By Ben Deatherage
ESTEVAN, Sask. (Jul. 7, 2025) — Kody Scholpp gave the hometown fans a night to remember, fending off repeated challenges to win Monday’s Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Estevan Motor Speedway, night three of the Wolla Trucking Dakota Classic Modified Tour powered by Industrial Electric. With a packed grandstand cheering him on, Scholpp turned in a flawless performance that electrified the Estevan faithful.
Drew Christianson, the 2014 Nodak Speedway track champion, led the opening lap, but Scholpp—who started seventh—quickly made his way to the front and claimed the top spot on lap four. The five-time defending Estevan track champion wasn’t going to be denied on home soil, even as a trio of mid-race cautions brought the field back to his rear bumper.
Iowans Justin O’Brien and defending tour champion Ethan Braaksma in the Trent Guest and Danny Meier-owned No. 111 both took shots at Scholpp in the second half of the race, but none could unseat him. Scholpp held strong up top to secure his second career Dakota Tour victory—and his first since 2023, also at Estevan.
The win was his third of the 2025 campaign in the Razor Chassis North Central Region, with all three coming at Estevan. O’Brien crossed the line in second while Braaksma settled for third.
Heupel Hustles to First Career Tour Win in Wild Stock Car Finish
The Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature at Estevan Motor Speedway delivered a thrilling finish that saw Williston, North Dakota’s Troy Heupel make a last-corner pass to pick up his first career Dakota Tour victory.
Chris Hortness, the 2022 Estevan track champion, led early and looked in control after holding off Colorado’s Angel Munoz during a long green flag run. Munoz closed the gap but couldn’t make the pass before a caution slowed the pace. A couple of late yellows then set up a green-white-checkered dash to the finish.
Jeremy Swanson, a two-time Estevan track champion, surged past Hortness coming to the white flag. But Heupel wasn’t done—he dove low in the final pair of turns and emerged with the lead as the field roared toward the checkered flag.
The win was Heupel’s second of the 2025 season in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region but his first at Estevan. Swanson finished second with North Dakota’s Riese Dignan completing the podium in third.
Troy Heupel celebrates after scoring his first career Dakota Tour win in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature on July 7 at Estevan Motor Speedway. (Photo by Byron Fichter Fotography)
The entire night of racing was broadcast live on IMCA TV. Replay every lap with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available now for just $24.99/month. And don’t miss Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, now streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.
