His career is far from over, but Justin Vogel has already piled up the accomplishments in stock-car racing.
The Brooten native -- nicknamed the Wolverine -- has more than 200 feature wins in Wissota Street Stock class. He won the 2018 Wissota Street Stock National Championship. He is a past winner of the Wissota 100, a multiple time winner of the Fall Classic, and among the big events he’s won include the Jeff Isdal Memorial at KRA Speedway, the Richard Jordan Memorial in Dickinson (N.D.) and the Brad Wall Memorial in Winnipeg. The Isdal Memorial is his biggest money win ($3,100) which came in 2021.
He has particularly been strong since 2017. Vogel, 34, has 100 feature wins and won the national championship in 2018; the Wissota 100 in 2019; and he was second in national points in 2019, 2021 and 2022.
“I guess I’ve always had a knack for driving, and I’ve had a lot of good help from other drivers over the years that have taught me things,” Vogel said. “I’ve definitely learned from them. I learned from my shock guy, Carter Gerlach, he’s done very well for me.”
Vogel is the defending tour champion of the Dirt Race Central Street Stock Tour, which is presented by Shocker Hitch. That tour kicks off this Saturday and Sunday with a doubleheader at Viking Speedway in Alexandria. Vogel has tour-best 10 wins and 29 top three finishes during the three years of its existence. He plans on defending his tour title in 2023.
“I’m going to run as much of it as I can, and then see where we are at national points wise and see if we need to make a push at the end of the year or not,” Vogel said.
His 2023 campaign is starting off on the right foot – he has three wins at three different tracks in four starts.
Vogel, like many, caught an interest in racing watching as a kid.
“Me and grandma and dad would always come to the races here in Alex and watch for many years,” Vogel said.
In 2006, Vogel bought a street stock that was previously piloted by Scott Searcy and Gary Reents. He’s been right at home in the class ever since, not only for the competition, but the friendships he's built. In recent years is often found pitting next to good friends Ryan Satter, Eric Riley and 2022 national champion Kyle Dykhoff.
“I love the camaraderie. We’re like a big family,” Vogel said. “That’s the best part about it.”
The Brooten resident is a threat to win at whatever track he unloads at. He won at seven different tracks in 2022 after winning at eight different tracks in 2021. Work in the shop during the week, he says, is a big factor in his success.
“Consistency – lots of work and lots of time with the tires and all of the stuff that actually counts,” Vogel said.
While Vogel, who works as a mechanic, has piled up feature wins and accomplishments, including several victories in big events, there is one huge race that has eluded him that takes place every August at Rice Lake Speedway – the Little Dream. That event paid $28,212 to the winner in 2022. It’s a win he covets.
“The Little Dream is definitely in the crosshairs,” Vogel said. “That needs to happen.”
Driver Profile
Justin Vogel
Wissota Street Stock #10
Age: 34
Residence: Brooten, Minn.
Sponsors: Brooten Auto, Tom Kraemer, Inc., Zorbaz on the Lake, Team Red Line Graphix, WIX Filters, I.S. Small Engine Repair, Belgrade Cooperative, Kandi Water Conditioning, Inc., Heartthrob Exhaust, Zeuli’s Race Engines and Machine Shop, Minnesota Truck Headquarters, JDR Performance, Custom Duct, Extreme Auto and Gas, Mid-Central Concrete, ATA Heating, A/C and Home Services, Fauskee Oil Company, First Rate Glass, Tom’s Backhoe, Anderson Farms, Segaar Farms, Bonanza Valley State Bank,
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