Corvette Connection Grand Prix - Corevette Connection Raceway - Butler, WI

January 22, 2026

Round 11 of 17

Keeping the Good Vibes Alive

(Butler, WI) -- Since Corevette Connection Raceway was added to the IndySlotCar Series schedule, one team has dominated. Under several different names, but this season's Good Vibes Racing won for the fourth time and Joe Heitz cruised to his third win in the five Corvette Connection Grands Prix.

Heitz showed it might be another big night for Good Vibes Racing in qualifying, taking his second Firestone P1 Award at the longest track on the schedule, ahead of FAST's #9 Dean Strom. Dan Margetta in a back-up GVR car, started third, with Husarsbilt Cup points leader Mike Lack fourth and CBD Racing's Bill Black fifth.

The opening heat saw Pete Dorn and Steve Rist trade the lead early, with a rare rookie debut from Scott Mente in the #98 Spehert Global entry running some quality laps in his first appearance, while defending Husarsbilt Cup champion John Wiedemann struggled with a lack of power. Ultimately, it was Dorn who would hold on to advance to his second final of the season.

The middle heat again saw the Good Vibes Racing team enjoy success, as Mike Kristof took his Java House sponsored car to the lead just past halfway and never looked back, as Bill Black struggled with handling and like John Wiedemann, the other FAST II: The Castaways car, the #15 of Matt Hayek struggled with handling and a lack of power. Hometown hero Brad Core ran to 12th on the night.

Heat #3 saw points leaders Mike Lack and Dean Strom run a close, first and second, however, Strom had a marshal interfere with his car, to slow his progress at one point, Joe Heitz closed and passed "The Champ" for second place while Margetta without his main crew on hand was unable to get the balance right. Into the second half, Lack was able to distance himself from both Heitz and Strom and eventually Heitz secured the transfer spot to race against Lack again in the final.

For the first time in two years, both Good Vibes Racing drivers were in the final together, Heitz would take the early lead while Kristof would run second with Lack not far behind, while Pete Dorn ran fourth. Kristof would hold off Lack through the first half and into the second, a rare slow pit stop from the FAST team kept Lack from catching the #20 Good Vibes Racing Chevrolet-Daboiler until about three-quarters distance, as the handling went away on Kristof's machine. Meanwhile Heitz opened up a sizable lead to take the win, the third at the track and on the 2025-26 campaign. 

Lack came within six laps of a three-race winning streak and only saw his championship lead cut by eight points, with six races left in the season. It was a rare back-to-back podium for Kristof, as the Good Vibes Racing team continues to succeed at Corevette Connection Raceway.

The series heads to the second "de-slot" format race of the season at Quarry Heights Raceway in two weeks.

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Corvette Connection Grand Prix Fast Facts

Race date: Thursday, Jan 22

Track: Corevette Connection Raceway, 5.5 mile road course in Butler, WI

Race distance:  20 minutes

IndySlotCar Website: indyslotcar.com

2024-25 race winner: Ev Kamikawa (No. 12 Team PenskeHO Chevrolet-Daboiler)

2024-25 Firestone P1 Award winner: Steve Rist (No. 4 FAST Honda-Daboiler)

One-lap qualifying record: Joe Heitz, 7.103 seconds, 2023

Race record: Joe Heitz, 141 laps, 2024

YouTube Broadcast: IndySlotCar Channel

At-track schedule (all times local):

6:00 – Gates open

6:30 – Driver introductions

7:00 – IndySlotCar Series Practice

7:40 – Qualifying for the Firestone P1 Award (group qualifying/ fastest single lap)

8:15 – Heat Races

9:00 – Corvette Connection Grand Prix (20 minutes)

Race Notes:

·         Mike Lack enters the Corvette Connection Grand Prix riding a two race winning streak and four victories on the season to take a sizable 55 point lead in the Husarsbilt Cup championship after 10 of 17 races in the season.

·         Lack has won back to back events several times, but only taken the streak to three or more two times, the last being rounds 13-14-15 of the 2017-18 season.

·         In the last two races have seen six different drivers in the finals, with only Lack repeating. The seven-time champion has made eight finals in the nine races he has entered this season.

·         What is now known as Good Vibes Racing (Joe Heitz and Mike Kristof) under the Michael Shank-It Racing banner won this race the first three times it was held, with Ev Kamikawa breaking that streak last season.

·         STATS WATCH: Dean Strom’s appearance in the final at the Raven 250 was the 96th of his illustrious career moving him to sixth on the all-time list. Steve Rist’s DNF at Raven was the FAST driver’s 23rd and equals John Shea’s career total, they are tied at 15th on the all-time list.

CORVETTE CONNECTION GRAND PRIX HISTORY (4 event, 2022 - Present)

Date                   Race Winner

2/1/2022           Mike Kristof

2/2/2023           Joe Heitz

1/18/2024        Joe Heitz

11/7/2024        Ev Kamikawa