Huset’s Hall of Fame

Remembering those who helped make Huset’s Speedway one of the most popular and successful dirt tracks in the U.S. /

[Huset’s Hall of Fame @HusetsHoF]

Today we remember Hall of Fame member Doug Clark, who was born on this date. Doug is greatly missed by his Huset's family, as well as many others in the racing community. 🏁

[Huset’s Hall of Fame @HusetsHoF]

Happy birthday to Huset’s Hall of Fame member Doug Wolfgang, shown in this photo at @HusetsSpeedway in 1972 with the first car he built.

📸 Tom Savage collection

[Huset’s Hall of Fame @HusetsHoF]

2026 Hall of Fame induction video:
https://t.co/bPJLk9FjTs

[Huset’s Hall of Fame @HusetsHoF]

During each years Huset’s Hall of Fame night, presented by Midwestern Mechanical of Sioux Falls, we have the opportunity to relive the past through spoken word. Tonight at the track, we get the visual as well, thanks to Ron Fick.

Jerry Richert, Jr. stopped by Ron’s shop Saturday to see the number 69 car, one of many that he just finished restoring

This is the restored hot rod that his dad Jerry Richert drove in the early 60s.

Jerry Senior drove this car from 1960 to 1963. But before Jerry drove it, it was driven by Jim Hurtubise, AJ Foyt, Larry Crockett and a few others.

This beautiful machine will be on display tonight as part of Huset’s Hall of Fame night at @HusetsSpeedway.

Thank you Ron!!!  See you tonight.

[Huset’s Hall of Fame @HusetsHoF]

Today is the day!
Please join us at @HusetsSpeedway as we induct Paul Krueger, Don Marquardt, Gale Pifer, Jerry Richert, Jr., and Larry Stroman into the Huset's Hall of Fame.
The Huset's Hall of Fame open house will be on the third floor of the turn 4 suites from 5-7 p.m. and is open to the public with paid admission to the race with the induction ceremony at intermission.

[Huset’s Hall of Fame @HusetsHoF]

2026 Huset’s HoF inductee Jerry Reichert Jr. bio:

It's Huset's Hall of Fame week and the 29th Annual Open House and Induction ceremony, presented by Midwestern Mechanical of Sioux Falls, will be held this Sunday at Huset's Speedway.

As we lead up to the festivities, we will be featuring one member of the Class of 2026 each day and today we feature Jerry Richert, Jr.

By Tom A. Savage

Jerry Richert, Jr., grew up in a racing family as his father, Jerry, began racing sprint cars nationally on the USAC and IMCA circuits. He began racing IMCA sprint cars in 1958 and was crowned national champion in 1964-65-66 and 68. In 1965, Richert started the season on the USAC tour but switched back to the IMCA midway through the summer, and still claimed the national championship.

Growing up in Forest Lake, Minn., Richert Jr., said he remembers spending time in the race shop where his father raced for Frank Wagner.

But Richert Jr’s., first foray into a sprint car came by chance. At 17 years of age, he was warming up his father’s famous orange No. 62 at the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds. In what was thought to be just slow laps around the half-mile to warm up the engine, the green flag surprisingly dropped and the teenager got his first taste of a high-powered sprint car.

He began officially racing in 1981 in the George Dabruzzi purple No. 22 in Centuria, Wisc., where he won a feature event on his third night out. He later raced at I90 Speedway in Hartford that same year.

Ironically, his father drove the same car to a feature win in 1978 at North Star Speedway in the Twin Cities.

Richert, Jr., made his Huset’s debut in 1983 when he drove the Bill Hansen No. 63 for two years before joining Loren Woodke (Huset’s Hall of Fame Class of 2010) in the familiar black and yellow No. 1W.

In 1986, Richert, Jr., joined the Taggart-Johnson racing team owned by Terry Taggart (Class of 2003) and Marty Johnson in the iconic light blue No. 81, which is where Richert, Jr., made his biggest mark at Huset’s. He won the 410 sprint car title in 1987, winning two features that year with multiple runner-up finishes. In 1988, he didn’t win the title but claimed three feature wins. In all, Richert, Jr., registered seven feature wins at Huset’s, and one more at the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds.

Other car owners he raced for at Huset’s include Phil Durst, Cahill Brothers (Kenny and Larry) Racing, Guy Forbrook (Class of 2018), Glen and Rich Stewart, Dirk VanHeeder, and Pat Donnahue. In 1988, Richert, Jr., raced for Ron Kohls with Forbrook as the crew chief where the team won three features at Huset’s.

