Written by Sean Soseman. Photos by JD Media for Dead Red Off-Road, Inc. All rights reserved.
There’s nothing quite like a Friday night at Crandon International Raceway. The air smells like fuel, the grandstands shake with anticipation, and the drivers line up ready to throw down. The 56th Crandon World Championships opened with the always-rowdy 2025 Crandon Stock Truck class race, and if you weren’t there to see it, you’re going to want every detail.
This wasn’t just another 2025 Crandon Stock Truck race—it was a rolling highlight reel, with big moves, surprising comebacks, and even a dose of heartbreak. Let’s break down how Friday night set the tone for an unforgettable weekend.
The Calm Before the Storm
The Crandon Energy Is Different
If you’ve never been to Crandon before, it’s tough to explain. The track isn’t just dirt and jumps—it’s history, legacy, and electricity all bundled into one. When the 2025 Crandon Stock Truck drivers rolled to the line Friday evening, the crowd knew they were about to witness fireworks.
The Iconic Turn 1
The Forest County Potawatomi Turn 1 is legendary for a reason. Trucks roar side-by-side into one of the fastest corners in off-road racing. This time, Brian Peot, Colt Wierzba, and Weston Juul thundered down into it like gladiators, each hoping to write their names into Crandon’s long history.
Wierzba Makes His Move
Right away, Colt Wierzba made it clear who the favorite was. He dove inside through the sweeper and stole the lead, leaving the field scrambling to catch him. His Chevy hooked up perfectly, while Peot held strong in second. By the end of lap one, it felt like Colt was in another zip code.
2025 Crandon Stock Truck: Battles in the Pack
Tyler Hoffman’s Charge
Tyler Hoffman, sitting third in season points, wasn’t about to settle for mid-pack. He got around Juul on the straightaway, putting his Chevy into clean air. Juul didn’t give up, though—he clawed back ground through the technical skybox section. Their back-and-forth added serious spice to the early laps.
The Kid Can Fly: Malakai Yakel
Every race needs a wild card, and at Crandon, it was Malakai Yakel. Just out of high school, Yakel started dead last. But he wasn’t here to make up the numbers. With sheer determination and a fearless right foot, he sliced through the field. His two-for-one pass out of Argonne Corner—blowing by both Kyle Jenshak and TJ Ewert—brought fans to their feet.
The Graff Brothers Story
Another storyline unfolded with the return of the number 537, Ford F-150. The truck had been parked since the spring Brush Run after driver Kirk Graff broke his leg. On Friday, his brother Kai stepped in, determined to make the most of a massive opportunity. By halfway, Kai had muscled into fifth place, showing that the Graff name still belonged in the Stock Truck fight.
The Caution, the Heartbreak, the Push
Competition Caution Drama
Usually, the mid-race competition caution resets the deck and tightens the battle. But on this night, the flags flew later than usual. By the time the trucks bunched back together, only two minutes and ten seconds remained. Everyone knew it was time to send it.
Hoffman Pounces, Peot Falters
When the green flag waved again, Hoffman went hunting. He stuck to Peot’s rear bumper and waited for an opening. The chance came on the front stretch, where Hoffman blasted past as Peot slowed over the massive jumps. From the sidelines, it looked like a suspension issue, and sure enough, Peot’s truck limped with what appeared to be a broken shock. The points leader fell through the order, his championship lead suddenly shrinking.
Wierzba Untouchable
While chaos brewed behind him, Colt Wierzba never flinched. The Wierzba Insulation Chevy truck looked locked to the ground, floating through corners while keeping huge speed down the straights. He crossed the line for his fourth Stock Truck victory of the season, barely breaking a sweat.
The Podium and Beyond
The Final Results
When the dust settled, the order told the story:
- 1st: Colt Wierzba (#517 Chevy) – dominant from start to finish.
- 2nd: Tyler Hoffman (#562 Chevy) – smart, patient, and fast enough to capitalize on mistakes.
- 3rd: Weston Juul (#512 Ford) – one of his best runs of the season.
- 4th: Kai Graff (#537 Ford) – an impressive fill-in performance.
- 5th: Brian Peot (#519 Chevy) – heartbreak with a mechanical issue.
- 6th: Malakai Yakel (#513 Chevy) – Lost momentum after the 2 for 1 pass.
- 7th: Kyle Jenshak (#542 Chevy) – First race back from injury at Spring Crandon.
- 8th: TJ Ewert (#520 Chevy) – More frustration for the veteran driver.
- 9th: Justin Coffer (#543 Ford) – First appearance since Wheatland, MO.
- 10th: Sean Soseman (#525 Chevy) – DNF; crashed.
See the Official Results here
Behind them, Yakel’s charge to sixth had fans buzzing, while Jenshak, Ewert, Coffer, and Sean Soseman rounded out the field.
It’s been a long hard road
After the race, Hoffman summed up the night in classic racer fashion:
“It feels awesome. It’s the end of the year, and you can’t complain [with a podium finish], you cannot ask for anything more than that.” — Tyler Hoffman, second place finisher
Setting Up for Saturday
Friday night was only the appetizer. The World Championship Saturday promised even more fireworks, and with Peot losing points and Hoffman closing in, the 2025 Crandon Stock Truck title fight felt like it had been thrown wide open. Add in Wierzba’s unstoppable pace, and fans were already bracing for another classic.
