Long-time Crandon promoter Fiolka to step down

Marty Fiolka will conclude his role as promoter of Crandon International Raceway at the end of the year.

Fiolka will pass the promotional torch to the next generation of the Flannery family as they take on an expanded role in guiding the future of the track known affectionately as “The Big House.”

Fiolka and his company The Rennsport Group began working with Crandon in 2014 via a handshake agreement with longtime track owner Cliff Flannery. What started as a straightforward relationship writing press releases grew into a long collaboration devoted to expanding Crandon’s reach while protecting the history, traditions and unique spirit that have defined the Wisconsin track for decades. 

“It has been one of the great privileges of my career to have played a role in an American motorsports treasure that spans over 57 years,” said Fiolka.

“When Cliff and I shook hands 12 years ago, neither of us could have imagined where the journey would take us. Crandon became much more than just another motorsports project for me.”


During Fiolka’s tenure, Crandon experienced significant growth in its commercial partnerships, event presentation, media exposure, hospitality programs and fan experience. The Rennsport Group worked to bring major automotive and motorsports brands to Crandon while developing new programs designed to broaden the facility’s appeal beyond traditional short-course off-road racing. 


This 12-year era included the evolution of the Polaris Crandon World Championships into a destination motorsports event, co-founding the Crandon Red Bull World Cup, creating a rules package to unify West Coast and Midwest racers, bringing Ultra4, Class 11, RallyX and vintage racing to Crandon, the successful promotion of major Kid Rock and KISS concerts and the production of live national television broadcasts and streaming for the RACER and MAVTV networks.

Crandon International Raceway President Jason Flannery said Fiolka’s impact extends well beyond the role of promoter.

“Marty brought relationships, ideas and a different perspective to Crandon while understanding what makes this place special,” said Flannery.

“He helped us grow, brought important new partners into the Crandon family and helped introduce The Big House to a much larger audience.”



For Fiolka, the timing of the transition is significant. “Crandon has always been about family and generations,” Fiolka said. “Cliff devoted much of his life to building and protecting this place. Now Jason and the next generation of Flannerys are eager for the opportunity to put their own fingerprints on its future.”
 

Flannery sees the January transition in much the same way.

“Our family is grateful for what Marty has contributed to Crandon,” Flannery said. “Now it becomes our responsibility to continue to build on that foundation, respect the traditions that got us here and take Crandon into its next chapter.”