MILTON — At just 15, Milton High School sophomore Avery Linnerud has established himself as a dominant force on the short track, building on a rapid progression through the ranks.
Avery Linnerud, a sophomore at Milton High School, stands in front of his race car in his home garage, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025.
Linnerud capped a successful season in September by claiming three major titles: the Jefferson Speedway points championship, the Wisconsin State Championship at Jefferson Speedway, and the National Short Track Championship at Dells Raceway Park.
This success builds upon earlier achievements, which include:
2023 Hobby Stock Rookie of the Year
2022 Bandolero Wisconsin State Champion
2021 Bandolero Sportsman of the Year
2021 Bandolero Wisconsin State Champion
Avery Linnerud, a sophomore at Milton High School, displays the first go-kart he drove, in his home garage, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025.
It comes in a class where he is one of the youngest competitors, often racing against drivers up to 60 years old. In his National Short Track win, the top three finishers were all 16 or under, with a combined age of 45.
“I like working on stuff, so it gives me something to work on,” Linnerud said. “And then you can see all your hard work pay off in the shop and on Saturday when you’re racing.”
Linnerud’s entire racing journey is a tribute to his family, beginning with his paternal grandfather, Gerry Linnerud, who initially got him interested in racing and encouraged him to start with go-karts.
Avery Linnerud, a sophomore at Milton High School, displays racing trophies in his home garage, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025.
“I went to a racetrack when I was younger, around 4 or 5, and I wanted to race sprint cars,” Linnerud said. “They figured I probably should start in go-karts first.”
That dedication also honors his maternal grandfather, Bub, who battled leukemia. Linnerud carries his number, 52, on the car.
“My grandpa, Bub, he was 52 when he started racing, and when I bought a Bandolero, it had 52 on it, and I didn’t know,” Linnerud said. “I thought, ‘I might as well keep it.’”
The family uses the car as a platform for charity, selling ribbon stickers to raise money for the Rock County Cancer Coalition, an organization that reduces the financial burden on cancer patients. Though the funds were initially intended for Bub’s treatment, his doctor advised them to help others in need.
Avery Linnerud, a sophomore at Milton High School, displays the number 52 in honor of his grandfather, in his home garage Monday, Oct. 20, 2025.
“The money that’s raised and given to the coalition is given directly into the hands of people that need it,” his mother, Amber Linnerud, said. In one year, the Linneruds donated $2,100 to the coalition.
Linnerud’s success is also rooted in a fierce work ethic that emphasizes accountability, necessary given the high financial and time demands of the sport.
“The rule is, if he’s not working on the car, he’s not racing,” Amber Linnerud said, noting that sponsorships are essential to cover the high costs, which include a $100 nightly pit pass fee.
Linnerud spends a minimum of six to eight hours a week on maintenance. This discipline is credited with teaching him mechanical skills and sportsmanship.
Jason Linnerud shows a picture of his son, Avery, when he first started racing.
“Being a kid in an adult sport isn’t an excuse,” his father, Jason Linnerud, added. “He’s learned to approach competitors after incidents and quickly own up to mistakes.”
His parents proudly noted that Linnerud, who turns 16 in January, worked a full-time job on a farm this past summer in addition to his car duties.
“It was something completely unexpected. He wanted the season championship, but the rest of it all just kind of fell into place,” Amber Linnerud said.
Linnerud is looking forward to getting his driver’s license in January. His mother joked she’s glad she won’t have to drive him to work anymore.
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