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Turk Letizia Crowned King

2026-04-29 22:55

Shawano, WI - Turk Letizia was crowned King of the WABAM Dirt Kings Late Model Tour Spring Thaw at Shawano Speedway in BMRE Electrick Carts Co Victory Lane to start the 2026 season. Letizia completed the clean sweep for the second time in WABAM Dirt Kings Late Model Tour action, after securing his first win at Plymouth Dirt Track Racing during the 2022 season. Letizia had a 20.309 second lap in Qualifying, the fastest lap of the night, earning the Champ Pans Fast Qualifier Award. Letizia also was the Ken's Sports Inc. Pole Sitter, leading the field to the green flag of the Spring Thaw with Nick Anvelink. Letizia and Anvelink raced side by side into turn one, with Letizia clipping the tractor tire in two and recovered to hold the lead. The racing surface had a lot of character, causing some early cautions with the tractor tire in turn two. Letizia mastered the track conditions and had a fast car, turning several laps under his qualifying run earlier in the night.

Letizia was flawless in his restarts, keeping Joel Bennett, Andy Karl, Troy Springborn and Lukas Postl behind him. Letizia started to stretch his lead, as Todd Frank moved to second, 4.184 seconds behind the leader, just past halfway in the Spring Thaw.

Letizia continued to pace the field, extending his lead each lap. With five laps to go, Letizia held a 9.764 second lead over Frank. Letizia took the white flag with a 13.244 second lead over second place and even with a flat left rear tire, Letizia held on to win the 10th WABAM Dirt Kings Late Model Tour season opener, the Spring Thaw at the legendary half mile. Letizia finished 11.022 seconds ahead of Frank, followed by Bennett, Springborn and Karl. Justin Ritchie and Postl finished on the lead lap, as Letizia had lapped the eighth place finisher Chris Oertel.

Letizia arrived in BMRE Electrick Carts Victory Lane to be crowned King and celebrated with his family and crew.

Ritchie earned The Pues Family Hard Charger bonus and an additional $250, gaining 8 positions during the Spring Thaw.

The WABAM Dirt Kings Late Model Tour returns to action on Saturday, May 30th at 141 Speedway for the crown jewel of the 2026 season, The Diamond 48, honoring Diamond Jim Letizia.

Spring Thaw 20 Laps

1. D1-Turk Letizia[1]; 2. 21-Todd Frank[13]; 3. 7-Joel Bennett[6]; 4. 81-Troy Springborn[3]; 5. 61K-Andy Karl[7]; 6. 56-Justin Ritchie[14]; 7. 5-Lukas Postl[8]; 8. 51-Chris Oertel[5]; 9. 77-Bill Edler[15]; 10. 3-Brett Swedberg[4]; 11. 87-Adam Janke[16]; 12. 89-Brad Mueller[10]; 13. 5B-David Bennett[18]; 14. 15-Nick Anvelink[2]; 15. 99R-Aaron Reivitis[12]; 16. 21X-Kurt Moeller[11]; 17. 25-Kerry Hansen[9]; 18. (DNS) 21M-Shawn Miller

Autoworx Heat 1 8 Laps

1. D1-Turk Letizia[1]; 2. 7-Joel Bennett[2]; 3. 61K-Andy Karl[3]; 4. 89-Brad Mueller[4]; 5. 21-Todd Frank[5]; 6. 87-Adam Janke[6]

Klink Equipment Heat 2 8 Laps

1. 81-Troy Springborn[4]; 2. 51-Chris Oertel[1]; 3. 5-Lukas Postl[2]; 4. 21X-Kurt Moeller[3]; 5. 56-Justin Ritchie[5]; 6. (DNF) 21M-Shawn Miller[6]

Ken's Sports Inc. Heat 3 8 Laps

1. 15-Nick Anvelink[1]; 2. 3-Brett Swedberg[2]; 3. 25-Kerry Hansen[3]; 4. 99R-Aaron Reivitis[5]; 5. 77-Bill Edler[4]; 6. (DNF) 5B-David Bennett[6]

Autoworx Qualifying 1 2 Laps

1. D1-Turk Letizia, 20.309[2]; 2. 7-Joel Bennett, 20.411[3]; 3. 61K-Andy Karl, 20.684[5]; 4. 89-Brad Mueller, 20.866[4]; 5. 21-Todd Frank, 20.942[1]; 6. 87-Adam Janke, 21.761[6]

Klink Equipment Qualifying 2 2 Laps

1. 51-Chris Oertel, 20.442[6]; 2. 5-Lukas Postl, 21.019[3]; 3. 21X-Kurt Moeller, 21.026[1]; 4. 81-Troy Springborn, 21.118[5]; 5. 56-Justin Ritchie, 21.710[4]; 6. 21M-Shawn Miller, 22.479[2]

Ken's Sports Inc. Qualifying 3 2 Laps

1. 15-Nick Anvelink, 20.472[4]; 2. 3-Brett Swedberg, 20.482[5]; 3. 25-Kerry Hansen, 20.575[6]; 4. 77-Bill Edler, 21.348[1]; 5. 99R-Aaron Reivitis, 21.411[3]; 6. 5B-David Bennett, 21.841[2]