Drummond Barstool Races make Wisconsin history

The 26th annual Dirt & Sno-Jacks Barstool Races in Drummond aren’t just a winter tradition anymore, they’re now officially part of Wisconsin history.

The Wisconsin Historical Society filmed the races last weekend for its new State History Center in Madison, set to open in 2027. The center will showcase Wisconsin’s people, places, and traditions, and the Barstool Races will now be part of it.

The event was started in 1999 by Craig Manthy and fellow members of the Drummond Dirt & Sno-Jacks Club to raise money for local trail maintenance.

The Club has been part of the community since 1970, maintaining trails in Drummond, Grand View, and Mason. With support from grants, the U.S. Forest Service, and local donations, the club invests tens of thousands of dollars each year to keep trails safe, accessible, and ready for winter recreation.

Today, the Drummond Dirt and Sno-Jacks Club raises roughly $25,000 annually for trail work and has also supported student organizations at Drummond High School. What began as a small town fundraiser has grown into Drummond’s biggest February event.

Organizers say roughly 2,000 people turned out this year, with racers coming from across the country, and even around the world, for prize money, trophies, and bragging rights.

Manthy says this year’s turnout was something special.

“It was a great crowd, it could very well be a record crowd or close to one. A lot of that is because we got snow, snowmobiling is great, and the weather is fantastic.”

This year’s bragging rights belong to Jesse Grandfors, who rode the barstool, and Hunter Stumpf, who pushed him to the finish line.

“It’s been great, we were facing the reigning champs that we lost to last year,” says Granfors.

“Second place last year, year before that, third place,” adds Stumpf.

“The bragging rights are what’s important,” Grandfors says.

It’s their third year competing together. After finishing third two years ago and second last year, they finally claimed the top spot.