Bratwursts are a staple at Road America for fans, teams, and media members alike. Photo credit: Rick Dole for Michelin North America

Here in the great Midwest, where miles of corn and soybean fields, dairy farms, and cheese stands dominate the nearby landscape, it is no surprise that one of the many traditions at Road America is the food.

That isn’t by accident.

Road America has a very successful program called “Great Food for Great Causes.” The concession stands are operated by volunteers who donate their time to benefit their respective non-profit organizations.

One of the food stands, the St. John the Baptist stand, in the Road America infield. Photo credit: Rick Dole for Michelin North America

Non-profit does not mean non-competitive. The competition on the track is matched only by the competition in the concession stands. When the Plymouth Rotary volunteers greets you at the Roundup Café counter, they are competing with the Elkhart Lake Lions, Sheboygan Kiwanis, Kiel Kiwanis, Plymouth Optimists, and the powerful St. John the Baptist grill for your wallet and your support.

Some ALMS teams actually skip their regular caterers and order up some team meals from one of the stands.

Everyone has his or her favorite stands, and each person will often pass two or three stands on the way to finding their favorite bratwurst or corn. Veterans often combine the best of the best menu elements from two or three different stands at once, or split it up. They might hit one stand for breakfast, another for lunch and a third for a mid-afternoon ice cream or frozen custard. Hey, it’s all to help support good causes.

Let’s make this clear up front. You will not find a calamari stand here at Road America.

Bratwurst is the order of the day. “Bratwurst breakfast sandwiches are very popular. All of the groups have different ways to incorporate bratwurst into their menus,” says Road America media director Julie Sebranek. Legend has it that the SPEED guys have had a competition to see how many different ways they can dine on bratwurst in one race weekend.

“I haven’t seen a Bratwurst Custard but someone is probably working on that, too” said Sebranek.