For Weston Ramsrud, older seems to be better

For some drivers, running an older race car might be considered a detriment. For Weston Ramsrud of Bagley, it’s almost a badge of honor.

Ramsrud races the #67 Wissota Street Stock at tracks across the region, including at River Cities Speedway, Bemidji Speedway and Greenbush Race Park.  He’s driving a car built by his father, Chad – way back in 1996.

He is competitive in the car – he has 13 top fives in 15 starts this season with one feature win. For Ramsrud, racing an older car against much newer equipment has become a source of pride.

“It feels really good,” Ramsrud said of competing in an older car. “It’s a built not bought type deal.”

Ramsrud, a 37-year-old mechanic, has been racing since 2010. He did some ATV and snowmobile racing prior to moving to a race car. He ran a hornet, mini-stock and a pure stock in his early years. He’s also raced Wissota Street Stocks, Midwest Modifieds and Wissota Modifieds, but his focus in recent years has mainly been on his streeter.

“This is fun,” Ramsrud said. “This is my dad’s old car, there are still things I want to accomplish in it. It’s a fun project running an old car.”

It was his father, Chad’s racing that got him into the sport years ago.

“That’s what’s showed me and got me interested,” Ramsrud said.

He had a solid year in 2024 with 10 top fives, including a feature win, in 15 street stock starts. In 2023 he posted four feature wins.

“A lot of hard work in the shop, trying to make it better and faster,” Ramsrud said of being competitive. “We’re always working on it. I’ve got a good motor, that always helps.”

He’s raced at eight different tracks so far in 2025, ranging from Greenbush to Ogilvie to Granite City. He likes the bullring at River Cifies Speedway in Grand Forks, and he’s currently third in the points there, just four behind leader John Halvorson heading into Friday’s program. Bemidji Speedway has added the Wissota Streets for several shows this summer, and that allows Ramsrud to race closer to his Bagley home.

“This is one of my favorite tracks here,” Ramsrud said from the pit area at River Cities. “I’ll basically look at the Wissota page and see what’s running and where we’d want to race. We’re trying to support the tracks that are giving streets a chance.”

Racing is a family deal for Ramsrud, as evident by the picture above. What does he exactly like about racing?

“Everything,” Ramsrud said. “I just like being here. There’s not much I don’t like about it, other than the expense.”

Driver profile

Weston Ramsrud

Wissota Street Stock #67

Residence: Bagley, Minn.

Age: 37

Sponsors: None