09/09/2024
Wakeeney Speedway
By: Sheldon Wickwar
His story began in Longmont, Colorado where his parents brought one of the nicest, and most well-rounded people on earth. John Fose grew up in Wakeeney where he graduated high school, an avid football player, John was the face of the Trego Golden Eagles where he earned the honorable nickname "Fabulous Fose", after college he continued to play football as a scholarship player at Dodge City Junior College. After college Fose jumped into the construction industry, as he was instrumental in the development of Trego, Gove, and Ellis counties.
May 21st of 1983 was a special day in John's life as he married his beloved wife Jean Pfanenstiel, together they had two daughters Nicole and Amber. Nicole will never forget how her grandma made sure to get Nicole and Amber, along with their cousins, out to all of John's races. They watched their father/uncle carry out seventy-five stock car wins, four track championships, along with four modified feature race wins. Nicole along with her sister and cousins produced the chant, "Hop in the buggy, step on the gas, #27 won't let you pass!" And you could hear that across the state at different area tracks as Fose would compete regularly, and in 1990 John captured a coveted national stock car championship.
John knew no strangers, and was a social butterfly, always willing to talk to others and have an enjoyable time. Family was number one in John's eyes, followed by work and racing, John did not care if he made a fool of himself, that is what Nicole, and her family will always remember about him. Area track announcer Tanner James Schmidt recalls the time that he parked at Wakeeney, and fair officials were disgruntled about where he parked, and a stranger John Fose stood up for the young announcer. Fose was the type of guy to help anyone, and talk to anyone, we can take a lesson from him, the world could use some more guys like John!
John's racing career came to an abrupt ending in 2016 after suffering a horrific crash down the backstretch of the Sherman County Speedway in Goodland, Kansas. Fose was left with several broken bones in his ankle, recovery was long and intensive, and Fose decided to end his racing career. John Fose passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family on December 20th of 2023.
Nicole provided this message, "My dearest Dad, we sure do miss you down here. Not just your immediate family, but your racing family, your oil patch family, your coffee drinking and gossiping family. You are the one-of-a-kind man that is missed by so many people. Most of all you are missed by your grandkids, who always talk about you daily! Tonight is for you Dad! Thank you, Barrett "BJ" and Danielle Wagoner!"
Wakeeney Speedway hosts their final night of IMCA racing action this Saturday, September 14th! The "Fabulous Fose" John Fose Memorial will see all five IMCA classes tackle the historic Wakeeney Speedway, with all the purses ending in "27", John's legendary racing number! Make plans to be at Wakeeney Speedway for an amazing night, honoring a legend in our sport, and our beloved Wakeeney community!