Bernhagen Secures NASCAR Local Racing Series Rookie Of The Year Honors

Monday, November 9th, 2026 -- 12:55 PM

Jesse Bernhagen of Willard spent the year racing at Dells Raceway Park, a NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts.  In the track’s NASCAR Regional Gandrud Performance Late Model division, he finished with one win, 10 top fives and 15 top 10s in 17 races.   Bernhagen finished fourth in the final track point standings, sixth in Wisconsin’s NASCAR Division I points, ninth in the Midwest and 23rd in the nation.   And since this was his first year holding a NASCAR license, Bernhagen secured the NASCAR Local Racing Series Division I Rookie of the Year award.  It’s his first time winning a national racing award.

Bernhagen returned to Dells this season after racing at other tracks the last few years. Even though it was a bit of a down year by his usual standards – he won the track title at Dells in 2021 and has more than 50 feature wins in his career. 

Jesse’s dad served as crew chief since he started racing at age 5. But this season, for the first time, Bernhagen served in both roles.  He said doing both jobs was stressful at times, but it made him a better driver.  

Bernhagen is a former social studies teacher and is now the middle school principal at Neillsville.  He often tries to find students who are into cars and get them involved in the sport.

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