Story By: JEREMY PETERS / COLE VANDERHEIDEN RACING – PAPILLION, NE – With the 2025 season approaching, 17-year-old Cole Vanderheiden is pleased to announce he will be driving a 410 Sprint Car at Knoxville Raceway for Mike VanderEcken, a 2012 Hall of Fame inductee at the historic Iowa track.
Vanderheiden, a Nebraska native, is coming off an impressive 2024 season and a strong Chili Bowl Nationals debut in early January. The move to 410 Sprint Cars represents a significant step forward in his career, and he is eager to work alongside VanderEcken, a veteran car owner with over three decades of experience in the sport.
“I’m really looking forward to working with Mike and his team in 2025,” Vanderheiden said. “Mike brings a wealth of experience as a car owner, and I believe we’ll make a great team. He’s a respected figure in Knoxville’s racing history, and I’m thrilled to be starting this next chapter of my career.”
VanderEcken, who will be celebrating his 36th year as a car owner in 2025, shared his enthusiasm about the partnership, noting Vanderheiden’s growing skill set and relentless drive for success as key factors in his decision to offer the Nebraska racer a full-time ride at Knoxville.
“I watched this kid run weekly at Huset’s [Speedway] on DirtVision and he caught my eye,” VanderEcken said. “After seeing how impressive he looked in his Chili Bowl debut, I sent him a message on Facebook that next morning to let him know that I was interested. He messaged me back shortly after but it wasn’t until late last week that we solidified our plans for 2025. I would love to see him get the Rookie of the Year and finish top 10 in points.”
Vanderheiden is set to compete in all 410 events at Knoxville Raceway for VanderEcken Motor$port$, with the partnership making its debut at the Sprint Car Capital of the World on April 18 and 19 during the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series weekend.
As part of the deal, Vanderheiden will also continue his involvement with Zach Davis Racing, while competing in his family-owned 305 Sprint Car when his schedule permits.
Any businesses or marketing partners looking to team up with Vanderheiden for the 2025 season are encouraged to reach out. A variety of partnership opportunities and packages are available.