Wisconsin Dells, WI — The historic 61st Annual National Short Track Championships (NSTC) roar into Dells Raceway Park for a massive two-day weekend of action-packed short-track racing on Friday, September 25th, and Saturday, September 26th, 2026.
Nine different divisions will battle it out on the banked, one-third-mile paved oval for the prestigious NSTC Victory Eagle Trophies, highlighted by one of the drivers' favorite events of the year: The Big 8 Late Model Series Dave Rottiger Memorial 68.
Honoring a Short Track Legacy: The Dave Rottiger Memorial 68
Saturday night's headliner carries a deeply meaningful history for the local racing community. Dave Rottiger and his wife, Joann, spent all their free time making Wisconsin short tracks better. The pair worked at Dells Raceway Park, Madison Speedway, Jefferson Speedway, Slinger Speedway, and Columbus 151 Speedway. Dave served as a flagman or competition director, while Joann managed everything from race-night calls and scoring to payroll and points standings—racing truly was their life.
After Joann lost her battle with cancer in August 2014, Dave returned home to Dells Raceway Park as a part-time flagman and competition director. In October 2016, Dave learned he too had cancer, and the racing community tragically lost him on May 12th, 2017. Dave always loved when a driver won their first feature event and was consistently among the first to congratulate them. Honoring his legacy with the Memorial 68 remains a cornerstone of the NSTC weekend.
Weekend Schedule of Events
Friday, September 25: Friday Night Under the Lights
The weekend kicks off with five competitive divisions taking center stage, headlined by the CWRA Super Late Models running high-stakes NSTC Twin 30-lap feature events.
• Divisions Competing: CWRA Super Late Models (Twin 30s), NASCAR Regional Mods (NSTC 30), Hobby Stocks (NSTC 30), Bandits (NSTC 25), and Sixer Nation Street Stocks (NSTC 25).
• Schedule: Fan gates open at 4:30 PM, qualifying gets underway at 5:30 PM, and the green flag drops for racing at 7:00 PM.
Saturday, September 26: Championship Saturday
Action ramps up for a packed second day featuring four more classes fighting for national glory, led by the marquee Big 8 Late Model Series NSTC Dave Rottiger Memorial 68.
• Divisions Competing: Big 8 Late Models (NSTC Dave Rottiger Memorial 68), NASCAR Regional Sportsman (NSTC 40), NASCAR Regional 602 Late Models (NSTC 35), and Short Trackers (NSTC 30 / Badger State Four Banger Shootout).
• Schedule: Fan gates open at 3:00 PM, qualifying begins at 4:30 PM, and racing starts at 6:00 PM.