Reggie Lantagne competes in bump and run action during Armageddon On Wheels on Aug. 3, 2024 at the U.P. State Fairgrounds in Escanaba. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

ESCANABA — There’s something special about road trips.

Maybe it’s blaring music of every genre, for better or for worse, at the highest volume possible. Maybe it’s the snacks. Maybe it’s the destination.

For a group of area race car drivers and the tandem of Kyle Barron and Josh Barron, a road trip to southern Wisconsin sparked an idea which brought something magical and destructive to the U.P.

The group tripped to watch an event called Eve of Destruction, now a staple at the Wisconsin International Speedway in Kaukauna. It’s an event that was unlike anything else. Iit was full of mayhem and destruction.

After that night, the idea for Armageddon On Wheels was hatched.

The event made its debut in Escanaba on Aug. 18, 2013, a Sunday night which served as the final event of that year’s U.P. State Fair. It proved to be a success, drawing a record crowd for the fair’s Sunday events which is still intact today.

And since that fateful day 11 years ago, people can’t get enough of Armageddon On Wheels.

“Every year is a little different,” Josh Barron said. “You always want to try to give the fans some new twists and turns so that you are not just doing the same thing every time.”

The event quickly drew support from the Escanaba racers and fans and quickly became a staple to the Escanaba community. Reggie Lantagne, one of the races for Escanaba Speedway, has raced in every Armageddon on Wheels show since its inception.

“I come here to put on a show not to win,” Lantagne said. “I feel like we could make some new events but these guys all do a good job of giving the fans an awesome show every year.”

In 2017, Jamie Spricks and his wife Jen bought the show from the Barron’s and continued to keep the show rolling, but continue to add new wrinkles to the show and keep the fans guessing on what could happen every year.

The amount of work that goes into this event requires multiple months of preparation.

“We start prepping the buses in late March or early April,” Jamie Spricks said. “We also try to get them into parades and other events to get the word out about the show. Once someone comes (to an event) once, they will be hooked.”

Over 5,000 people attend the show every year and continues to grow each year.

“Everyone likes some crashing, smashing, rolling over,” Jen Spricks said. “We are the only show in the U.P. that delivers this kind of show.”

Armageddon on Wheels is held on the first Saturday of August every year and will return to the U.P. State Fairgrounds again in 2025.