Things are beginning to wrap for most of the race tracks in Northwest Minnesota and Eastern North Dakota, unless you're Devils Lake Speedway who goes for another month yet. With that being said, many track championships have already been decided and plans are starting to be made for the 2017 season. Here's a quick look back and look ahead at a few of the tracks I have followed or try to follow on a regular basis.
Norman County Raceway Recap
Champions:
IMCA Modifieds - Michael Johnson (did so without a win at NCR)
IMCA Sport Mods - Jesse Skalicky
Wissota Midwest Modifieds - Aaron Blacklance
Wissota Street Stock - Ryan Satter (back to back NCR Champion)
Pure Stock - Kenny Crane (1st Championship in 11 years of racing, and it was his last season)
INEX Legends - Josh Julsrud (his dad, Dean, finished 2nd)
Worth Noting: Only 2 rain outs the entire season despite a fairly wet summer.
Look Ahead: Expect fairly similar things next year. Potential for only one NLRA Late Model show during the fair. Would expect same line of classes next year also.
Red River Valley Speedway Recap
Champions
IMCA Modifieds - Rob VanMil (1st Track Championship in a Mod)
IMCA Sport Mod - Jesse Skalicky (last won a championship at RRVS in 2012 in a pure stock)
INEX Legends - Josh Julsrud
Pure Stock - Billy Caruo (he won it by using P A T I E N C E)
Worth Noting: After a 4 year hiatus, RRVS returned with slightly lower than expected fan counts. However they averaged 33 Mods a night and about 16 cars a night in the other three, which is phenomenal. Track operated very smoothly under owners and management.
Look Ahead: Big things ahead by the sounds of it. I hear rumors of much bigger shows in 2017. Perhaps Donny Schatz returns, but this time in a winged car?
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| Red River Valley Speedway Modified Track Champion Rob VanMil |
Champions
410 Sprint Cars - Casey Mack
NLRA Late Models - Dustin Strand (has 19 wins on the year!!)
Wissota Midwest Mods - Austin Hunter (picked up his 1st career MWM win too)
Wissota Street Stock - Travis Robertson (2nd in a row at RCS)
Worth Noting: Mark Dobmeier broke the track record with 8 straight win and the record for fastest completed 25 lap feature race. Donny Schatz won both Outlaw shows. Bucket of Nachos is still the best concession item in the region. Car counts were superior in all classes.
Look Ahead: John Seitz Memorial race is this weekend. More on that later. I'm sure the same show next year with potentially more lightning sprint shows again.
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| Dustin Strand was dominant all season long his #71 NLRA Late Model at RCS |
Buffalo River Race Park Recap
Champions:
IMCA Modifieds - Michael Johnson (2nd of the year, almost won 3)
IMCA Sport Mods - Jesse Skalicky (3rd of the year)
INEX Legends - Josh Julsrud (3rd of the year)
Mod 4s - Francis Hauber
Sport Compacts - Katie Ahrndt
Pure Stocks - Dylan Heger
Worth Noting: Average car counts, average fans, average season to be honest. Weather was kind to BRRP. Half price beer before the race is the greatest idea ever. New owners this year also, but same management.
Look Ahead: Corn Cob Nationals remain, which if you ask Darrell Waltrip, is kind of a big deal. Who doesn't love free corn? New "party deck" was recently completed overlooking turn 4 should be worth checking out.
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| The #3s crew celebrates their 3rd track championship of the year. |
I-94 Speedway
Here's your recap from reporter Jacob Pommerer: http://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/2016/09/johnson-takes-final-checkers/
Boone Bound
The IMCA Supernationals are currently taking place at Boone Speedway in Iowa. I believe there were somewhere around 1000 cars registered to compete in various classes. Some locals taking part include Tim Church, Jesse Skalicky, Josh Beaulieu, Rob VanMil, Michael Griffin, and Rob Plath, Good luck to those and others I may have missed.
John Seitz Preview
This week marks the 10th Anniversary of the John Seitz Memorial Race at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks. It will take place Thursday, September 8th through the 10th. Thursday is the "Prelude to the Johnny," Friday will include the heats and dash for cash for the late models, and Friday will have b-mains, LCQ, and main event for Late Models. All 3 nights will have a full show of support classes. Sprints will run Thursday and Friday, Midwest Mods will run all 3 nights, Street Stocks will run Thursday and Saturday, and Modifieds will run Friday and Saturday. There will be increased pay for pretty much everyone, but the big payout is for the Late Models, who will battle for $9,200 to win and will run 92 laps.
Previous winners: Chad Mahder (2015), AJ Diemel (2014), Brad Seng (2013, 2011), Brady Smith (2012), Cody Skytland (2010), Pat Doar (2009). Justin Fegers (2008), Mitch Johnson (2007).
Favorites to win: Dustin Strand really stands out this year as a tough candidate. He's become the toughest driver in the region, posting nearly 20 twins throughout 2016, which is no easy task. He had a strong finish last year and could again this year if his aggressiveness doesn't get the best of him. Don Shaw was John Seitz's brother in law, and this is a race he has badly wanted to win, but has seen it slip past him the last few years. He's been very consistent this season and recently picked up a few wins in Alexandria, so he's hot at the moment. Brad Seng has won it twice and AJ Diemel is capable of winning at any level.
Can't Make it to the Race? Watch it live on Speedshift TV.
