Tye Wilke Powers to Danny Schatz Memorial Sprint Car Victory at Red River Valley

Feature, News, Sprint Car

Tye Wilke celebrates in victory lane after winning the 3rd Annual Danny Schatz Memorial for RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars on May 31 at Red River Valley Speedway. The Detroit Lakes, Minn. driver earned $1,515 for the triumph, becoming the third different winner in as many editions of the prestigious event. (Photo by Speedway Shots)

By Ben Deatherage

WEST FARGO, N.D. (May 31, 2025) — The 3rd Annual Danny Schatz Memorial drew an event-record 26 RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car entries at Red River Valley Speedway, where Tye Wilke became the third different winner in as many editions of the prestigious event.

Jeremy Kerzman jumped to the early lead in the 20-lap, $1,515-to-win feature and quickly distanced himself from the field. By lap four, lapped traffic began to factor in, and Laela Eisenschenk — granddaughter of the race’s namesake — started reeling him in.

But the driver on the move was Wilke, the two-time defending North Dakota State champion from Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, who started fifth and made the bottom groove work to perfection. He grabbed second on lap 13 and slipped past Kerzman one lap later for the lead.

From there, Wilke sliced through heavy traffic and never looked back, pulling away in the non-stop main event to score his fifth win of the season and third triumph of 2025 at Red River Valley Speedway.

Kerzman held on for second, while Ty Hanten, also a two-time state and twice a track champion at Red River Valley, completed the podium in third.

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