photo here.

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Don Ellingson's number 5 buick sitting on his property north of Waukon in 1975. '42 Buick, 320, full house,Q.C. 375H-6500 R. 10 yr.3/8 dirt=10K laps, 3 inseat susp adj. V8 eater built in 1968.

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Newspaper clipping: Randy Mason of Waukon, wins another race at the Winneshiek County Fairgrounds in his #99 Hudson Hornet. Mason had won the class "A" race last week. He is the point leader in his racing class and has won all but one race at the Decorah track.

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Jerry Sweeney in car number 1 and Randy Mason in his car number 99.

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Photo of Don Ellingson's number 5 car after the big wreck in turn number 1.

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Don Ellingson of Waukon and his brother-in-law standing in front of his winning number 5 Buick.

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Pete Fink on right, brother Mike Fink on left of New Albin after purchasing the number 5 car from Don Ellingson.

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Pete Fink going through pre-race checks in the pit at the Waukon Speedway.

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Warming up the number 5 car during hotlaps in Waukon.

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Pet Fink's number 3 Camaro.

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Pete Fink's #3 Camaro sitting on the trailer.

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A view of the once packed grandstand at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds. People would come hours before a race to secure their seats.

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Marv Roe's new car in 1972. It proved to be fast enough to beat even Randy Mason at times. He sold the car a year later to Gene Hertrampf.

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Don Ellingson winning his first race in his number 5 buick.

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Pat McMillan-1972

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Don Ellingson's number 5 buick warming up.

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Wayne Running 1956 Ford 223 Ovh 6

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October 1967 jerry schaughts

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Wayne Running's #57 in July 1967

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Emory Fretheim

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The number 5 car restored by Dean Barth of Decorah. The car was built in 1968, raced for 10 years and sat for 30 years before being restored by Dean.

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The restored number 5 car sitting on the track in Decorah.

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Engine view of the number 5 car restored by Dean Barth.

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Side view of restored #5 car by Dean Barth with Jan Sweeney's car sitting in the background.

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Don Fink of New Albin posing with his trophy.

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Pete Fink posing with his crew Mike Burroughs and (Rodney ?Occo? Fink?) next to his old car at the Decorah Speeway.

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No Descriptiongary hovey or ron

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Pete Fink on left, Gerald "Jug" Darling on right

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Robbie Burrett loaded up and ready for racing.

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Car number 111 of Caledonia getting ready to head to track in Waukon in 1977.

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Scott Smerud, Tom Schutz & Myron Kinneberg of Caledonia in 1977

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I believe this is in Decorah. Not sure of the year. Hovey in the number 4 and Fink in the number 3 car.

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Also believe this is in Decorah. The #89 is Gary Hovey. Fink in the #3.

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No Description

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Trophy winners: Emory Fretheim, Don Fink, Gordon Anderson, Wayne Running, and Otis Tollefson.

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Top 10 points from 1974-1st yr. of operation as Tri-State Racing w/ Jim Juve as President.

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Top 10 from 1972

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Waukon Speedway

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Lew Torgerson going through the fence at Waukon

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Cars at Waukon waiting for a restart-1964 first season

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Sunday afternoon final race of 1964 season

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1st night of racing at Waukon

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1967 awards banquet-waukon

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Ray Rausch - Fort Atkinson, Iowa. 1967

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1969 Points-Senior hobby

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1969 Points-Junior hobby

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August 12, 1965 ad for Allamakee County Fair races.

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Jug Darling crash-Waukon

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1967 Points

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My best effort at a hand-drawn logo

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Gordy Anderson-new track record at Decorah

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Another photo/ad for fair races at Waukon in August of '65. #10 believed to be Don Kruse.

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Taken at Decorah, from left; Tom Erickson, Ron Hovey, Walt Hovey.

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Close racing at Decorah between (l to r) Don Nesteby, Dave Dvorak and Walt Hovey.

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Dale Donlon rolls his car on fourth turn at Decorah. He showed up at Labor Day race to challenge Tom Erickson (not Mason-my mistake) to a one-on-one duel, which never took place after this incident in his heat.

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Driver introduction time

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Marv Roe taking another win, this one at Decorah. It is believed he debuted this new car in 1972, which is the year of this photo. After taking the point title at Decorah that year, by the following season had sold that car to Gene Hertrampf.

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Emmett Nesteby from Decorah, Iowa. 1968

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Gerald "Jug" Darling from New Albin, Iowa. 1968

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Dale Halvorson from Decorah, Iowa. 1968

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Rich Meyer from Waukon, Iowa - 1968

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Denny Vesterse - Junior Hobby Class 1968

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Cliff Hughes - Junior hobby class 1968

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Gary Rutledge from Decorah, Iowa - 1968

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John Fritz from Waukon, Iowa - 1968

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Don Nesteby on the right from Decorah, Iowa - 1968

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Chuck Peterson from Decorah, Iowa. - 1968 - This car was totaled out at Waukon, Iowa.

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Jim Bollman from Monona, Iowa 1968. D feature trophy at Waukon and Winneshiek County Fair.

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Dale Donlan from Decorah, Iowa - 1968

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Jr. Halverson-1968

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Tom Erickson-1968

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Gary Nolting-Jr. Hobby 1968

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Marv Roe-1968

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Emory Fretheim-1968

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Tom McCormick-Jr. Hobby-1968

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Gary Hovey - Decorah, Iowa: Won "B" feature trophy race at Winneshiek County Fair in 1968

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Owen Thorson, New Albin, Ia, C Feature - 1968

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1968. Jerry Engen used #49, which would later be also on the doors of Larry Engen's cars. This car was totaled out during the Winneshiek County Fair.

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Walt Hovey - Decorah, Ia: Won "A" feature trophy race at Allamakee County Fair Waukon Speedway and Winneshiek County Fair in 1968.

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1968- (Buck) Don Myers driver. Cletus Myers. Don Plenkequel, Tony Humpal, Don Buck Myers. 1957 Chevy. When my dad Tony Humpal passed away we found all the parts that were taken off of 8-1957 Chevys to make it into a stock car.

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Car 102 - Owners: Mervin Quinnell and Steve Quinnel from Spring Grove, Minnesota in 1968.

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Randy Mason and his father Keith standing by their Hudson Hornet in August 1968, which would actually have a second life as the '73 season opened. The car had a Javelin body and the word Hornet on the sides.

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Dan McMillan-1972

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My grandfather Darrell Gilbert owner of Gilberts Ambulance, served the race track for years. I remember attending the races with him when I was a child. -Kevin lindblom

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July 18, 1976 Waukon Speedway Points Sheet

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1X Floyd Ingles getting his 1957 Chevy ready.. Picture taken in 1967

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L/R: Ron Smith, Bob Ingles, Floyd Ingles. Kneeling, Bob Weber in front of Floyd Ingles' 1X chevy.

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Art Ingles, Floyd Ingles and Don Jenkins.

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Bob Ingles painting the number 1X on Floyd Ingles' car.

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Bob and Joanne Ingles next to the 1X Chevy.

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Floyd Ingles test driving the 1X '57 Chevy.

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