Engebretson in hot pursuit of track championship at Viking Speedway

A lot of race-car drivers set goals for their upcoming seasons. Wissota Midwest Modified driver Travis Engebretson had one simple one in mind for his 2025 season at Viking Speedway in Alexandria.

“Win that track championship,” Engebretson said. “I would really love that. That would make me feel pretty good about myself.”

In the previous two seasons, Engebretson has come close. He was third behind Taylor Bitzan and Ron Saurer in 2023, and in 2024, fell 22 points short of a championship as Tanner Bitzan finished atop the standings.

“I’ve been trying, the last two years, pretty hard here in Alex,” Engebretson said. “Hopefully, this year, it’ll go a little better.”

The points race isn’t over by any means at Viking, but Engebretson has started strong. He had five wins in his first seven starts at the half-mile before suffering his first DNF of the season last Saturday. He leads the points at Viking Speedway by 13 points over Haley Dykhoff and 14 over Ron Saurer in a competitive race.

“One of the best starts to a season I’ve ever had,” Engebretson said. “Racing always comes with its fair share of challenges, and I know there’s more to face ahead but that’s part of what makes it so rewarding.”

The last name and 1X are familiar to Viking Speedway fans.  Terry Engebretson, Travis’s father, was the first Viking Speedway Midwest Modified track champion in 1999 and raced for many years in that division before moving to the Wissota Modifieds. 

“I used to come to the races with him ever since I was a kid,” Engebretson said. “It’s definitely his fault why this is happening.”

Terry Engebretson is unofficially retired from driving but still helps his son from time to time.

“Motor stuff – he’s pretty smart when it comes to that. That helps a lot,” Engebretson said. “A couple of times he’s saved me quite a bit of time and a headache.”

Travis Engebretson got his start in 2017 in the Wissota Midwest Modified class, and in 2018, picked up his first career feature win at Fiesta City Speedway in Montevideo. From 2018-24 he had eight feature wins in the class, racing mainly at Viking, I-94 EMR Speedway and Fiesta City. He credits the assistance of Wissota Modified driver and friend Justin Froemming for his success.

“Consistency is key,” Engebretson said. “Keeping up on your maintenance, and trying not to have DNFs. SSR has built a great car and they are very helpful. I called them a couple of times last year and they helped us get through a couple of the rough patches.”

There are only a handful of points races left at Viking before the season championship night on Aug. 23, and that remains the focus for the 27-year-old Engebretson, who works in the family Engebretson and Son Disposal business.  And the competition of the points race is one of the things he enjoys about racing.

“I love the speed and the competitive nature,” Engebretson said. “I love the competitiveness, that’s a lot of it. And I’m always had an interest in cars, I think their cool.”

Driver Profile

Travis Engebretson

Wissota Midwest Modified 1X

Residence: Cyrus, Minn.

Age: 27

Sponsors: Meixel Truck Sales, Big Whitey’s Bar and Grill, Northern Tractor and Implement, Ken Nohl Farms, Thompson’s Insulation, Aquarius Home Services, Engebretson’s Disposal, Flaten Trucking, Tera’s spaw and Pet Resort, Sturdy Racing Engines