Collecting on a $200 debt in 1960, Pius Selenke acquired his first race car, a full-bodied jalopy.  Pius often made the comment that he would have been money ahead if he had let the guy keep his $200.00.  However, Pius' passion for open wheel, dirt track racing began and would last until his death in 2004.

As an owner, Pius Selenke campaigned sprint cars and super modifieds at 81 Speedway and also the top travelling circuits in the country such as USAC, INCA, BCRA, and CRA.  Throughout the 60's and 70's, some of the top drivers in the Midwest drove the Selenke sprint car to victories at local tracks and fairground speedways throughout the country.  These drivers included Harold Leep, Dale Reed, Grady Wade, Roy Bryant, Dave Ross, Eddie Leavitt, Lloyd Beckman, Jon Backlund, Jimmy Harkness, and Jerry Stone among others.

In 1978 Jim Selenke started racing weekly at 81 Speedway in the 100 inch super modifieds/dirt champ cars.  During the champ car era, Jim picked up the Southwest Kansas Shootout in 1984 and Dodge City track championship in  1987.  With the 100 inch champ cars dying down, Jim switched to the 360 sprint cars in 1989.  In only his 2nd sprint car start, won the prestigious Hutch Nationals in Hutchinson, Kansas.  Throughout the 1990s, Jim was a top runner in the NCRA circuit, finishing in the top five in points five times with a runner-up finish in 1996 as well as taking the 81 speedway championships in 1997, 1998, and 2000.

In 1999, A.J. Selenke, the third generation, began his racing career.  In his first year, A.J. let it be known that he would be a driver to watch in the future as he won rookie of the year titles at both 81 Speedway and Kansas State Fairgrounds.  In only his second full year of competition with the NCRA circuit in 2001, A.J. cracked the top ten in point standings with an 8th place finish and followed that up the following year with a 7th place finish in the final points standings.  In 2004, A.J. enjoyed his strongest year ever as he won more feature events at 81 Speedway than any of his fellow competitors, and also became the track champion with an exciting drive from the back on the final night of competition.  A.J.'s aggressive, hard-charging style on the race track and laid back demeanor off the race track sets him out as a fan favorite amongst young and old.

For a period spanning 5 decades and covering three generations, Selenke Racing has been winning races and championships, sporting more than 150+ wins.  The tradition continues.

For 2006, Selenke Racing is committed to making a strong run for a 2nd 81 Speedway championship and a 1st NCRA title.  We will continue to run the entire 81 Speedway and NCRA  schedules along with selected ASCS National and Regional Shows.  Our anticipated schedule will most likely take us to the states of Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri, and Colorado.

The Selenke Racing team has always prided itself on coming to the racetrack prepared and with 1st class equipment to give our sponsors a quality image they deserve.