Cottrell Racing was started in 1999 when Steve Cottrell began racing a 4-cylinder Toyota Corolla in Northern Wisconsin.  In 2000 Steve built a 1997 Toyota Celica passing the Corolla to his younger bother Chris.  Chris consistently ran up front and finish the season 7th in points and earned Rookie of the Year. 

Chris took a year off in 2001 while helping his ten year old son Al start go-kart racing in Kids Kart Club.  This club is dedicated to giving kids an outlet rather than getting in trouble.  They also focus on the kids getting good grades as well as staying in school.  The go-karts are custom build by the racers and an adult at the club shop.  The go-karts all run a special box stock motor.  Al quickly showed a lot of promise in the go-kart and advanced through the classes winning races weekly.

In 2002 Chris decided to build a new 4-cylinder and focuses on a 1989 Ford Probe.  Chris raced asphalt tracks in Central Wisconsin.  Chris found driving from track to track was becoming quit a haul so he decided to try dirt track racing closer to home and settled at the Oshkosh Speedzone Raceway.  Chris could then race the third-mile dirt track every weekend.  In 2003 Chris raced to a track championship with out ever breaking any of rules.  Chris decided  it was time to build a new car but after a few races he found it was nothing but trouble.  Someone showed interest and the car was gone.  At the same time Steve began building a 1986 Toyota Celica and was racing and winning in Central Wisconsin.

Steve was diagnosed with cancer in 2003 and it took his first race, then his life in 2006.  Before he left us he gave Al his 1986 Celica to race.  Steve and Chris set the car up to run dirt in Oshkosh and Al raced the Celica a couple of times before Steve passed away.  Al was 14 and the time.  Al finished in the top ten in the races that he ran.  By only running a few races, Al saved his rookie status in the Dirt Devil class for the 2007 racing season.