'Right now is the right time': NASCAR Craftsman Trucks looking forward to August return to Milwaukee Mile
WEST ALLIS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- NASCAR's return to the Milwaukee Mile is set for Aug. 27, 2023, when the drivers of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will circle the track 175 times in an effort to stand in victory lane at the oldest operating motor speedway in the world.
“The competitive NASCAR Crafstman Truck Series’ return to the historic Milwaukee Mile is one of the most anticipated races on the series’ schedule this season,” said Chip Wile, SVP & Chief Track Properties Officer with NASCAR. “We are proud to welcome our long-time partners Clean Harbors and Safety-Kleen as part of the series’ return to the Milwaukee market for the Clean Harbors 175.”
JUST ANNOUNCED: @CleanHarbors will serve as the primary sponsor of the @NASCAR_Trucks return to the Milwaukee Mile. The Clean Harbors 175 will be the series’ first race at the historic track since 2009. @CBS58 pic.twitter.com/BvRvRgsVdQ
— Emerson Lehmann (@lehmann_emerson) April 25, 2023
Wisconsin's State Fair Park has hosted at least one auto race very year since the facility since 1903, not including the years the U.S. was involved in World War II. This will be the first time since 2009 one of NASCAR's top three national series will be competing at the track.
"We are extremely excited to welcome (professional) racing back to the Mile. We think it's something our community really wants and is excited to have," said Shari Black, CEO of Wisconsin State Fair Park. "It's going to be a great addition, right after the 11-day fair, of course, but we're excited to do that turnaround and welcome (NASCAR) back and have the track hot again."
The race will be the second race of the first round of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series playoffs. Points leader and Wisconsin-native Ty Majeski can't wait for the green flag to fly.
"I don't know if there's a race track I could be more excited about," Majeski said. Just to come here, have it be home, a hometown race for me. The Milwaukee Mile; so much history here. I know the stands are going to be packed come August 27th."
Track Enterprises President Bob Sargent, the race's promoter, share's in Majeski's excitement.
"The NASCAR Truck product is very good, a lot of excitement, a lot of good drivers out there, talented drivers," Sargent said. "NASCAR's almost a household name and we just think bringing them back to Milwaukee right now is the right time."
Sargent says he's confident the Wisconsin and Midwest race fans will make the event a success, even hinting at efforts to bring other series back to the Mile in the future.
"We're always looking for future, and bigger and brighter," Sargent said. "We're kind of like a racer, we're as competitive as the racers are. They want to win on the race track, we want to win on the grandstands so the better product we can bring here for the Wisconsin community the better we can do."
Along with the Clean Harbors 175, NASCAR's ARCA Menards Series drivers will compete in the Sprecher 150, back for its third year at the Mile.
Tickets can be found HERE.
