The Bettles are Coming! Class 11 VW World Championships Returning to Crandon
Vintage VW Race Cars a Huge Crandon Fan Favorite -- CRANDON, Wisconsin (August 17, 2025) -- Fans getting ready for an amazing Labor Day motorsports weekend at the 56th Polaris Crandon World Championship will be happy to hear that track officials are announcing the return of the popular Crandon Class 11 World Championships.
These races feature vintage Volkswagen Beetles that mostly keep their original parts but have modern safety upgrades and a few performance tweaks. These Beetles are famous for competing in tough events like the BFGoodrich SCORE Baja 1000. Recognized as a prestigious Pro category by Crandon International Raceway, Class 11 was added to the Polaris Crandon World Championship and Red Bull Crandon World Cup schedule in 2021.
SWARMING VWs: Classic vintage Class 11 Volkswagens, beloved since the beginning of the sport, have made a big comeback at Crandon. For the fifth year, the 2025 Crandon Class 11 World Championships will be a big part of Labor Day weekend at Crandon International Raceway. (Photo: Jason Zindroski)
Over 25 vintage Volkswagens and their teams will attend the 56th Polaris Crandon World Championships, the largest short-course off-road race, from August 28-31, 2025.
This premier American motorsports event includes Sportsman and Pro racers of the AMSOIL Championship Off-Road series and the Ultra4 USA series' rock racing competitors. Celebrating Labor Day weekend, the Class 11 Volkswagens will compete twice in a schedule featuring 56 races over four days. The vintage VWs will be included in RACER Network's live televised coverage of Crandon's Forest County Potawatomi 'Friday Night Thunder' races.
Official reservations for Class 11 camping at the 2025 Polaris Crandon World Championships are now open for all competitors by logging on to www.crandonoffroad.com/racers.
We are thrilled to welcome back the Class 11 World Championship races at Crandon International Raceway," explained Crandon Promoter Marty Fiolka. "Since watching their debut through Forest County Potawatomi Turn 1, these historic cars have captivated us with some really fierce competition. Class 11 drivers and their race cars have become a treasured tradition here at Crandon. We can't wait to share the excitement with fans here and around the world."
Labor Day weekend in the motorsports world is highlighted by the annual Polaris Crandon World Championships Off-Road Races. This prestigious event attracts over 60,000 spectators and features more than 450 teams from across the United States. Spanning three days and nights, it is the largest and oldest short-course off-road race globally. The event's comprehensive schedule includes Pro and Sportsman AMSOIL Champ Off-Road series racers competing for season championships and the coveted Crandon World Champion title and rings across all classes.
CLASSIC COMPETITION: Volkswagen-based race cars have been integral to the Crandon off-road races since 1969. Currently experiencing a revival, the stock Class 11 Volkswagens will be broadcast live on RACER Network Friday, August 29th as part of the Polaris Crandon World Championship's 'Forest County Potawatomi Friday Night Thunder.' (Photo: Jason Zindrowski)
Class 11 racers will participate in Crandon's open test day on Thursday, August 28, before being a feature race under the lights on Friday, August 29. The weekend's big race to earn a coveted Crandon World Championship ring will take place on August 31 as Class 11 takes part in the 10th annual Red Bull Crandon World Cup Sunday.
The Red Bull Crandon World Cup is produced by Crandon International Raceway as the sport's most prestigious and lucrative day of Pro-category competition capped by the Red Bull Cup race pitting Pro 2 versus Pro 4 unlimited trucks.
Additional event information, camping reservations, and weekend wristband purchases can be found at www.crandonoffroad.com.