CRANDON, Wisconsin (October 13, 2022) — One of the primary cornerstones in Crandon International Raceway’s 53-year success story is making sure it continues to produce great shows for its legions of faithful fans and world-class racers. Taking this philosophy to heart once again, Crandon International Raceway and MidAmerica Outdoors have reached a new three-year agreement to bring the Ultra4 USA series to the legendary Wisconsin race track each Labor Day weekend for the Crandon Ultra4 World Championships.
The Ultra4 USA series has made appearances at the track’s legendary Polaris Crandon World Championship and Red Bull Crandon Cup weekend since 2018. Beginning in 2023, however, for the first time the country’s premiere rock racing sanctioning body will bring West and East Ultra4 series competitors for a combined points race at Crandon through 2025. Car classes in this series include 4400 Unlimited, 4800 Limited, 4500 Modified, 4600 Stock, Stock Sportsman, and SXS classes including Pro Modified, Stock Production, and Open categories.
More than 120 Ultra4 USA racers are expected to participate in the 2023 Crandon Ultra4 World Championships next September, joining several hundred more traditional off-road short-course competitors that make up the growing AMSOIL Champ Off-Road Series. The diverse group of Ultra4 race teams has roots all across America and Canada, with the rugged form of the sport made famous by the annual “King of the Hammers” event in California.
Earlier this year the Ultra4 USA series was purchased by Oklahoma-based MidAmerica Outdoors from Hammerking Productions, the California organizing body behind King of the Hammers. Founded by Jason Robinett, MidAmerica Outdoors’ portfolio not only includes the Ultra4 USA series, but also America’s premiere riding and racing off-road park spanning over 1,600 acres located in Jay, Oklahoma. Featuring a wide variety of spectator-friendly race areas, exciting terrain for trail riding, and world-class amenities and facilities, the park plays host to multiple off-road racing circuits throughout the year.
“This new agreement is a direct result of Crandon not only opening its doors to Ultra4-style racing at the largest short-course event in the world but also successfully blending two distinctive forms of off-road racing into one massive lifestyle festival weekend,” explained Robinett. “We wanted to make certain Crandon’s investment in a hybrid rock racing course, their first-tier, live stream production package, and a massive new spectator viewing area will be enjoyed by racers and fans for years to come.”
“There is no question this announcement represents a key building block to our vision for Ultra4 USA’s future,” added Robinett.
Always trying to improve the “Crandon Experience” for both racers and fans, in the past two years the facility has greatly improved its rock sections within the track’s “UltraCross” configuration of the traditional 1.75-mile Crandon race course. That expansion has included adding a rock section to an area just after the Crandon finish line, plus enhancing the track’s 100-acre Crandon Off-Road Park. In 2022 these upgrades included completely reconfiguring the new “Rigid Ridge” Ultra4 spectator area with more Rigid Industries industrial lights, better viewing, and improved fan hospitality.
“Adding Ultra4 rock racing to our Polaris Crandon World Championship and Red Bull World Cup weekend has been really positive and exciting, especially in the past two years with all the classed being here,” explained Crandon President Cliff Flannery. “Our fans love it, especially the Saturday night racing under the lights on Rigid Ridge. We appreciate the Ultra4 USA series and Jason Robinett for expanding their commitment toward creating a true Crandon Ultra4 World Championship event for 2023 and beyond.”
In addition to hosting the event, Crandon International and its promotional agency TRG Rennsport worked with Long Haul Productions to greatly expand the Ultra4 live stream coverage from Crandon in 2022, an effort that allowed fans around the world to view all the action via a highly produced, multi-camera production available for free on a wide variety of platforms including SpeedSport.com, RACER.com, Race-Dezert.com, and also Ultra4’s online and social media outlets. The Speed Sport media group is also producing a one-hour special on the Ultra4 racing at the 2022 Polaris Crandon World Championships to be aired later this fall on the MAVTV cable network.
While a final Polaris Crandon World Championship and Red Bull Crandon World Cup weekend schedule will be released next year, it’s expected that the Ultra4 format used in 2022 will largely remain intact. All Ultra4 categories will be combined into three classes, including one for all UTV competitors, another for the Everyman Challenge group (4800 Limited, 4500 Modified, 4600 Stock, Stock Sportsman), and a third for Unlimited Class 4400 vehicles.
For 2023, all Ultra4 racers can participate in Crandon’s World Championship open practice on Thursday, August 31, with the UTV and Everyman Challenge categories racing on Friday, September 1. All Ultra4 classes will then race under the lights on Saturday, September 2, at Crandon’s 3rd annual” Rage on the Rocks at Rigid Ridge”. The unlimited Class 4400 drivers will then try to earn their Crandon World Championship rings on Sunday, September 3, as part of the 8th annual Red Bull Crandon World Cup.
The Ultra4 USA series will be part of a Labor Day weekend at Crandon looking forward to its hosting the 54th Polaris Crandon World Championship Off-Road Races®. In 2022 a record-shattering crowd of nearly 60,000 fans packed the “Big House” and sold out camping well in advance for the world’s largest short-course off-road event.