Justin Barsness, from Grand Rapids, Minnesota, did something that no other driver has ever done in the history of the WISSOTA Promoter’s Association – he won a National Championship in one division and won the Rookie of the Year in another division in the same season.
17-year-old Barsness, raced in 43 Hornet events, winning 17 times and recording 39 top ten finishes to earn the National Championship in just his fourth season in the division, plus he also ran 29 Pure Stock events, winning a pair of features and recording 23 top ten finishes during his rookie campaign, and ended up as the top Pure Stock rookie at season’s end, besting Caylyn Binkley by 223 points for the title.
Barsness was fortunate to win both nights of the Labor Day Shootout at the Hibbing Raceway in the Hornet division, plus also won the second night of the Chicken Shack Nationals at the Bemidji Speedway in Bemidji, MN and also won the Red White and Boom special in Bemidji for his efforts. He also remembered a few memorable moments form the season, which included winning in both the Pure Stocks and Hornets on the same night for the first time in his career, plus winning on his dad’s birthday, winning in Bonnie McLynn’s car twice and the second night of the Labor Day Shootout with a last lap pass to sweep the weekend.
When asked about his championship season, Justin said ‘to be a WISSOTA National Champion was the ultimate goal at the beginning of the season for me, but it didn’t even seem possible half way through the year, but after a lot of hard work, long hours in the garage and tons of help from others, especially racers, we were able to get it done and it means the world to us!’
Justin’s #47j carries sponsorship from Bella Mente Home Care Services, Automotive Electric LLC, Dawn and Donnie Odden, Win Or Lose Steve’s Buying, Hammered Solutions, Victoria’s Salon, Bass Brook Recycling, Jen Sen, Statt Wraps, North In Bloom Floral, Herculift, Rapids Brewing, Barrel O Fun, Carlson’s Muffler Shop, Krisit’s Creative Cuts, Bishops Performance, Kari Larson, Grandmum and Mike Blevins. He is supported on and off the track by his mom and dad, Jake and Becky, his grandparents Brent and Linda Wheeler and Tim and Carol Barsness and his sister Jada Barsness, along with his crew, which consisted of Jake, Mike, Brent, Chris, Trent, Josh, Jerry, Tristen, Ryan J., Ryan B., Mason and Robbie.
At the conclusion of the 2023 season, Barsness amassed 2217 points and was able to win the Hornet national title by 26 markers over runner-up and former National Champion Justin Schelitzche when the final points were tallied.
As of today, Justin plans to continue to compete full time in the Pure Stock division when the 2024 season rolls around and although he never starts out the season with plans to run for national points, but you can bet if things go well, he will try to back up his Pure Stock rookie of the year title with a national title when next October nears.
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.
WISSOTA is proudly sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tire, Speedway Motors, AFCO Racing Products, MyRacePass, Structural Buildings, Chevrolet Performance, Engine Quest, World Products, Manley, QA1, Allstar Performance, Bassett, Brodix Cylinder Heads, AMI Graphics, MSD, Minuteman Press Princeton, Simpson, Hooker Headers, Marv’s Trailer Sales, Leighton Broadcasting, Joe Provo Racewear, Mahle, Moser Engineering, Performance Auto, ATD, Holley, American Solutions for Business, Speedwerx, Bradshaw & Bryant, All Star Trophy and Awards, SERVPro, Shaw Trucking, AT21, CMD Race Shocks, US Foods, Race Gear Designs, QualityFreightRate.com, Dirt Track Supply, Velocita, Motul Oil, Dirt Race Central, WISSOTA.tv, and Garage-Tech X-treme.
For more information on WISSOTA, log on to www.WISSOTA.org.