Sports Digest

Hodags Barr, Weinzatl compete in Nike Cross Regionals

    Barr & Weinzatl
  

Two members of the Rhinelander High School cross country team competed in the Nike Cross Regional Championships Sunday, Nov. 9 at Yankton Trail Park in Sioux Falls, S.D. 

Avrom Barr finished 140th overall out of 2,600 runners, as he covered the 5-kilometer course in 17 minutes, 21.1 seconds. Jackson Weinzatl was 448th overall at 18:05.9. Both runners competed in the second of six heats in the race. Barr took 12th in his heat while Weinzatl was 65th. 

Barr and Weinzatl, both juniors, qualified for the WIAA Division 2 state meet for Rhinelander this season, held Nov. 1 in Wisconsin Rapids. Barr finished 41st at state while Weinzatl placed 83rd.

Retzlaff to join Viking Motorsports for 2026 NASCAR season

Rhinelander native Parker Retzlaff will be returning to NASCAR’s second-tier O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2026, after signing to drive the No. 99 Chevrolet for Viking Motorsports, the team announced Nov. 7. 

It will be Retzlaff’s fourth full season in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, which was previously known as the Xfinity Series. Retzlaff spent his first two seasons driving for Jordan Anderson Racing before moving to Alpha Prime Racing for the 2025 campaign.

As part of the press release, Viking Motorsports announced that Retzlaff will be paired with crew chief Danny Efland.

“Parker brings youthful energy, talent, and a hunger to win that aligns perfectly with our Viking spirit,” Viking Motorsports owner Don Sackett stated. “Danny’s technical expertise and leadership will strengthen our team in the race shop and at the track. Together, they represent the next evolution of Viking Motorsports as we continue to build a program that’s truly forged to race.”

Retzlaff recorded three top-10 finishes, including a career-best runner-up finish April 19 at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway during the 2025 season, but he also failed to finish eight of the 32 races on the schedule — tied for the second-most DNFs in the series this season. He finished 22nd overall in the championship standings and failed to make the playoffs.

In three full-time seasons in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Retzlaff has recorded four top-five finishes, 15 top-10 finishes and had a best championship finish of 16th in 2023. 

“Joining Viking Motorsports feels like the perfect fit,” Retzlaff said in the release. “You can feel the passion and drive this team has from top to bottom. The No. 99 Chevy has huge potential, and I’m ready to give everything I’ve got for Don, Danny, and the whole Viking family. We’re going to fight hard every week.”

Viking Motorsports finished 24th in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series owners standings in 2025, competing most of the season with veteran racer Matt DiBenedetto. They parted ways with three races remaining in the season and Connor Mosack finished out the year driving for the team.

Sponsors for the car for the 2026 season have not been announced.