2019 Grant Recipients

Jesse Krahn loves racing, it brings happiness to his life and others. He believes racing is an opportunity for him to bring joy and smiles to people and that is just as fun and exciting as winning. He knows the racing community is a family and he is always there to help his fellow racers.

Since starting in karts at age five, Jesse wants nothing more than to see short track racing grow. He hopes to impact the next generation of racers by helping one of his young fans who is now racing karts. Jesse wants to be a part of this child’s racing story and ensure he has the opportunity to succeed.

2019 will be Jesse’s eighth year in a dirt Street Stock and he is very content in that division. His dream is to run an off-road Torq Truck, but is working toward a dirt Modified. Jesse knows racing will always be a part of his life and as long as he can use it to bring happiness to others, he too will be happy.

With 45 feature wins and four championships, Paul Pokorski will tell you racing is hard. He’s learned a lot about perseverance and believes you need to work hard but you also need to have fun; everything in moderation.

Paul was taught you always help your fellow racers if you can and his team embraces that attitude. From sharing parts and labor to giving advice and welcoming new racers, Paul always makes sure he helps people on and off the track. A longtime member of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Paul recently joined Elevate of Washington County where he helps with drug education and recovery for addicts.

Paul currently races 360 Sprint Cars at Plymouth Dirt Track in Plymouth, Wisconsin and is a board member of the Midwest Sprint Car Association (MSA). He plans to race a few more years and then work with younger racers as a mentor and coach. He’d also like to stay involved with local racing organizations as an official, competition director or technical inspector.

Thirteen-year-old Emma Hunstiger believes that actions speak louder than words. Her father Mike has taught her that racing takes a lot of hard work, but with that hard work comes reward. Her hard work and dedication to racing both in the garage and at the track earned her the 2018 Wisconsin Outlaw Bandolero Championship.

Emma’s passion for racing is something she wants to share with others. Whether she is teaching fellow racers, lending her car to new racers or being a positive influence and friend to all of her competitors. Emma’s heart to help people and her compassion for those around her is a shining example for us all.

Away from the track, Emma volunteers at a local nursing home during the summer and is an avid 4H club member. In 2019, Emma will begin racing in the INEX Legends division at Jefferson Speedway in Cambridge, Wisconsin. Her ultimate dream is to compete in the NASCAR Truck Series.

14-year-old JD Rudser believes racing isn’t a hobby, it’s a lifestyle. At age four, he was attending races with his father Kevin. As he got older, they regularly traveled to tracks across Wisconsin. They’d listen to race chatter on scanners, buy pit passes and sometimes even help teams. All of these experiences helped JD learn about cars, driving lines, terminology and what is means to be a racer.

Braison Bennett, racer and son of Wisconsin racing legend “Lightning” Lowell Bennett has been a mentor and coach to JD. Braison has helped JD build his 4-cylinder Slinger Bee race cars and has been a constant help and leader to him as he grows as a driver. JD has learned success isn’t guaranteed, but if you’re smooth and patient, you’ll be fast.

JD is the next generation of racers and is already setting an example for kids by answering their questions, signing autographs and offering them a seat in his car after the races. He has hopes of being involved with professional racing, either as a driver or crewman.