New Zealand’s Mad Mike Whiddett took on one of the biggest challenges of his motorsport career last weekend, competing in the 2025 Polaris World Championship at Crandon International Raceway in Wisconsin.
Racing with Carlson Moto, backed by Red Bull and Team Toyo USA, Whiddett joined the elite field in what is widely considered the “Super Bowl” of Short Course Stadium Trucks.
The event brought together the world’s top talent, including Andrew Carlson, Brian Deegan, Keegan Kincaid, and Kyle Greaves, across 20 competitive classes. For Whiddett, it was a chance to test himself against the very best in the premier Pro2 class.
Wild weather forced the cancellation of practice sessions, meaning Whiddett went straight into qualifying. After completing two laps, he suffered a blown transmission, bringing his session to an early end and resulting in a less-than-preferable qualifying result.
The Carlson Moto team worked tirelessly overnight to get the truck back in shape for the weekend’s main event: the World Cup race on Sunday.
Whiddett faced further adversity in one of the heat races. Limited visibility following an incident left him struggling to see through obstructed panels while battling a slipping torque converter. Despite his determination to push on, mechanical issues forced him to retire from the heat.
Sunday’s World Cup race began promisingly, with Whiddett showing competitive pace before a rollover set him back. Demonstrating the typical Whiddett grit and determination he is known for, the Kiwi driver fought his way back through the field.
Unfortunately, a misjudged jump off the iconic barn jump broke the truck’s lower arm, ending his run.
Despite the setbacks, Whiddett described the experience as unforgettable. With a strong track record in New Zealand, highlighted by his Class 8 Unlimited Truck victory at the NZ Short Course Championship in Feilding earlier this year, he relished the chance to compete at the highest level of off-road racing.
“Overall, I had an absolute blast being thrown straight into the deep end, running in the premier class with the most insane talent and trucks on the planet,” Whiddett said.
“I found the limit of many parts on the Pro2, but our team, Carlson Moto, never gave up running four vehicles!”
“Maddest props to Andrew Carlson and Red Bull USA for the most wild opportunity I’ve had!” he added.
For Whiddett, the Crandon weekend wasn’t just about results; it was about stepping onto yet another global stage, learning, and testing both man and machine against the very best in short-course stadium truck racing.
Whiddett will now be making his way to Sydney for this weekend’s 2025 World Time Attack Challenge at Sydney Motorsport Park, where he will be driving his 1976 Mazda 808 wagon, known as ‘Fursty’.
Header Image: Mad Mike Whiddett (Facebook)
