By Ben Deatherage
WILLISTON, N.D. (June 4, 2026) — Seventeen-year-old Payce Herrera raced to his first career T&A Tong and Indicator Tougher Than Dirt Tour presented by Schatz Storage victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods at Williston Basin Speedway.
The Price, Utah driver led the opening lap before a caution immediately slowed the pace. On the restart, Herrera and reigning Nodak Speedway track champion Chad Stratchen separated themselves from the rest of the field as the 2024 Junior National champion established himself as the driver to beat.
A pair of cautions just before the midway point kept the field close. Buffalo River Speedway’s defending track champion Jayden Pavlicek mounted several challenges on the high side, but Herrera remained composed while Stratchen and Pavlicek battled intensely for second.
The leaders encountered lapped traffic on lap 18, but Herrera never wavered and drove away in the closing laps. The victory was his first career tour triumph and eighth win of the 2026 season at four different racetracks.
Stratchen finished second. Pavlicek narrowly beat Tanner Conlin to the line for third, while Darren Schatz completed the top five.
DeRagon Doubles Up with Second Straight Tour Triumph
Nathan DeRagon continued his winning ways in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, collecting his second consecutive Tougher Than Dirt Tour victory.
Sixteen-year-old Saskatchewan native Cash Saxon led the opening lap before five-time reigning North Dakota State champion Kyler Satran emerged from a four-wide battle for the lead on lap four. Satran’s time out front was brief, however, as 2024 B&B Racing Chassis Southern Region champion Nathan DeRagon powered into the lead one lap later.
A caution on lap five gave defending series champion Diezel Raynard an opportunity to challenge, but the Peoria, Arizona, driver maintained command on every restart. Lapped traffic entered the equation on lap 14 before a string of late cautions repeatedly tightened the field.
Despite the constant pressure, DeRagon executed each restart flawlessly and drove away to score his second straight tour victory and third B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region win of the season.
Manitoban Pat Smith made a late-race charge to finish second, while Saskatchewan’s Raynard crossed the line third. Satran was fourth, and Tyson Grinstead earned hard charger honors by advancing from 22nd to fifth.
Peoria, Ariz., driver Nathan DeRagon poses in victory lane following his Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature victory during the second night of the T&A Tong and Indicator Tougher Than Dirt Tour presented by Schatz Storage at Williston Basin Speedway on June 4. The win was DeRagon’s second consecutive tour triumph and third B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region victory of the season. (Courtesy Photo)
John Flory Capitalizes Late for Williston Modified Victory
A late mechanical issue for Jason Wolla opened the door for John Flory to score his first Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified victory of the season in the Razor Chassis North Central Region.
Flory grabbed the early lead and paced the field through the first half of the 25-lap feature while brothers Brandon and Brady Bjella staged an entertaining battle for second. A caution on lap 11 reset the field before Brady Bjella used the high side to briefly take the lead on lap 14, only to get out of shape and surrender the position back to Flory.
The race took another turn when 2017 IMCA Modified national champion Jason Wolla charged around the cushion and seized the lead on lap 16. Wolla appeared headed for victory until mechanical issues forced him to pull off with five laps remaining.
The four-time track champion from Williston inherited the lead and held on the rest of the way for the win. Brandon Bjella finished second, while 2014 Dakota Classic Mod Tour champion and North Dakota Stock Car champion Dalton Flory was third. Two-time Tougher Than Dirt Tour SportMod champion Gabriel Deschamp finished fourth, and Brady Bjella recovered to complete the top five.
Joe Flory Returns to Victory Lane in Stock Car Feature
Joe Flory ended a lengthy winless streak by capturing the incident free Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature at Williston Basin Speedway.
The 2013 North Dakota State champion and five-time track champion led from the outset and remained in control once lapped traffic came into play on lap seven. The Williston veteran maintained a comfortable advantage despite late pressure from the field.
Two-time track champion Troy Heupel, who won the IMCA Modified track title in 2011, charged from fifth to second in the closing laps and attempted to track down Flory but ran out of time.
The victory was Flory’s first since Aug. 9, 2024, after stepping away from racing for the 2025 season. Jason Storbakken, the 2009 track champion, finished third. Will Matejovic was fourth, and Jake Nelson rounded out the top five.
The entire event was broadcast live on IMCA TV affiliate DARN TV. Full replays are available with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription for $25.99/month. Don’t miss Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.
