7/9/2017
Greenbush Race Park
Chad Olson Memorial - July 22, 2017
Chad Olson was born to Gary Olson and Carol (Bendickson) Tillberg on February 17, 1979. He was born and raised in Roseau. He graduated from Roseau High School in 1997. His passion for sports included hockey, NASCAR, football, and Minnesota Twins.
Chad married his soul mate Stephanie Torkelson on August 10, 2002. They made their home on Minnesota Hill, north of Roseau.
Chad started racing in the Mini Sprint class at the Greenbush Race Park in 1999 until 2001. He was very competitive even if he was racing against his brother Corey.
Chad’s pit crew consisted of his wife Steph, his sister Tanya, Garret Lee (Bob), Dan Wiskow, Sam Pelowski, Eric Lins, Terry Stoe, & Jimmy Hughes.
The doctors first thought that Chad had a bleeding ulcer. He went to Grand Forks and when they did surgery they noticed that his appendix was completely full of cancer. He had colon cancer and the tumor ruptured prior to the surgery. The cancer was on the outside of his stomach wall, his backbone, and a small tumor on his liver. He was diagnosed with cancer on 9/27/2005 and passed away 11/9/2006. Chad survived for 13 months after being diagnosed.
Before Chad passed away he got a phone call from one of the NASCAR drivers that he enjoyed watching and collecting memorabilia from. Terry LaBonte called Chad and talked with him for a while. Also when Chad was in the hospital NASCAR Jimmy Johnson was in Grand Forks and he signed a picture for Chad. Jimmy would have gone to meet Chad but he had to get to the airport.
Most of this information was gotten out of the Roseau Times Region and from Chad’s brother and sister.
Winners of the Chad Olson Memorial over the last years are:
2009 Roland Bernard Winnipeg, MB, Canada
2010 Corey Wimpfheimer Greenbush, MN
2011 Brandon Johnson Holt, MN
2013 Roland Bernard Winnipeg, MB, Canada
2014 Roland Bernard Winnipeg, MB, Canada
2015 Dan Wiskow Roseau, MN
2016 Brandon Johnson Holt, MN
Submitted By: Shelly Linert
