Midwest Modified driver Jacobson values the family part of racing

Only 24 years old, Taylor Jacobson of Roseau is doing his best to continue the family tradition of racing as he pilots his #46J Wissota Midwest Modified.

“My dad raced back in the 80s,” Jacobson said. “It’s been in the family a long time. His dad was into racing. It’s pretty much a family tradition at this point.”

He’s in his seventh overall year of racing and fourth in the Midwest modified class. He got his start in the Wissota Street Stock class at Greenbush Race Park, which is about a half-hour from his Roseau home.

Jacobson races at various tracks in the region but has been a top points car at Norman County Raceway the past two seasons. He was third in the Wissota Mid Mod points at NCR in 2023 and second in the points at the track in 2024 and entering Thursday night, is just seven points behind Corey Storck in the 2025 standings.  It’s about a 140-mile trip one way from Roseau to Norman County Raceway in Ada on Thursday nights, but Jacobson has made it worthwhile in recent years.

“For us, it’s coming out and putting on the best performance we can every week,” Jacobson said. “We’re not much points racers. We just race when we can race.”

Jacobson, who works as a business analyst for Marvin Windows and Doors, also races at Greenbush Race Park, which is about a half-hour from his Roseau home, and makes some trips to River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks.

Jacobson is one of a handful of Wissota Midwest Modified drivers who run a Crate engine. At times, those engines may provide an advantage, especially on smaller, slick tracks, but are more of a challenge on tacky tracks.

“They have a little more torque, a little bit less horsepower,” Jacobson said. “Many of the smaller, slicker tracks I usually have an advantage. It is a little bit tougher when it comes to running around the top when it’s really tacky. The concept cars have that extra gear. If you can be good on this kind of track, the long paper-clip track type of track with a crate car, you can pretty much be good anywhere.”

Jacobson recorded one feature win in each of the 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 seasons. In the 2024 season, he had 22 starts and 11 top fives, including a feature win at NCR.

“May and June were really bad for us,” Jacobson said of 2024. “The first week out in July we ended up scoring a win. That was really big for us. We were consistent in July and August, but weren’t able to have that execution that you need to have to win against this type of competition.”

This year, he has a goal of reaching victory lane more often.

“I’d be really happy to break the five-win mark and be able to go out and finish nights,” Jacobson said. “ We were really good in heat races, not so good in features. Just being able to finish a handful of complete nights and pick up wins and execute on what we need to do is my biggest goal.”

While the competition is fun for Jacobson, racing remains about family.

“For me, one of the best things is being able to spend time with family,” Jacobson said. “We come and have fun and do the best we can and try and not take ourselves too seriously.”

Driver Profile

Taylor Jacobson

Wissota Midwest Modified #46J

Age: 24

Residence: Roseau, Minn.

Sponsors: Roseau Ace Hardware, Custom Tackle Co., Kofstad Signs, Salon 209, Oles Oil Can, Sven and Ole’s Ultimate Carwash, Citizens State Ban,  Kolors by Kasey - Hybrid Esthetix