WISSOTA

Rick Thoennes Named New WISSOTA Head Technical Adv...
Morgan Grosz Named 2026 Hoosier Hero; Second Strai...
WISSOTA Partners with Speedway Motors for Street S...
Rick Thoennes Named New WISSOTA Head Technical Adv...

Rick Thoennes Named New WISSOTA Head Technical Adv...

12/22/2025 -
WISSOTA Auto Racing is proud to welcome Alexandria, Minnesota-native Rick Thoennes, who will serve as the new Head Technical Advisor for WISSOTA begin
Morgan Grosz Named 2026 Hoosier Hero; Second Strai...

Morgan Grosz Named 2026 Hoosier Hero; Second Strai...

12/21/2025 -
During the fourth year of the program, Hoosier Racing Tire has named Morgan (Ward) Grosz a Hoosier Hero for the upcoming 2026 racing season. Watertown
WISSOTA Partners with Speedway Motors for Street S...

WISSOTA Partners with Speedway Motors for Street S...

11/19/2025 -
WISSOTA is excited to announce a partnership with Speedway Motors to approve part number 91678881-COMP that will come with stamped front upper control

Latest News

Rick Thoennes Named New WISSOTA Head Technical Advisor

Rick Thoennes Named New WISSOTA Head Technical Advisor

12/22/2025
WISSOTA Auto Racing is proud to welcome Alexandria, Minnesota-native Rick Thoennes, who will serve as the new Head Technical Advisor for WISSOTA beginning with the 2026 racing season, to the WISSOTA team. Thoennes, who grew up in the heart of WISSOTA-country in west...more
Morgan Grosz Named 2026 Hoosier Hero; Second Straight Female WISS

Morgan Grosz Named 2026 Hoosier Hero; Second Straight Female WISS...

12/21/2025
During the fourth year of the program, Hoosier Racing Tire has named Morgan (Ward) Grosz a Hoosier Hero for the upcoming 2026 racing season. Watertown, South Dakota’s Morgan Grosz, started her racing career in the WISSOTA Midwest Modified division back in 2011, competed in...more
WISSOTA Partners with Speedway Motors for Street Stock Frame

WISSOTA Partners with Speedway Motors for Street Stock Frame

11/19/2025
WISSOTA is excited to announce a partnership with Speedway Motors to approve part number 91678881-COMP that will come with stamped front upper control arm mounts and stamped rear spring/shock mount as a great alternative for the over 40-year-old OEM frames that are used,...more

Quick Info

Dennis Keesling

Dennis Keesling

Sheridan, WY

Quick Info

  • Racing Since1991
  • Age65
  • SpouseWynell
  • Children3 daughters
  • OccupationPilot
  • High SchoolBurrton
  • CollegeEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Bio


Grew up in a small, rural farming community in central Kansas. Served 21 years in the US Marine Corps.
Started racing in Hawaii (yes, Hawaii) while stationed there at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay. The track was on the west side of Oahu and was a small 1/4 mile bullring. In my first full season, 1992, I won the championship in the mini stock class driving a 1972 Ford Pinto with the 2.0 4 cylinder engine. My record for the season was 18 wins, with 10 of those in consecutive weeks of competing.
After getting stationed in Beaufort, SC, bought a car from someone that raced at Oglethorpe Speedway in Savannah, GA. A very busy deployment schedule kept me from winning a championship but was always in the top ten in the points standings.
Gave up racing after 10 seasons, sold entire racing outfit to pursue my other life-long dream of learning to fly. Being a pilot ultimately became my second career following retirement for the Marine Corps.
In 2016 I began volunteering at Sheridan Speedway when the current association took over management of the track and have served on the board since the summer of 2016.
After a 21-year hiatus from driving a race car, I acquired a mod 4 and competed in the season ending I90 Challenge.

Career Highlights


1992 Hawaii Raceway Park Mini Stock Champion in my first full year of racing.

Crew


Wife, Wynell - Financial Manager
Daughters, Ryanne, Raven, and Destiny

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