Road America is legendary for its great food. Road America President Clif Tufte ensured great food from the beginning by welcoming local service organizations to run Road America’s food stands. Filled with Wisconsin staples and Wisconsin hospitality, the stands feature some of the greatest food of any racetrack.

Spectators, drivers, and reporters continuously have high praise. A letter published in Auto Week in 1995 stated: "You can eat your way around the four-mile road course... More than a dozen concession stands, manned by area civic and church groups, are scattered around the course and provide the best racetrack food this side of Le Mans. You can enjoy everything from brats and German potato salad to barbecued ribs, omelets, tacos, red beans and rice. Even subs."

Many Options

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Brats are the quintessential food of choice at Road America. Courtesy of Road America.

A fan favorite is a real Sheboygan County bratwurst from Johnsonville. Described as the “unofficial state dish” of Wisconsin, bratwurst (or simply brats) originated with European immigrants, many of whom settled in the Sheboygan area in the 1800s. Many race fans claim they hadn’t experienced a real brat until they ate one grilled at Road America topped with sauerkraut. “Everybody knows about Road America brats. People you'd think know nearly nothing about racing ... love RA's yummy brats.” said a letter to Auto Week in 1993.

Not a brat lover? Other dishes have always been available, including broasted chicken, burgers on a Sheboygan hard roll topped with Sargento cheese, patty melts, chili cheese dogs, sub sandwiches, egger sandwiches, pizza, chicken quesadillas, and walking tacos.

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A couple enjoys corn on the cob while watching Road America’s 1967 Can-Am race. Courtesy of Road America Archives.

Corn on the cob soaked in melted Wisconsin butter, reminiscent of a church picnic, is a Road America staple. Concession stands go through so many ears of corn that Rod Gnerlich with the Manitowoc Herald Times joked in 1972 that: “Corn consumption is so great it might have been wise to move the track to Iowa.” Other delicious sides include mac 'n' cheese, cheese curds, tacos and churros, breakfast burritos, Cedar Crest ice cream cones, hot pretzels, and nachos with cheese.

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A volunteer grabs an ice-cold beer for a customer during a Road America race in 1960. Photo by Pierre Perrin. Courtesy of Road America Archives.

Enjoying an ice-cold Milwaukee beer is a perennial Road America favorite. When combined with a brat and corn on the cob, it makes the perfect Road America trifecta. For fans that prefer something harder, Brandy Old-Fashioneds, Bloody Mary's, and cocktails are available. And a great selection of non-alcoholic drinks is always available as well.

Race laps take around 3 minutes, so there’s always been ample time to relax, socialize, and enjoy the warm sunny weather. Stemming from the German concept of Gemütlichkeit, meaning conviviality, friendliness, coziness, and shared good cheer, Wisconsin’s social culture of gathering over drinks is often on full display at Road America. Many spectators continue to enjoy the ambiance and gathering after the race, relaxing, watching the sunset, and enjoying the camaraderie of fellow race fans.

Run by Community Organizations

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Fans prepare their lunch at the 1987 IMSA 500 at Road America. Photo by Russ Lake. Courtesy of Road America Archives.

Unlike many other tracks, Road America’s concessions have traditionally been run by local service organizations. From the beginning Tufte felt local organizations should operate Road America’s concessions. Tufte saw that getting local non-profit organizations involved would also create the community’s stake in the track’s success.

Tufte recruited service organizations long before the track was built. In January 1955 Tufte met with the American Legion Ladewig-Zinkgraf Post 243 in Plymouth. He spoke about the progress of the new track and then invited the group to provide concessions for the new course. Several organizations took Tufte up on the offer, including a group of women from St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. They set up a pop-up food stand at Road America’s first race in 1955 and sold brats off a grill, pies out of coolers, and buckets of ice-cold soda. St. John the Baptist became a track mainstay for the next 65 years serving brats, sandwiches, pie, ice cream, and its famous German potato salad. Other longtime service organizations that have operated concessions at Road America include Rotary, Kiwanis, Optimist and Lions clubs, the American Legion and VFW along with St. John the Baptist Church, Johnsonville Fire Dept. women’s auxiliary, and Elm City Bow Hunters. More recently, local businesses and schools have run concessions at Road America. Altona Supper Club operates a location at Turn 14. Lakeland University’s Launch at Turn 12 is operated by students learning business skills. Throughout the years, the groups have benefited financially, spectators have enjoyed great food, and the community has become invested in Road America’s future. A win for everyone!

For decades, Road America has been more than great auto racing. It offers great food that compliments and highlights a fan’s experience. Generations of fans have enjoyed signature Wisconsin brats, corn on the cob, and ice-cold beer all while watching an exciting race in beautiful Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Run by service organizations at the beginning, Road America’s concessions continue to provide variety, quality, and value. While all the yummy food tastes great, it’s even more satisfying to know funds raised support a wide variety of worthy local causes.

[Sources: Interviews with Road America staff Tim Kemmis, John Ewert, Julie Sebranek, Mary Lou Haen, Spring 2024; Schultz, Tom. Road America: Five Decades of Racing at Elkhart Lake. Indianapolis, IN: Beeman Jorgensen Inc., 1999; Schultz, Tom. Celebrating 50 Years of Road Racing. Elkhart Lake, WI: Road America, 2004; "A Legendary Amateur Road Racing Event Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary." Autoweek, May 29, 1995; "Contrary to Popular Myth, Racing Food is Hard to Beat." Autoweek, March 29, 1993; Gnerlich, Rod. "RA Spectators People With Young Ideas." Manitowoc Herald-Times, July 12, 1972; "Past Commanders Annual Banquet Set at Plymouth." Sheboygan Press, February 9, 1955; "St John Baptist Food Stand at Road America Closed Due to Covid-19." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, January 26, 2021; Road America website.]