Crandon International Off-Road Raceway is one of the most iconic venues in short course off-road racing. Located in Wisconsin’s Northwoods, it is affectionately nicknamed “The Big House” due to its massive layout and equally massive crowds.
Track Basics
- Length: Approximately 1.5–1.7 miles depending on configuration
- Surface: Dirt
- Direction: Counter-clockwise
- Major Events: Crandon World Cup, TORC Series, Champ Off-Road, Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing
Key Sections
- Land Rush Start: Unique to Crandon, this start launches the field side-by-side into the sweeping Turn 1 at full throttle.
- Turn 1 Sweeper: A long, high-speed left-hand corner that demands confidence and bravery.
- Backstretch Jumps: Long straights with natural jumps, forcing drivers to manage throttle and landings carefully.
- Technical Infield Corners: A mix of tighter turns that test braking and acceleration.
- Final Turn: A fast, sweeping bend leading to the start/finish, critical for setting up passes.
Driving Keys
- Start mastery: Success at Crandon often begins with winning the land rush into Turn 1.
- Momentum control: Keeping speed through the sweeping sections is more important than aggressive braking.
- Jump balance: Smooth takeoffs and landings preserve truck control and lap consistency.
- Setup focus: Suspension tuning is vital to handle the mix of high-speed corners and technical bumps.
Crandon offers a style of racing unique to the sim—fast, aggressive, and packed with side-by-side action that rewards confidence and racecraft.
