10/23/2023
WISSOTA
ADAMS ACCELERATES TO 2023 WISSOTA MIDWEST MODIFIED ROOKIE OF THE YEAR TITLE
Over the years, WISSOTA-area racers and fans have become accustomed to seeing the name Adams at, or near the top of the WISSOTA National Point Standings on many occasions, as Cameron, Wisconsin’s Kevin Adams topped the national championship point standings 5 times during his hall of fame career, and although Kevin is still winning racers, he has scaled back his schedule considerably over the past few seasons to focus on his teenage son Blake’s career. The work has paid off as 14-year-old Blake just wrapped up his rookie season in the his WISSOTA Midwest Modified and topped all rookies to earn the 2023 Midwest Modified Rookie of the Year title.
Blake comes from a racing family as both of his grandfathers (Dave Adams and Tim McMann) have had long and very successful racing careers, plus his uncle is Rodney Sanders, who is a 5-time USMTS Modified National Champion, and of course as mentioned, his dad Kevin (Buzzy) is a 5-time WISSOTA National Champion as well, so Blake’s success is not surprising, but winning 11 races during his rookie season may have surpassed even his expectations heading into his rookie season.
After competing in the Go Kart ranks for the past 6 years and winning over 100 feature races, Blake made the jump into the Midwest Modifieds in 2023 and competed in 49 events at 11 different tracks, winning 11 times at seven different tracks and along with his Rookie of the Year title, he also won a qualifying night at the WISSOTA 100 at the I-94 emr Speedway in Fergus Falls, MN, winning the MadTown Showdown at the Madison Speedway in Madison, MN and winning season championship night at the Red Cedar Speedway in Menomonie, WI. His efforts landed him 9th in the final overall WISSOTA Midwest Modified national point standings at season’s end as well.
Entering the 2023 racing season, the main goal for Adams was to chase the Rookie of the Year title and Blake said when asked about the achievement ‘to achieve that goad and to finish 9th in National Points is pretty awesome and a dream come true.’
Of all the races he entered this season, a specific weekend stands out to Blake. He recalls standing in victory lane at the WISSOTA 100 after winning Friday night’s qualifier after giving up his locked in spot from Wednesday night and remembers how special of a night that was.
Blake’s #40d carries sponsorship from Olsen Custom Farms, Adams Automotive, MB Customs Race Cars, EMR, Dalbeck Logging, CMD Race Shocks, Pro Fence, Brody Viltz Racing, Brass Money Paracord, Buzz Signs, Dave & Linda Inc., Barnyard Buddies Daycare, TLB Excavating, Buckshot Helmets, JE3 Inc., and Swift Springs. He is supported on and off the track by his dad Kevin, mom Megan and sister Brooklyn, plus his aunt Morgan, aunt Lisa, uncle Rodney, grandmas Linda and Merlyn and grandpas Dave and Tim. His main help in the pits consists of his crew chief dad, plus Cody Carlson, Steve Alton, John Eastman, Travis Busch, Keith Haugen, Bubba Amans, Drew Alton, Dylan Alton and Todd & Brandon.
Blake also wanted to note that ‘at just 14 years old, I’ve had an awesome season. Met a ton of great racers and gained a lot of respect for all of them. I hope I have earned their respect as well. I can’t wait to get the 2024 season stated in Arizona in January. Special thanks to my family, my crew and all of my great sponsors.’
At the conclusion of the 2023 season, Adams amassed 3071 points to win the Midwest Modified ROY title by 217 markers over runner-up Luke Johnson when the final points were tallied.
As of today, Blake plans to continue to compete in the Midwest Modified division when the 2024 season rolls around and if his rookie season was any indication of the career that he will have, he will most likely be in the hunt to follow in his dad’s footsteps and contend for many national championships in years to come. Blake also will run several Go Kart races over the winter and plans to begin his 2024 season in Arizona in January. There are also hints of Blake jumping in his dad’s Modified for select events next season as well. Time will tell.
Congrats!
The WISSOTA Promoters Association exists to benefit its member tracks to enhance safe, profitable and successful dirt track racing, through unified, cost-effective rules, policies and procedures, enacted within a democratic environment.
The WISSOTA Promoters Association was founded in 1981 by eight track promoters in Wisconsin and Minnesota, with intent to offer uniform rules for the promoters and drivers involved in the Late Model division. Soon, the group decided to do the same for the growing Modified division.
In 1984 a voluntary steering committee was formed to oversee the business aspects that developed and to guide the future of WISSOTA’s racing divisions. That steering committee evolved into a board of directors, and the non-profit racing organization became incorporated in 1986.
Promoters who join the organization become, in essence, part owners of the racing organization and are expected to contribute to its overall success. Each November, the WISSOTA annual meeting is held; the member promoters gather annually in this forum to discuss the future of the organization. Member promoters are given the opportunity to vote on all organizational policies and procedures as well as rules for competition in the various racing divisions. WISSOTA’s member promoters and racing associations have spent approximately 30 years of hard work at the annual meetings crafting unique rules for each of the divisions, which are known as WISSOTA Late Models, WISSOTA Modifieds, WISSOTA Super Stocks, WISSOTA Street Stocks, WISSOTA Mod Fours, WISSOTA Pure Stocks and WISSOTA Hornets.
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Submitted By: Camryn Sullivan