Nathan Winling Sr. (left), Nathan Winling Jr. (second from left), Cash Winling (second from right) and Easton Winling pose for a photo with one of the race cars on Aug. 2, 2024 at the Winling’s home in Escanaba. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

ESCANABA — Family connections are common in sports. And ever since Escanaba Speedway re-opened its doors in 2010, the Winling family has been involved in more ways than one.

Nathan Winling Sr. and Tyler Winling both raced in the street stock division, and Tyler has raced and won a feature in multiple racing classes.

Tyler Winling has 35 career feature wins along with numerous top 10 and top five finishes. His most memorable was in the sport compact division where his car went into the infield over a tough truck and jumped back onto the track and still got the win. In 2019, Tyler was involved in a three-wide finish at the line with Paul Wagner and Max Constantino in which Tyler again ended up winning. Nathan Sr. has won many heat races in his career but never found his way to victory lane in feature races.

Nathan Winling Sr. and Tyler Winling also raced in the four cylinder class at Norway Speedway and the whole family has also taken part in local ice racing.

Tyler was third in points in the sport compacts in 2009 and won the track championship in the street stacks in 2021.

Nathan Sr. and Tyler Winling’s parents, Darren Winling and Cathy Winling, have both served on the board of directors as well as given time volunteering wherever help is needed.

Now another pair of Winling brothers have burst onto the scene at Escanaba Speedway.

The next generation of Winling racers are beginning to leave their mark as Nathan Winling Jr. and Easton Winling both compete in the youth micro sprints class in 2024.

Nathan Jr. has already found victory lane four times in feature action at the age of nine, and Easton continues to grow and improve every time out.

While the future of the Winling racing family is cutting their teeth on the dirt oval, it doesn’t come with a complete sense of calmness from their father.

“I’m more nervous now than when I raced,” Nathan Winling Sr. said. “I always worry about safety. Are the belts buckled tight enough? Are the helmets buckled tight? All those things, as well as making sure the cars are safe.”

Nathan Winling Jr. has had some wild finishes, including coming back from a flip in heat race action to a win in the feature that did not phase the young racer at all.

“I just got back out there,” Nathan Winling Jr. said. “And it felt really good to get the win.”

There looks to be another addition to the Winling racing family as the youngest brother, Cash Winling, looks to make his debut next season as well as a possible return for Tyler to racing action.

“The goal is to get him in a car next year,” Nathan Winling Sr. said of Cash Winling’s prospects of racing in 2025. “Once this year is done we will start looking for a car and get it ready for next season.”