Richert, Jr., continued to race into the 2016 season. His final race at Huset’s - known that season as Badlands Motor Speedway - was May 29 of that year in a 360 sprint car where he won his heat race but didn’t finish the feature. His last race ever was in Cedar Lake, Wisc., later that season.

His commitment to Huset’s was a big one for several years. After racing on Sunday nights, Richert Jr., returned to his job in St. Paul every Monday morning, sometimes not returning home until 5 a.m.

He becomes just the sixth person to be inducted into the Huset’s Hall of Fame, Jackson Motorplex Hall of Fame, and Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame. The others include Darryl Dawley (Huset’s 2009), Guy Forbrook (2018), Roger Larson (2002), Tom Savage (2008), and Doug Wolfgang (2008).

The Huset's Hall of Fame open house will be on the third floor of the turn 4 suites from 5-7pm and is open to the public with paid admission to the race with the induction ceremony at intermission. For more information on race night, see https://t.co/pbasKOYVR4 or for more information on the Hall of Fame, see https://t.co/QFfYaTV78P

The 29th Annual Huset's Hall of Fame Open House and Induction ceremony, presented by Midwestern Mechanical, this Sunday evening at Huset's Speedway.

[Huset’s Hall of Fame @HusetsHoF]

2026 Huset's HoF inductee Larry Stroman bio:

It's Huset's Hall of Fame week and the 29th Annual Open House and Induction ceremony, presented by Midwestern Mechanical of Sioux Falls, will be held this Sunday at Huset's Speedway.
As we lead up to the festivities, we will be featuring one member of the Class of 2026 each day and today we present Larry Stroman.
By Tom A. Savage
Larry Stroman is a long-time engine and car builder in the area, and his impact on many of the cars that have raced at Huset’s is undeniable.
A native of Chancellor, S.D., Stroman began his motorsports career in drag racing in 1962 where he ran a 1962 hardtop and 1963 Plymouth. One of those early dragsters later evolved into a Huset’s Late Model, the first of many cars he’d help create.
Stroman is the owner of Stroman Motorsports, where he’s built countless race cars and motors for more than 57 years. For nearly six decades, his influence has run deep as he’s claimed the following accolades: Mechanic of the Year at Interstates Speedway (modified) in 1968, Mechanic of the Year at Huset’s (late model) in 1970, Mechanic of the Year at I90 Speedway in Hartford (sprint car) in 1978, Race Team of the Year at I90 with grandson Casey Abbas in 2004. Other honors with Abbas behind the wheel includes Team of the Year in the NMRA sprint car division at Rapid Speedway in Rock Rapids in 2006, and Huset’s IMCA RaceSaver Team of the Year in 2015.
Stroman’s engines have powered modifieds, super modifieds, stock cars, sprint cars,
and today’s IMCA RaceSaver sprint cars. His skill in tuning 6-cylinders became
legendary. Many have said that Stromancould build a 6-cylinder that would “blow away any V8.”
For more than 60 years, Stroman has worked with and supported several drivers including Lee (Francis) Miller, John Hustlebus, and Ape Hansen. Stroman also built in his Chancellor garage the first modified raced by Bill Mellenberndt (Huset’s Hall of Fame Class of 1999) in the iconic No. 77 at Huset’s. He also built the famous No. 25 owned by him and Ron Wulf for another Hall-of-Famer, Jerry Ross (2004). Stroman built, owned, or helped maintain stock cars, modifieds and multiple versions of the Ross No. 25.
His relationship with Mellenberndt was longstanding as the two traveled in the 1970s and 80s across the country including stops at Knoxville, Jackson, Grand Forks, Rapid City, Albuquerque and Eldora Speedway in Ohio. Stroman served as engine builder and key crew member, contributing to a highly successful sprint car program.
Most recently, Stroman’s racing attention has turned to Abbas. In 2003, his grandson began racing sprint cars and Stroman once again built all the engines for a 360 sprint car and later 305 RaceSaver sprint car.
The two have combined to win the 2005 360 championship at I90 Speedway in Hartford, 2006 360 championship at Rapid Speedway, 2015 RaceSaver championship at Huset’s, and 2015 IMCA RaceSaver Team of the Year. Abbas has competed at the following tracks with his grandfather as his crew chief, mentor and engine builder: Rock Rapids, Huset’s, Hartford, Park Jefferson, Jackson,
Watertown, Wagner, Madison Interlakes and Huron.
It doesn’t end with Abbas. Stroman is now cheering on and supporting his great grandchildren, Kenlee and Karson Hansen, who compete in Cage Karts.
At age 84, Stroman continues to work in the race shop where for the last six decades he’s been a builder, owner, mechanic, mentor, and lifelong ambassador of local racing. Many meals were shared in the shop over the years surrounded by race cars and engine parts with his family.
His passion, craftsmanship, family legacy, and unwavering commitment to Huset’s and
surrounding tracks is unmistakable.
The Huset's Hall of Fame open house will be on the third floor of the turn 4 suites from 5-7pm and is open to the public with paid admission to the race with the induction ceremony at intermission. For more information on race night, see https://t.co/pbasKOYVR4 or for more information on the Hall of Fame, see https://t.co/QFfYaTV78P
The 29th Annual Huset's Hall of Fame Open House and Induction ceremony, presented by Midwestern Mechanical, this Sunday evening at Huset's Speedway.

