Every rider who has advanced to the Progressive American Flat Track ranks has competed in so many races throughout their life, it’s virtually impossible for them to recall every last one. However, some races are simply unforgettable, whether due to triumph, disaster, excitement, chaos, or hilarity.

In this series, we ask a number of the world’s greatest dirt trackers to tell us about one particular race that stands out in their memory, be it a Progressive AFT Main Event, a regional amateur race a decade ago, or simply an epic backyard barnburner.

Wisconsin native Morgen Mischler has become a fan favorite for his unusual choice of lines and late-race charges. But there was a time when even he didn’t know if had what it took to compete against the best. 

I actually can’t pick just one because two races immediately come to mind, and each one played an equally important role in getting me to where I am now.

The first is the 2016 Dairyland Classic. That’s a special race in Wisconsin and really to riders from all over the nation. It’s at the Sheboygan County Fair Park, and we only get to ride that track once a year – no practice days or events except for that one – so it’s an even playing field for everyone that shows up.

That year, the guys who showed up included Jared Mees, Dalton Gauthier, Joe Kopp, Kevin Stollings, Ryan Wells, Justin Jones, Jesse Janisch, Rob Pearson, and Hayden Gillim. There were some pretty solid dudes who knew their stuff.

And back then, I was like 19 or 20. I did well on the local stuff, but I was just your average local pro.

I came out won my heat and got pole for the Main, which I was super pumped about. But I got good news/bad news. That meant that while I qualified for the Jim Sumner Memorial Dash for Cash,  the grid was inverted so I had to start from the back of the grid.

I was pretty pumped on pole, but man, I screwed myself out of a little bit more money. I ended up coming from the back, passed a bunch of people, and won the hard charger award for the dash, which was an unknown bonus I was honored with.

I walked out for the Main, checked out the track, checked out the starting line, and picked my spot. I got the holeshot, which enabled me to run away with the thing. In the middle of the race, I thought I needed to conserve my tire because the track was getting a little bit more slippery. But while I knew 'tire conservation' as a concept, I didn't really understand the effects on the bike. So I basically just chilled out in the middle of the Main until I could start to hear them again, and then I put the hammer down and pulled away.

It was a pretty solid win for me. That sparked what came next. ‘I am competitive. I can do this on this 54-horse Honda that my dad and I built. I’m solid enough. I don't suck.’

Spring forward to Texas in 2018 – my first season doing the entire series.

I got a solid start from the front row. Brandon Price pushed Andrew Luker up the track a little bit, and I snuck up underneath and got out front. I just tried to put in my laps, but the chain adjuster was pulling through the swingarm and there was a ton of slack in the chain. If you watch the video, you can see how much that bike was moving around and my butt coming off the seat and all kinds of crazy things.

I was watching the big screen going into Turn 3 the entire race, so I could see my gap and tried to manage it. All I saw was a white bike every single lap. I just assumed it was Price.

It turned out it was Shayna (Texter-Bauman). On the last lap, coming out of Turn 4 she was right on me, and my bike broke pretty sideways. But I knew that it had the torque and power to make it to the line.

I was just glad Shayna didn't nip me at the line. She got a bad start, and that’s what I needed. I can't tell you how lucky I was to be able to even finish that race and the chain didn't come off the rear sprocket. I got immensely lucky there.

When I finally checked after the checkered flag, I looked behind me to see who it was, and I drifted up the track and into the marbles above the groove. I was laying the bike down to avoid the air fence, not wanting my first win to be one where I crashed after the getting the checkered. So I got the bike sideways trying to scrub as much speed as I could when it snapped back to the right and shot me right into the air fence. I then had to put in a second effort of trying not to crash. I was lucky enough to bounce off the air fence and ride my first win out with a memory for life.

I was super stoked; I could not believe it. That win made the West Coast swing possible and allowed me to do the entire season since I had applied for contingency and got it with the bike that I was on, which was completely new to me. That thing was a solid 60 horse.

That was another one of those, ‘I belong here. I can be at the front of the class’ moments, just like at the Dairyland Classic. It took that validation for me to realize what I was capable of, to know I am fast enough and do have a good enough idea of what I'm doing to find my place where I fit in.

Back then, everything I did was purely for fun. That’s all it was ever going to be, but those wins allowed me to take things to the next level.

Racers Are People Too, Morgen Mischler Edition

Favorite Food: Dessert. I’m not picky, just a big fan of cold desserts.

Favorite Restaurant/Stop to Hit on the Road: Bucc-ee’s is the best. Plenty of fuel pumps, plus nice healthy food like fudge and brisket sandwiches.

Favorite Band: Metallica

Favorite Song: “Stairway to Heaven”

Favorite TV Series: That '70s Show

Favorite Movie: Watchman

Hobby That Doesn't Involve Wheels/Engines/Racing: Journaling, rollerblading, amateur cat trainer, poetry, stamp collecting, wake surfing, and ghost hunting.