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Wesell Racing Enterprises

Hartford, WI

W.R.E. Official Tour Website

The dawn of Wesell Racing Enterprises began well over 25 years ago, back when Jeff was just a little kid. See, back then Jeff was lucky enough to get to go to the races at the Milwaukee Mile along with his Grandparents. They'd take in the ASA events, CART, amongst other series. Also at the same time, while Jeff was growing up in the suburb of Muskego, the neighbors so happened to be involved with a local dirt track team racing at Wilmot. Back then, the cars were called Super Modifieds, but not too long after, were classified under what we all call Sprint Cars. Probably not a weekend went by that Jeff didn't attend a race at the 1/3 mile oval on the Kenosha County Fairgrounds, and to this day, he pretty much hasn't missed a 410 Sprint event at the track.

Oddly enough, Jeff began racing bikes as a teenager. His passion for all things fourwheeled and winged continued into his highschool days and the racing effort was switched to kart racing at the Badger Raceway in Dousman. Although crude even by those days standards, Jeff started his kart racing career aboard a Yamaha Chassis powered by a "Baker Built" Briggs engine in the Briggs-lite division. At the time, Briggs-lite was one of the largest classes at Badger Raceway, so despite mechanical woes and the learning curve, Jeff learned racing in a pack and how to be smooth to be faster.

It was that time too, that Jeff met many new friends, and clearly found his passion was racing with four wheels. The bikes, quickly were sold. And to this day, Jeff is closer than ever with the friends he met so long ago. It is also noted, that in Jeff's Rookie season, he picked up his first heat race win; and it so happened to be on an oval track. Close friends Rick Kelsey and John Edquist were accumulating the hardware those days. Rick was crowned BKC Champion, with John deservingly winning Rookie of the Year honors.

By 1992, equipment was stepped up, and the race schedule quickly grew as well. Jeff also dabbled in announcing race events and flagging, and was more involved with the running and operations of the Badger Kart Club. By mid-season Jeff had a few wins under his belt, and continued to compete at other tracks in the region. Jeff scored a top two finish aboard a Bob Pruzinski owned 2-cycle engine entry, and also took race laps in both 2 & 4-cycle powered karts at Road America.

Somewhere along the line, Jeff met up with the Koenig brothers (Bruce and Brad) in 1992. The new to karting Koenigs' were quite adapt to a busy schedule of their own, and progressively seeking to expand the family venture in the coming year. Late in the '92 season, Jeff was asked to join the Koenig's Team R.A.C., based out of West Bend. That fall, Jeff was named and honored as BKC's Karter of the Year, while Brad Koenig scored Rookie of the Year honors.

Things didn't slow down from the end of the 1992 season. As Team R.A.C. geared up and dedicated the early winter weeks for building of new equipment and engines. The trio's first official event together was at the Daytona International Speedway, with Jeff taking fulltime status as a 2-cycle driver now. Following a successful run at Daytona, the 1993 season rolled to life in Jacksonville, FL and finally the start of the BKC season in April back home in Wisconsin. Jeff would accumulate several wins and finish 2nd in Senior Sportsman points, becoming a pure factor in that division every week.

Still continuing with kart racing, Team R.A.C. also ventured into the local Mini-Sprint scene in 1994. Later in the season, Wesell Racing Enterprises would field their own car, with Jeff aboard the then #63 as pilot. W.R.E. would continue several more years with Mini-Sprints, with strong support from Bruce Koenig and his newly formed R.A.C. Motorsports when brother Brad went into retirement.

A new friend and face to the scene was Bruce Gilmeister, and Bruce G. would later become another very important key to Jeff's success and racing career. For several years, W.R.E.'s race cars where housed at Gilmeisters shop in Jackson. It is also noted that Jeff's affection with Midget racing and Angell Park Speedway clearly came into play.

Jeff took a fulltime spot (for one year) in 1997 as driving instructor for the Miller Lite Legends Racing Team, also working with the local Legends car dealer. Racing action was curtailed to running the Legends series part-time in 1997 in Jack and John Safro owned equipment. Jeff traveled the country several times over, getting to meet and work with Bobby Rahal, Rusty Wallace, Don Prudome, Brian Herta, Larry Dixon, Boris Said, and the late Stan Fox.

In 1998, Gilmeister asked Jeff to run an event for him at the Badger Raceway on opening weekend. Jeff would run the "GRR" #99 in Senior Sportsman and pick up a clean sweep win his first time in the kart. Plans went full force, and along with Bruce Gilmeister, and Bruce Koenig, the power house GRR Team racked up two Championships in 1998 with Jeff as driver.

Jeff went back to a fulltime W.R.E. racecar effort for 1999, though picked up a kart ride in one of Mike Landeck's potent Briggs setups. Jeff scored the feature victory and fast time, his first time back in a 4-cycle kart in nearly six years. Racecar wise, the W.R.E. Team was doing well on the dirt ovals and select indoor events. Jeff also worked on the #74 sprint car team during the year, a car owned by his future father in-law.

The 2001 season kicked off in a big way when Jeff won the A-main at the Winter Classic, beating out Joe Roe and other sprint car standouts. An amazing accomplishment, as one day before the event, the team wasn't even prepared to race and the car was nothing more than a bare frame.

Jeff returned to run a limited number of oval kart races in 2002 and 2003, as well as continue support in the sprint car ranks, working with John Edquist's #27 team.

The W.R.E. family grew as well the past few years, with Jeff marrying Kim Baus, daughter of former WIMSA Champion Romy Baus. Kim and Jeff shared the exciting news and arrival of the teams newest team driver, Parker, who was born January 2003.

Jeff returned to kart racing again in 2006, running a limited season in the very competitive 125cc TaG divisions. During that year, Jeff picked up some heat race and feature wins, including a win at the Milwuakee Mile.

While deciding to stay out of any points chases in 2007, Jeff picked up another sizable number of heat and feature wins through out the season and again picked up two more wins at the Milwaukee Mile. Surprisingly, the team was the series points leader for the first half of the season untill the yearly Knoxville venture. Driver and team definetly proved that the #9 was in the contingent to run up front on any given race day.

Jeff has been very grateful and thankful of those iindividuals who have continually supported the team, and also to those for whom Jeff has had the pleasure to drive for. Jeff figures between race cars and karts, he has driven for over ten different teams/families. Our marketing partners are undoubtedly a huge part to the entire teams success and operations. Jeff and the entire family are proud to represent the fine companies and individuals who are all part of the continued tradition.

The goals of Wesell Racing Enterprises have not changed since day one. To race competitively within the abilities of our skills and equipment, to always maintain a professional looking team, and to always without fail make every event a fun and safe time for all.

Sure, things have changed and the time has marched on, but never once has Jeff forgotten his past, and all of those who have been a part of it.

There's plenty of good times and good stories to come. Thanks for Your love, friendship and support.

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