Former Dirt Late Model racer Rick Thoennes has been named the head technical advisor for the WISSOTA Promoters Association beginning in 2026, the organization announced Monday.

The 52-year-old Alexandria, Minn., native competed on go-karts, modifieds, Dirt Late Models, and the ARCA Menard’s Series one more than 30 years and brings a deep level of knowledge about race cars, engines, rear ends, transmissions and suspensions.

Thoennes replaces Bill Engelstad, the longtime WISSOTA official and Iron Range Racing Association promoter who died in November 2025 at his Hibbing, Minn., home.

Thoennes has the “hands-on experience and technical acumen that align perfectly with the position and undoubtedly will be an asset to WISSOTA,” the organization wrote in a press release, adding that “working with racers daily over the years has allowed him to have a good understanding of what is working and what is not within the industry.”