Josh Werner, Co-owner
Who got you into snowmobiling and when; what was their influence in your regard
to the sport?
My brother-in-law & co-owner of KMW Racing was the most influential in getting me into snowmobiling. We used to ride out to his deer camp not long after my sister and Keith started dating. I started out on a Yamaha Bravo when I was about 12 and quickly moved my way up to a 1992 Arctic Cat EXT 550. It was a nice summer night in 2015 when I stopped in for a quick visit with the Krentz family. As we sat around the table Keith looked at me and said “I’m starting up a race team. I’ve sat on the outside of turn 3 in Lincoln long enough and its time to move into the infield.” As I gathered my thoughts I responded with, “Well I can lend you my toolbox for the winter months.” Not long after that Keith and Luke took delivery of our first race sled. 30 days after that I found myself hooking onto a 34 ft Haulmark Race Trailer. Once I had the trailer I decided to purchase a replica toolbox and duplicate all of my tools just for the race trailer. Needless to say my initial offering of just loaning Keith my toolbox for the winter months kind of snowballed…no pun intended. To add to the complexity of that summer, my wife was pregnant with our second child. She often reminds me of it when life gets busy with, “Hey, remember the time you started a race team when I was pregnant.”
When did you start racing and what is your proudest achievement so far on the track?
So funny story, I’ve never raced a snowmobile. I actually have never even taken a full speed lap with a helmet on any of our race sleds. I am purely a wrench and a problem solver.
What is your career goal?
I get a lot of satisfaction with consistent incremental improvements with our race team, but in the end I would like to win a MIRA Championship as well as the I-500.
How did you become part of this racing team?
Another crew member, Ryan Stevens and I were NASCAR fans at a young age and would regularly go to the races at MIS. I also enjoyed wrenching on vehicles, dirt bikes, & snowmobiles. I’ve always had the idea of wanting to be a part of a race team from a young age. It just took an opportunity to cross my plate to make the idea come to life. I grew up about 20 miles away from the Lincoln track and went to high school just down the road from it. I would find myself going to that race even though I didn’t know anyone personally in snowmobile racing. It really took that one night with Keith to rope me in and make it happen.
Keith Krentz, Co-owner
Who got you into snowmobiling and when; what was their influence in your regard to the sport? My father, as he took me to every race locally including the I-500 virtually from the time I could walk.
When did you start racing and what is your proudest achievement so far on the track?
2016, getting the Soo I-500 Pole Award.
What is your career goal?
Winning the MIRA points championship, and winning the Soo I-500.
How did you become part of this racing team?
To step from the outside of the track to the inside after a lifetime of watching. Having a son, brother in law and a crew dedicated to high end competition took this endeavor from a dream to a reality.
Dustin Schwandt, Driver
My name is Dustin Schwandt I am a driver for the KMW #7 Enduro race team. I guess first off a little about myself. I’m 33 years-old from Fox Lake, Wisconsin. My family consists of my wife Becca, and daughter Harper. Now to answer some of your questions.
Who got you into snowmobiling and when; what was their influence in your regard to the sport?
As for how I got into snowmobiling, growing up in Central Wisconsin my family has always had snowmobiles. When I was younger my family did quite a bit of trail riding. We were lucky and made a few trips up to the U.P. also. To me it was like being a kid in a candy shop there. This is what got me hooked to the sport.
When did you start racing and what is your proudest achievement so far on the track?
Growing up my uncles raced sleds In the late 90’s and early 2000’s and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. As I got older I always wanted to be like them. When i was able to afford to race I got myself a race sled. After trying snocross for a year I found out that I was past the peak for that already being 25 years old. My uncle Todd who previously raced told me if I wanted try racing cross country he’d try it with me. So for the past 7 years Todd and I have been running the Cor Powersports cross country series all over northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. He has been my biggest mentor and without him I wouldn’t be where I am today.
There has been many big highlights in my race career. Probably the one that may not be the biggest but means the most to me would be winning the factory stock race at the world championship race in Eagle River. My uncle has won there back in the day when he raced there. It had always been a dream of mine to win and have a Eagle of my own. Now I can check that off as the proudest moment.
What is your career goal?
What are my goals? I guess probably the biggest one for me is making it through the season healthy and no injuries. I’m just your average guy that needs to be at work on Monday. Second I’d really like to win a pro Enduro race. We’ve been close just haven’t quite been able to seal the deal yet. Also finish all 500 laps of the SOO-I500 is a goal of mine.
How did you become part of this racing team?
Over the last few years I have been focusing on ice racing (oval and cross country). In 2019 I took my first crack at Enduro racing. I ran the first Enduro race held at the Eagle River with my stock cross country sled finishing 2nd. After that I knew Enduro racing was something I’d like to try more of. That following summer I received a email from Mike Kloety who is our race director asking if I’d be interested joining the KMW Enduro team. I was ecstatic to say the least. After discussing it with my teammate/uncle I decided to commit to running with them full time. I’ve now been part of the team for the last 3 years. It has been a amazing experience with the best group of guys. Looking forward to what this season has in store for us.
Luke Krentz, Driver
Who got you into snowmobiling and when; what was their influence in your regard to the sport?
I remember going to the Michigan Cat 500 with my dad and grandpa for as long as I can remember, sitting on the center council to see over the dash down to the track. Fast forward 15 years and I am sitting on a different seat, from a different perspective , looking up to see my grandpa watching from the same truck, in the same #1 parking spot in turn 3 we always watched from was a truly wild experience for me.
The annual Soo I-500 trip with my dad also holds place to some of my favorite memories growing up. It’s a weekend I looked forward to the whole year.
When did you start racing and what is your proudest achievement so far on the track?
I believe we started racing in 2016 in the Semi-Pro class. My favorite racing memory has got to be setting the pole at the soo last year. As a kid I remember getting off the school bus and running to the computer as fast as I could to watch the live stream qualifying and always counting how many Arctic Cats were qualified that year. I never in a million years dreamed I would be there doing that let alone setting the pole. That truly was a wild experience.
What is your career goal?
My career goal would be to win the I-500 for sure. It’s my biggest dream and I think about it every day. I feel like we have all the pieces in place to do so now it just takes alittle luck.
How did you become part of this racing team?
I guess I don’t really have an answer to how we formed this team. It kinda just happened. So I’d like to take this question and thank the people that make this all possible, especially my family. The sacrifices they make is incredible. To our generous sponsors that support us. And to the team that spends time away from there families to be at the track, at the shop, or both. We pride ourselves in sportsmanship outside the trailer and inside of the trailer no person is more important than the next, it’s an all of us or none of us type attitude.
Ryan Trout, Driver
Who got you into snowmobiling and when; what was their influence in your regard to the sport?
My dad bought a kitty cat for me when I was 19 months old and started riding alot and he entered me into my first race at 22 months old. It was a radar run and I got First place and ever since I have been hooked.
When did you start racing and what is your proudest achievement so far on the track?
I started racing more seriously at 4 years old and I not only raced snowmobile but also quads. I don’t really have one moment that stands out as far as my proudest achievement but I would say leading the soo 500 my rookie year for 70 laps and then getting third in the race is one of my top or winning Semi pro class in the I-500 by putting 18 minutes on the field with 102° fever on the second day of the 3 day race.
What is your career goal?
I really only have one goal left that I want to achieve in racing and that is to win the Soo 500
How did you become part of this racing team?
I have been a factory arcticcat rider for a long time and wanted to stick with the Brand and they are one of the few at the soo the race the arcticcat.