By Ben Deatherage
MANDAN, N.D. (July 9, 2026) — Jonny Carter pulled off the move of the week Thursday night at Dacotah Speedway, sweeping around both leaders with three laps remaining to score an electrifying victory in round five of the Dakota Classic Modified Tour powered by Industrial Electric.
Chris Tuchscherer, the 2005 Williston Basin Speedway champion, grabbed the early lead in the 25-lap Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature, while 2024 Sheyenne Speedway track champion Jonny Carter kept him within striking distance.
The Lisbon driver shadowed Tuchscherer for much of the race before beginning to mount serious challenges around lap 16. Although Tuchscherer held him off, the battle allowed 2025 IMCA TV Winter Nationals champion Shelby Williams, winner of Monday’s victory at Estevan Motor Speedway, to close the gap.
Williams slipped past Carter for second on lap 19 and quickly chased down Tuchscherer.
The pair raced side-by-side for the lead over the closing laps, each protecting their preferred groove. Their duel created an opening for Carter, who carried momentum around the top of turn two and executed a spectacular double pass on lap 22 to seize the lead.
Once out front, Carter never looked back, completing the caution-free feature to become the fourth different winner in four Dakota Tour Stock Car races this week.
Starting third, Carter earned his second career Dakota Tour victory after returning to victory lane at Dacotah Speedway, where he also won a tour feature a year ago. It marked his first victory at the Mandan oval this season and his fourth EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region triumph of 2026.
The feature also served as a qualifier for the B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational. With the victory, Carter became eligible to attempt to qualify for the invitational during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.
Tuchscherer held off Williams for second. Williams, from Texas, started eighth. Defending Estevan Motor Speedway champion Kyle Scholpp charged from 14th to finish fourth, while 14-time Minnesota state and Arlington Raceway champion Dan Mackenthun completed the top five.
Hard charger honors were shared by Scholpp and fellow Saskatchewan racer Kayden Hjorteland. Scholpp advanced 10 positions from 14th to fourth, while Hjorteland raced from 20th to 10th.
A total of 40 IMCA Stock Cars were in attendance.
Berry Stays Perfect at Dacotah
Tom Berry Jr. continued one of the most impressive weeks in Dakota Classic Tour history by winning his fourth straight Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature.
Four-time and reigning Nodak Speedway champion Steven Pfeifer set the pace early and quickly opened a comfortable lead before a caution on lap seven erased his advantage.
Tanner Black closed on Pfeifer by lap 12 and repeatedly searched for a way around, but the leader refused to surrender the top spot.
Meanwhile, Berry steadily worked his way forward. Driving the Mike Wedelstadt-owned No. 11X, he slipped past Black for second on lap 15 before another caution on lap 17 set up the decisive restart.
The 2020 IMCA Modified national champion blasted into the lead on lap 18 and immediately began driving away from the field. Even heavy lapped traffic over the closing laps couldn’t slow the Marshalltown, Iowa, driver, originally from Medford, Oregon, as he completed another commanding performance.
Berry’s victory was his fourth straight Dakota Tour triumph, extending his perfect week while giving the two-time tour champion his 14th career series victory and fifth at Dacotah Speedway. It also marked his eighth Razor Chassis North Central Region win of the season. Remarkably, after winning at seven different tracks earlier this year, it was the first time in 2026 Berry had won twice at the same speedway.
The feature also served as a qualifier for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational. Berry had already secured eligibility to attempt to qualify for the invitational IMCA Super Nationals.
Nine-time defending Williston Basin Speedway champion Travis Hagen rallied from 11th to finish second. Black held off 2024 Wisconsin state champion and 2026 Clash at the Creek winner Cole Czarneski for third, while 2022 Wisconsin state champion Jayden Schmidt advanced from 14th to fifth.
Crist Pittenger earned hard charger honors after racing from 22nd to 12th.
Fifty-two IMCA Modifieds were on hand for the night.
Tom Berry Jr. of Marshalltown, Iowa, celebrates with family and crew after winning his fourth consecutive Dakota Classic Modified Tour powered by Industrial Electric feature on July 9 at Dacotah Speedway. Driving the Mike Wedelstadt-owned No. 11X, the former Medford, Ore., racer earned his 14th career Dakota Tour victory and fifth tour triumph at the Mandan oval. (Photo by Byron Fichter Fotography)
The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV. Catch every lap again with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available for just $25.99/month. And don’t miss Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.
