By Ben Deatherage
VINTON, Iowa (Jun. 18, 2025) — With a rich history dating back to 1998, the Dakota Classic Modified Tour remains the longest running and largest IMCA-sanctioned tour in the nation.
For 2025, the tour continues its exciting new chapter in its second year under the leadership of Saskatchewan Modified standout Aaron Turnbull and renowned motorsports photographer Byron Fichter, who took ownership of the series in 2024.
The tour recently announced a new naming rights partnership as it becomes the Wolla Oilfield & Trucking Dakota Classic Modified Tour powered by Industrial Electric. This collaboration brings together two passionate entities with a shared commitment to growing the sport in North Dakota and the surrounding area.
The 2025 edition will feature Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, traveling across North Dakota’s premier tracks. Originally launched as a three-race series at Dacotah Speedway, Jamestown Speedway, and Nodak Speedway, the tour founded by John Gartner, expanded in 1991. It has been consistently IMCA-sanctioned since 1998.
While the Modifieds have been part of the event since its inception, Stock Cars joined the tour in 2008 with a slightly different schedule through 2009. Since 2010, both divisions have traveled the same circuit.
This year’s tour already boasts a growing list of pre-registered Modified and Stock Car drivers from across the country, with entries continuing to increase daily. The field includes defending champions Ethan Braaksma (Modifieds) and Cameron Starry (Stock Cars), along with many of the sport’s most recognizable names.
The 2025 tour will continue implementing the drop night rule for determining the championship. Drivers will count their best five finishes out of the six scheduled events toward the final point standings. If any event is rained out, that night will automatically count as a drop for all competitors. In the event that fewer than five races are completed, the championship will be awarded to the overall top point earner. Notably, the final night of the tour at Dacotah Speedway will serve as the championship event and cannot be used as a drop night.
Since IMCA sanctioning became consistent in 1998, the Modified division has held 104 tour races with 44 different winners. Tom Berry Jr. leads the all-time win list with 10 victories, followed by Ricky Thornton Jr. (9), Jeff Taylor (8), Hunter Marriott (7), and Hank Berry, Jay Noteboom, and Steve Arpin with 5 wins each. Rounding out the top ten are Will Brack (4), and Aaron Turnbull, Kollin Hibdon, Ryan Ruter, and Shawn Strand, each with 3 career wins.
In the Stock Cars, 91 tour events have produced 35 different winners. Elijah Zevenbergen stands alone atop the win list with a remarkable 22 victories, followed by Nathan Burke (10), Dalton Flory (7), and both Joe Flory and Steven Pfeifer with 5 wins apiece. Ricky Thornton Jr. has claimed 4, while Randy Fyllesvold and Shelby Williams have each earned 3 wins. Matt Speckman, Randy Klein, Rob Van Mil, Trent Grager, and Zachary Madrid all have 2 wins to their names.
Every lap of the 2025 Wolla Oilfield & Trucking Dakota Classic Modified Tour powered by Industrial Electric will be streamed exclusively live on IMCA.TV, bringing the action to fans across the country and beyond.
For schedules, updates, and nightly results, follow the tour’s official Facebook page.
