12/21/2025
WISSOTA
Morgan Grosz Named 2026 Hoosier Hero; Second Straight Female WISSOTA Racer to Earn High Honor
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 the Midwest Modifieds from 2011 through 2013 before moving into the WISSOTA Modified class, where she raced for eight seasons before moving into the Late Model class in 2020, where she competes currently.
Morgan, who typically competes in around 20 events each season in her own car, also pits for her husband Lee, who also drives a WISSOTA Late Model in twenty or more events each season, and for her dad Scott, who typically runs a WISSOTA Late Model thirty or more times a season and occasionally competes in a WISSOTA Modified of his own during the season as well.
Morgan has tasted victory lane on occasion throughout her career, owning three WISSOTA Modified feature event victories in 2017 at three different tracks, plus having one WISSOTA Late Model win, at the Brown County Speedway in Aberdeen, SD in 2023 on her resume so far throughout her fifteen seasons behind the wheel.
Morgan’s family and crew includes her husband Lee, dogs Bell and Lizzi, along with her dad Scott, Brent, Mason and Will, who she is very thankful for, as without them, her racing career would not be possible.
Morgan’s 2026 plans are to continue to compete in the WISSOTA Late Model division for her sixth season, while trying to race hard for victories every time the team unload’s her #37jr machine. The team also plans to travel when her team can and compete in as many higher profile events in her area to continue to gain experience and showcase her team’s sponsors.
Grosz stated ‘Being a Hoosier Hero is such an honor, and I hope that I’m able to represent not only Hoosier, but WISSOTA to be able to put us out there and put female drivers out there more. This program is a life-long thing and I’m excited to be able to represent them for years to come.’
Being named a Hoosier Hero allows Morgan the opportunity to get her name and her sponsors names out there more, to be able to represent Hoosier and it’s also another way for her to represent WISSOTA, women in a male dominated sport, and inspire others even more.
During the upcoming season there will be videos, clips, and interviews being released of the 2026 Hoosier Hero class too.
Her team sponsors are Could 9 Bar & Grill, DFS Insurance, Air Safe Hitch, Lone Pine Bar, Grill & Casino, 605 Inflatables, MyRacePass, Lift Gator, Grosz Excavating, Integrity Accounting, VISIT Watertown, B’s Boards, Badlands Ranch and Rodeo Equipment and CNC Motorsports.
Each year there are over 2,000 entries from all types of motorsports, including dirt and asphalt racing, along with drag racing, and off-road racing as well that are voted on among the people. Hoosier then decides the final 12 by reading what the people had to say about the racers and Morgan was lucky enough to be chosen to be amongst the final 12.
Morgan said ‘honored, excited, and driven are just a few works that come to mind when I think about what it means to become a Hoosier Hero. Dirt racing isn’t just a hobby for me, it’s a true passion – one I want to see continue to grow, not only across WISSOTA-country, but also among the next generation of racers. I’m especially passionate about encouraging and empowering more females to step into the sport, make their mark, and help shape the future of dirt racing. Just because we are a female, when we put that helmet on, we are the same kind of driver. We are all going after the one thing.’
Hoosier Racing Tire is committed to fueling passion, pride and success in the racing industry. The Hoosier Hero program recognizes accomplished competitors from around the world that also fuel passion, pride and success in the racing industry both on and off the track. For more info. on the Hoosier Hero program, check out Hoosier Heroes, for more information on Morgan Grosz, log onto her website at Morgan Ward, and for more information on WISSOTA Auto Racing, check out WISSOTA
Submitted By: Jacy Norgaard