[Huset’s Hall of Fame @HusetsHoF]

2026 Huset's HoF inductee Gale Pifer:

It's Huset's Hall of Fame week and the 29th Annual Open House and Induction ceremony, presented by Midwestern Mechanical of Sioux Falls, will be held this Sunday at Huset's Speedway.
As we lead up to the festivities, we will be featuring one member of the Class of 2026 each day and today we present Gale Pifer.
By Tom A. Savage
Gale Pifer grew up in a racing family. His father raced modified stock cars in the 1950s, and Gale was there from the start. When Huset’s raced for the first time on May 23, 1954, Gale was in attendance.
But Gale’s biggest contribution to racing was his camera and pen. Before auto racing became a regular staple on television, Gale ordered racing films to air on KSOO Television in Sioux Falls where he worked. His motorsports contributions at KSOO included interviews with local drivers like Huset’s Hall of Famers Harold Petree (Class of 1999) and Marlyn Hanten (2006).
Gale was also a regular contributor to Chris Economaki’s National Speed Sport News, as well as Iowa-based Hawkeye Racing News, where Gale once featured Huset’s Speedway exclusively. He later formed a partnership with Huset’s promoter and Hall-of-Famer Fred Buckmiller (1998). The partnership resulted in the promotion of both Huset’s on Sunday nights, and the race track in Madison, which raced on Saturday.
For 20 years, Gale wrote a weekly racing column for the Madison Daily Leader. He also had racing articles published in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, Stock Car Racing Magazine, and many other national publications. He authored a book on the history of Lake County Speedway titled “Thunder Over the Plains.”
He also was president of Interlakes Racing Association for many years and promoted and managed races at Interlakes Speedway south of Madison. During his tenure as president of the Interlakes Racing Association, he staged “Race Days” in Madison that included a parade of race cars led by the Madison High School Marching Band, go-kart racing on the streets of Madison and the selection of a Miss Lake County Speedway at the races that night.
He also established sponsorship-of-the-night at the races for Dakota State College and was the first to stage the ‘Passing Pastor’ race in which Madison church pastors competed against each other in stock cars. Church goers were surprised when many of the sermons included challenges to other pastors, including comments such as: “We Lutherans can whip the Baptists and Catholics any time.” Churches also sold tickets to the races, retaining half of the sales money and purse money from the race itself.
Gale was always a staunch supporter of auto racing.
The Huset's Hall of Fame open house will be on the third floor of the turn 4 suites from 5-7pm and is open to the public with paid admission to the race with the induction ceremony at intermission. For more information on race night, see https://t.co/pbasKOYVR4 or for more information on the Hall of Fame, see https://t.co/QFfYaTV78P
The 29th Annual Huset's Hall of Fame Open House and Induction ceremony, presented by Midwestern Mechanical, this Sunday evening at Huset's Speedway.

