One of Ohio’s newest racing series is heading to the Rumble in Ft. Wayne (December 19-20th). The Buckeye Buggy Super Series, the Cage Kart series that is hitting short tracks in the region, will now heads indoors for the first time in series history. To understand the importance of this relatively new series joining one of the most high-profile events in the country, we must first go back and understand how the Buckeye Buggy Super Series came to be.
In reality, the Buckeye Buggy and the Sr Champs at Ft Wayne are a motor and tire compound/brand change from being the same thing. However as you’ve seen, they offer two different disciplines of racing.
Sometimes, karting is a tough sell to fans. Alot of people see them as “cute” or “just a kart”. In reality, the product produced doesn’t show how extreme a kart is on the body, and the mind. Kart racers don’t get “full containment seats”, there are some devices out there, but nothing like a race car offers. There’s no suspension, every bump, and jolt is felt directly in your body. Sadly at the end of the day at most kart tracks, you see people who don’t even celebrate feature wins. There’s very little “Aura” to the picture for general karting. Most kart racers will never progress into a car. Fact of the matter being, a solid competitive car anywhere is going to be a $20k investment.
For a lot of racers, that’s simply unobtainable…but there’s a bunch of racers who still want the glory of “Friday Night Lights” type feeling. The fans cheering, racing at places where they grew up watching drivers become their heroes. A series in Indiana (Midwest Asphalt Champ Kart Series) offered that feeling. They raced at venues like South Bend, Plymouth, Angola, Shadybowl, and, most historically, Anderson, the home of the Little 500. It offered everything that cage karters were looking for in racing. Solid racing, it took the tire game out of the equation, cheap investment, and a level of respect for the fellow racer we don’t often see anymore, all within getting to be at your favorite local short tracks.
Ohio didn’t have anything like this, and we only got to experience it twice a year within the state at Shadybowl. Thus, the Buckeye Buggy Super Series was born between the ideas of Erik Wolleson and Steve Morris. As with much consultation with the M.A.C.K.S group as well, to go on a limb and do something that seems difficult in today’s age…two series, working together. The same rules package, but to broaden the idea and availability to race on a different level and style of karting. In its first 3 years, there have been many ups and downs, a ton of learning curves, and a lot of growing pains. Despite the adversity, the series has grown each year. A couple times a year, both series go head to head, and meet at some “middle ground” race tracks for distance as a co-sanctioned event, and now, we have been offered an opportunity to do an event that fits exactly into what we look for, racing infront of crowds.
Earlier this year at Sandusky Speedway, series management caught up with Rumble In Fort Wayne Promoter Larry Boos, who is also the announcer of the Outlaw 350 Supermodified Series. Who at the end of the event asked if we would be interested in the Rumble. After some discussion, some analysis of other facilities, comparing lap times, hearing voices of reasons and opinions, we came up with an idea. No one wants to see the same repeated product, with a 1/2 to 3/4 full field for an A Main.
Champ Karts used to be one of the largest crowds of the Rumble, but in some ways have slowly been on the decline. We have a couple ideas to fix that. Years ago, the motor mixing did not go well. That is a fact. Different engines, different times now. Even with the analysis from other tracks, there is only one way to prove if it would work. Put the BBSS/MACKS up against the Sr. Champs at the Rumble and see how it lands. We are expecting to have some adjustments, but we want to offer something where we can potentially see 25-30 champ karts again. Some of the racers at the Rumble have been at this for years, and really have their craft fine-tuned. Much like the Buckeye and M.A.C.K.S. series have their karts tuned for the craft of super Speedway racing. With this, the chance of new faces getting to experience something like the Rumble is what we are aiming for.
Series Manager and Driver Erk Wolleson stated, “I think we stand a good chance of bringing 8-10 very stout competitors from our two series, and see if we can put up a fight for a good finish over the weekend. The Rumble was, has been, and to me will forever be one of the most prestigious races to win. There is NOTHING easy about the day. It’s cold, there’s a lot of walking, the G Forces, how precise you have to be, and the ever-changing track conditions. To run well at the Rumble is a monumental task; anyone who walks out making an A-Main should be proud, let alone winning one. Last year we took 2 karts for 2 classes, and one of them, the only goal all weekend was to make the 2000 to win Limbacher Memorial event. It didn’t end exactly how we wanted, but the amount of pride I had, being one of those 14, was something I won’t forget.”
Wolleson continued, “This year, we are honored to be invited to the event. Obviously there will be a growing pain, the first year or two will ALWAYS have them, and in no way is there any intent of “killing off a division”, this is more “join in unity and make it fair across the board to grow counts.” Part of the major thing that is tough for karting as a sell is, there’s “too many divisions” and 70% of them turn the same lap times. Well, let’s offer this mix, and see if we can grow one. With it being in the middle of winter, this is a prime way to get your racing fix, with 2 Full Programs of racing each day (Friday and Saturday). This race has been a staple for a long time, with the midget portions being won by several big names with purpose-built cars in each division. For once, we’re choosing “unity over division”, to try and make racing full again”.
“The entire Rumble fraternity is excited about the Buckeye Buggy Series working together with the M.A.C.K.S. series to make Senior Champ racing exciting this year” said Larry Boos of the Rumble in Fort Wayne. “The concept is unique and the willingness of all of the players to try something new is unparalleled. The Buckeye Buggy Series has proven itself to be competitive and entertaining with a great group of racers, so we are anticipating a smooth transition into the Rumble fold” Boos continued.
The Buckeye Buggy Super Series is looking at bringing between 7-10 racers. Names like Former Rumble Winners of Erik Wolleson (swept the 2023 Super Heavy portion of the Rumble), Josh McKnight (2024 Super Heavy Winner), Joe Warner (2024,2025 Buckeye Buggy Series Champion, 2025 Macks Champion), Brian Warner making his indoor racing debut (runner up in 2024 and 2025 in Buckeye Buggies). All of those drivers have made names for themselves competing in the Buckeye Buggy Super Series over the past three years.
“I’ve experienced the Rumble a number of times as a fan. This year, I get to cross it off my bucket list as a racer. It’s all I’ve been thinking about since we made the decision to go. Obviously, I want to run well, but I’m excited just to strap in under those lights and add my name to a storied list of drivers to take on the Coliseum”. stated Brian Warner, a front-runner in the Buckeye Buggy Super Series.
“I can’t thank Larry Boos enough for adopting the Buckeye Buggy Super Series ruleset and allowing us to run with the champ kart division. I also want to thank Erik Wolleson, my brother Joe, Roderick Racing Development, and Kyle Feaga for all their help in putting this deal together.” Warner continued.
Interested in hosting the Buckeye Buggy Super Series or joining in on the action of super speedway style Kart racing?
We asked Erik Wolleson about how the Buckeye Buggy Super Series puts programs together.
“Our races are dictated by track pit pass, transponder rental, and we charge a 30 dollar entry. We try to pay $200 to win, but…we are always looking for sponsors.”
Through our photography, we’ve caught the Buckeye Buggy Super Series at Lorain Raceway Park, Sandusky Speedway and Painesville Speedway several times, it always provides exciting racing and competitive races with late race passes and action throughout the field.
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