Rieck enjoying time behind wheel of late model

Josh Rieck of Fergus Falls has one goal when it comes to racing.

“I’m just out having fun,” Rieck said.

The 39-year-old pilots the #18 Wissota Late Model at I-94 EMR Speedway and at other events in the region but doesn’t overly concern himself with where he finishes each night.  He’s in his third year in the Wissota Late Model class, and it’s a big challenge to compete in that class.

“This was a brand-new car to me last year. We had to work all the bugs out of it ,” Rieck said. “By the end of the year we got it dialed it in where we wanted it. So far so good this year.”

Rieck, who works as a mechanic at Swanston Equipment in Fergus Falls, got an interest in racing attending Viking Speedway in Alexandria as a kid.

“I grew up down in Alex, and always went and watched it, and decided I wanted to do it one day,” Rieck said.

Rieck started out his racing in the street stock class and then moved into the Wissota Midwest Modified class.  Then came a move to the Gen X Late Model class, and in 2023, he moved to the Wissota Late Model class.

“From the B mod, to the Gen X to the full-blown late model, it’s been a big adjustment,” Rieck said.

While the cars look similar, there are two main differences between a Gen X Late Model and a Wissota Late Model.

“Power-wise, and the shocks,” Rieck said. “it’s pretty much the same chassis.”

The Wissota Late Model class locally is filled with stout competition, and just finishing in the top five in features at I-94 is difficult. Rieck his first top five in a Wissota Late Model at Buffalo River Speedway on May 11, and also qualified for the Structural Buildings Wissota Late Model Challenge Series feature at Viking Speedway on May 10.

“It’s pretty well-stacked field anywhere you go with these guys,” Rieck said. “To even make the show, like the structural builders, is a pretty successful night for me.”

In seven starts this season, Rieck has two top 10s, but he’s not focusing on the nightly finishes.

“Just to have a car at the end of the year,” Rieck said of what he’s looking for from the season. “It’s always fun to make it in the top 10. I really don’t have a goal.”

He likes the atmosphere of racing where “you can go talk to any driver,” he says.

This season, he’s had some mechanical issues that have led to four DNFs, but finished in the top 10 in his most recent feature at I-94 on June 20, and is hoping that can build some momentum.

“I would like to get in the top 10 in points in Fergus and Buffalo River,” Rieck said, “and maybe even make the big show at the Wissota 100.”

Driver Profile

Josh Rieck

Wissota Late Model #18

Residence: Fergus Falls, Minn.

Age: 39

Sponsors: Jennen Farms, Arctic Anchor, Jennen Tool Snap on, Sign Works, Lakes Concrete Pumping, Scot’s Machine Shop, BAC Construction, Fergus Fast Lane, Swanston Equipment Park Region Co-op, B&D Concrete, 21x Motorsports -- Travis Saurer