Wissota Street Stock class well-suited for Gardner

There have been many drivers who have raced – or are racing – at Viking Speedway in Alexandria who grew up watching the action at the half-mile. Craig Gardner is one of them.

“My uncle always came here every weekend racing. I always liked it. Gardner said. “I kind of got hooked from there.”

The 40-year-old Gardner is now one of the veterans in the Wissota Street Stock class at Viking, having been in the class since 2018.

But it was in enduro racing where he got his start.  Gardner raced enduros for several years at Herman, Browns Valley, Clinton and Wadena before moving into the Pure Stock class at Viking.

Gardner raced in the class for a few years and a couple of wins in the Pure Stock in 2017, including a big win at the Mad Town Showdown at Madison Speedway, before moving to the Wissota Street Stock class in 2018.

“There’s a lot more adjustments you can do in a streeter,” Gardner said. “A lot more power, you have more speed to deal with. It feels like it handles a lot better until you go faster. The pure stocks, you don’t have to lift much. The streeters there is a lot more throttle control. Everybody is so close in speed, you’ve got to be able to clear them without running into them.”

The street stock competition at Viking has been stout in recent years, with veterans like Justin Vogel, Nitro Jimmy Williams, Ryan Satter and Eric Riley being among the top runners.

“I like racing with them, because you pick up little things here and there,” Gardner said. “If you are on their back bumper that means you are getting faster.”

He also likes how the drivers in the street get along off the rack.

“The nice thing is, everybody is happy to talk to you and help you out,” Gardner said. “I’ve had a ton of help from drivers that I didn’t even know before I started racing.”

Gardner finished fifth in the points at Viking despite missing a few nights because of family commitments.  He finished in the top five in three of his 10 starts.

“It’s been decent,” Gardner said. “Other than the two tour races, I don’t think I’ve been out of the top 10. It’s been pretty solid.”

One goal he has is to get that first feature win in the street stock class.

“I’ve gotten a lot of seconds, but I’ve never quite got over the top. I’ve spun myself leading here twice,” Gardner said. “That would be a major thing. They say the first one is the hardest.  Hopefully I can get over that hill and pick up a few more.”

In a different racing twist, Gardner raced against his wife, Megan (Blomgren) for a few years, including in the street stock class in 2019 and 2020. Both finished in the top 10 in points at Viking in those two years.

“It was fun. It was a nice rivalry,” Gardner said. “We had our share of mishaps.”

Megan Gardner stepped away from racing after 2020 to focus on raising the couple’s children, and while Craig has been trying to talk her into getting a car again, he hasn’t convinced her yet.

Viking wraps up it season with a doubleheader this weekend, and Gardner, who works as a mechanic at Advanced Automotive, hopes to hit a few specials to conclude the year.

After nearly 20 years behind the wheel, including his enduro racing, Gardner finds racing to be a good escape from the hassles of daily life.

“Just being out there, and you don’t have to think about much -- just one corner at a time,” Gardner said. “It’s good stress relief.”

Driver profile

Craig Gardner

Wissota Street Stock #8X

Residence: Alexandria, Minn.

Age: 40

Sponsors: Advanced Automotive, Tim Coleman Excavating, ANJ Meadows, Charles Olsen Excavating