[Huset’s Hall of Fame @HusetsHoF]

As we lead up to the festivities, we will be featuring one member of the Class of 2026 each day and today we feature Paul Krueger.
By Tom A. Savage
Paul Krueger’s racing career at Huset’s was short, but successful.
Krueger raced once in 1977 - the season finale - in his brother’s car. His brother, Jim (Huset’s Hall of Fame Class of 2017), had already wrapped up the championship in the six cylinder class and let Paul have a crack at it. Paul crashed the car, but his career was just getting started.
Paul began racing in the six cylinder class full time in 1978 where he competed for the next five seasons in a familiar red No. 1, claiming track titles in 1979 and 1981. In all, Krueger has 13 career feature wins at Huset’s.
Krueger raced for his uncle, Bill Krueger, and said he always had strong equipment over his five-year run in the six cylinder class.
He was only 23 years old when his career ended. He raced part of the season in 1983 in a sprint car owned by another Huset’s Hall-of-Famer in Jim Lindbergh (Class of 2021).
He nearly jumped in a sprint car of his own a year earlier after winning the six cylinder championship in 1981. One of the awards for winning the title that year was a new Nance sprint car chassis after Huset’s promoter Fred Buckmiller struck a deal with LaVerne Nance of Nance Speed Equipment in Wichita, Kans.
However, his uncle passed away prior to the start of the season and the sprint car team dissolved, as did Krueger’s racing career.
Despite retiring from the sport in 1983 at such a young age, Krueger didn’t miss a Sunday night in the grandstands at Huset’s for the next 17 years. He still attends frequently.
With his brother Jim also enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2017, the Krueger brothers become the fifth set of brothers to be inducted. The others are Gil Haugan (2000) and Vern Haugan (2011), Jay Egge (2001) and Marlo Egge (2006), Gary DeWall (2012) and Doug DeWall (2025) along with John and Steve Folkens (2025).
The Huset's Hall of Fame open house will be on the third floor of the turn 4 suites from 5-7pm and is open to the public with paid admission to the race with the induction ceremony at intermission. For more information on race night, see https://t.co/pbasKOYVR4 or for more information on the Hall of Fame, see https://t.co/QFfYaTV78P
The 29th Annual Huset's Hall of Fame Open House and Induction ceremony, presented by Midwestern Mechanical, this Sunday evening at Huset's Speedway.

[Huset’s Hall of Fame @HusetsHoF]

Don Marquardt bio:
https://t.co/solrl4iNh1

[Huset's Speedway @HusetsSpeedway]

PR: Five Joining Huset’s Hall of Fame Sunday During Huset’s Speedway Program Presented by Frankman Motor Company!

Read more at https://t.co/k6yIenT8xv

[Huset’s Hall of Fame @HusetsHoF]

Hall of Fame night will take place on Sunday, July 12th at the speedway.  There will be a meet and greet social that night from 5-7pm in the top floor of the turn 4 suites, with the induction ceremony at intermission of the race program.  Inductees and their family members will have the opportunity to enjoy the races in the suite, courtesy of Midwestern Mechanical of Sioux Falls.

[Huset’s Hall of Fame @HusetsHoF]

The Huset’s Hall of Fame Committee is pleased to announce the names that make up the Class of 2026.  The Huset's Hall of Fame will be holding its 29th Annual induction Open House and Induction Ceremony, presented by Midwestern Mechanical of Sioux Falls, on Sunday, July 12th at Huset's Speedway.  Those to be honored that evening include Jerry Richert, Jr, Larry Stroman, Gale Pifer, Paul Krueger and Don Marquardt.

[Huset’s Hall of Fame @HusetsHoF]

Don Marquardt only raced 11 seasons in the area, but he made an impact in that decade-long racing career.  His career included five feature wins at Huset’s, which began in 1964 in a modified after he was discharged from the Marine Corps in 1962.  He later graduated to a sprint car and raced his final race in 1974.  Marquardt later managed Hartford Speedway and has the distinction of helping to launch Doug Clark’s flagging career in 1976 as head flagman at the track.

[Huset’s Hall of Fame @HusetsHoF]

Inductees and their family members will have the opportunity to enjoy the races in the suite, courtesy of Midwestern Mechanical of Sioux Falls.

[Huset’s Hall of Fame @HusetsHoF]

The Huset's Hall of Fame Committee will be holding its 29th Annual induction Open House and Induction Ceremony, presented by Midwestern Mechanical of Sioux Falls, on Sunday, July 12th at Huset's Speedway.

[Huset’s Hall of Fame @HusetsHoF]

Hall of Fame night will take place on Sunday, July 12th at the speedway.  There will be a meet and greet social that night from 5-7pm in the top floor of the turn 4 suites, with the induction ceremony at intermission of the race program.