Berry Extends Dakota Tour Streak with Dacotah Speedway Triumph

Feature, Modified, News, Stock Car

Tom Berry Jr. of Marshalltown, Iowa, celebrates after winning his third consecutive Dakota Classic Modified Tour powered by Industrial Electric feature at Dacotah Speedway on July 8. Driving the Mike Wedelstadt-owned No. 11X, the former Medford, Ore., racer earned his 13th career Dakota Tour victory and fourth at the Mandan oval. (Photo by Byron Fichter Fotography)

By Ben Deatherage

MANDAN, N.D. (July 8, 2026) — Tom Berry Jr. continued his Dakota Classic Modified Tour powered by Industrial Electric dominance Wednesday night, charging to his third consecutive victory in the opening of a two-night stand at Dacotah Speedway after the scheduled stop at Southwest Speedway was relocated because of rain and saturated grounds.

Nine-time reigning Williston Basin Speedway champion Travis Hagen paced the opening laps of the 30-lap Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature and quickly opened a comfortable advantage before a caution on lap six erased his lead.

Berry, who started seventh, wasted little time capitalizing on the restart. The two-time Dakota Tour champion powered the Mike Wedelstadt-owned No. 11X to the lead on lap seven and immediately began pulling away from the field.

Hagen settled into second while Cole Czarneski and 2012 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s and 2014 tour champion Jeff Taylor battled intensely for third. The 2024 Wisconsin State titlist, Czarneski, finally secured the position on lap 12.

Heavy lapped traffic came into play on lap 20 before another caution slowed the field four laps later when a spinning lapped car narrowly avoided collecting the leader. Hagen wasn’t as fortunate, suffering heavy cosmetic damage after becoming involved in the incident.

Berry delivered another flawless restart and cruised away over the final laps.

The 2020 IMCA Modified national champion and 2022 IMCA Super Nationals winner, originally from Medford, Oregon, and now residing in Marshalltown, Iowa, earned his 13th career Dakota Tour victory and fourth career tour triumph at Dacotah Speedway. It was also his seventh Razor Chassis North Central Region victory of the season, with each coming at a different track across Iowa, Saskatchewan, and North Dakota.

The feature also served as a qualifier for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational, to be held during the IMCA Super Nationals. Berry had already secured eligibility to attempt to qualify for the invitational.

Czarneski rallied from ninth to finish second, while four-time Nodak Speedway champion Steven Pfeifer charged from 13th to third. Tanner Black, racing out of Kansas after beginning his career in Arizona, advanced from 20th to fourth, while Taylor rounded out the top five.

A total of 58 Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds filled the pit area.

Czarneski Holds Off Williams for First Dakota Tour Stock Car Victory

Cole Czarneski led all 25 laps and withstood late pressure from Shelby Williams to earn his first career Dakota Tour victory in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars.

The 2024 141 Speedway Stock Car champion from Denmark, Wisconsin, grabbed the lead at the drop of the green and quickly built a comfortable advantage before a caution on lap 13 erased it.

As Czarneski maintained command, a spirited battle for second developed between 2011 Williston Basin Speedway IMCA Modified track champion Troy Heupel and defending North Dakota Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod state champion Gabriel Deschamp.

Williams, the 2025 IMCA TV Winter Nationals champion and Monday’s Estevan winner from Texas, worked his way into second on lap 17 and steadily reeled in Czarneski during the closing circuits. Despite Williams’ relentless pressure, Czarneski never missed his marks and crossed the finish line first for his maiden Dakota Tour triumph.

The victory was Czarneski’s fourth EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region win of the season. The feature also served as a qualifier for the B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational. Czarneski had already secured eligibility to attempt to qualify for the invitational earlier this season.

Williams finished second after starting seventh, while 2024 Sheyenne Speedway track champion Jonny Carter completed the podium. Sunday Nodak Speedway winner Brock Beeter crossed the stripe fourth, with Heupel rounding out the top five.

Hard charger honors ended in a three-way tie. Fourteen-time Arlington Raceway and Minnesota state champion Dan Mackenthun advanced from 14th to sixth, reigning North Dakota state champion Brennor Grinstead raced from 22nd to 14th, and 2022 Jamestown Speedway IMCA Modified champion Scott Gartner charged from 24th to 16th.

Cole Czarneski of Denmark, Wis., celebrates after capturing his first career Dakota Classic Tour victory in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars at Dacotah Speedway on July 8. The triumph marked his fourth EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the 2026 season. (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.

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