dacotahspeedway Archives

Hellman Sweeps Stock Cars to Win Governor’s Cup Title

By Becca Pelkey MANDAN, N.D. (July 26, 2025) — Dacotah Speedway hosted the North Dakota Governor’s Cup Auto Races on July 25 and 26. First held in the early 1990s under the vision of then-Governor George Sinner, the event was designed to be a marquee racing showcase for drivers across North Dakota. Originally rotating between tracks, it found a permanent home at Dacotah Speedway by the mid-1990s. Now more than three decades later, the Governor’s Cup still draws top-tier competition from across the Midwest to the high banks of Mandan. On Friday night, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars took center stage as Andrew Jochim and Jonny Carter led the field to green after scoring the most passing points in their heats. Jonny Carter led the opening laps but faced immediate pressure from Jochim and Geoff Hellman. The three traded positions in an exciting battle while Matt Dosch lurked just behind. Hellman used the high line to clear Jochim for second and then set his sights on Carter. With five laps to go, Hellman pulled a big slider [Read More]

Meidinger Scores First Career Stock Car Win at Dacotah

By Becca Pelkey MANDAN, N.D. (July 18, 2025) – When the green flag waved in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature at Dacotah Speedway, Shawn Strand charged to the lead entering the first corner. An early caution regrouped the field, and on the ensuing restart, Matt Dosch drove past Todd Carter for second. Dosch then set his sights on Strand, and the two raced door-to-door for the top spot. Meanwhile, Jason Meidinger was on the move from the 13th starting position. With just four laps to go, Meidinger powered by Dosch for second and went to work on the leader. He dove low under Strand and the two veterans ran side-by-side in the closing laps. Meidinger held the advantage in turns one and two, while Strand maintained momentum through three and four. At the line, it was Meidinger claiming his first career Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature win in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region. Strand settled for second, with Dosch completing the podium. Keller Charges to Fourth Modified Win of 2025 Elijah Puckett led early [Read More]

Braaksma Repeats as Dakota Classic Modified Tour Champion; Munoz Breaks Through in Stock Cars

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (July 11, 2025) — The 2025 Wolla Trucking Dakota Classic Modified Tour powered by Industrial Electric wrapped up with 82 Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds competing across six nights of thrilling action. In the end, Ethan Braaksma of Newton, Iowa rose to the top once again, securing his second consecutive tour title. Driving the Danny Meier and Trent Guest-owned no. 111, Braaksma built a consistent and commanding week: runner-up at Jamestown, third in Estevan, back-to-back wins at Williston and Dickinson, and a seventh-place finish at Mandan despite a blown engine in the finale. His ability to finish strong each night proved pivotal in defending his crown. California’s Cody Laney was a hard-charging runner-up in the standings. The Torrance native battled through adversity all week, coming out of B Mains in four of five features and posting finishes of ninth, fifth, seventh, sixth, and third, respectively. Justin O’Brien of West Union, Iowa took third in the Modified points chase. O’Brien put together a steady week, including a second-place finish at Jamestown, a third [Read More]

Strickler Wins Dakota Tour Finale at Mandan; Braaksma Repeats as Tour Champion

By Ben Deatherage MANDAN, N.D. (Jul. 10, 2025) — Two-time Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s champion Kyle Strickler of Mooresville, North Carolina, scored a dramatic win in the final Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature of the 2025 Wolla Trucking Dakota Classic Modified Tour powered by Industrial Electric. Driving the Cade Dillard-owned no. 8, Strickler secured his first win of the season in the Razor Chassis North Central Region and second career tour victory in the Dacotah Speedway finale. Defending tour champion Ethan Braaksma of Newton, Iowa, overcame a last-lap engine failure to coast across the line in seventh and lock up his second consecutive Dakota Classic Modified Tour title. Wisconsin’s Brandon Schmitt led early in the Jack Jones-owned no. 20, fending off pressure from 10-time Dacotah Speedway track champion Shawn Strand. Schmitt regained the lead after briefly losing it and began pulling away, but a caution with a dozen laps left stacked the field. Braaksma, who restarted eighth, methodically rolled the bottom groove in the Danny Meier and Trent Guest-owned no. 111 and [Read More]

Dakota Classic Modified Tour Set for 2025 With Strong Pre-Entry Fields

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 [Read More]

Hellman Hustles to Second Stock Car Victory at Mandan

By Becca Pelkey MANDAN, N.D. (Jun. 13, 2025) — Dylan Herner and Dustin Frank led the field to the green flag in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature at Dacotah Speedway. While Herner and Frank battled side-by-side for the top spot, the action behind them intensified with four- and five-wide racing for third. Geoff Hellman, who started 10th, threaded his way through traffic and muscled into third before seizing the lead on lap six. The fight for second heated up between Scott Gartner and Travis Ulmer, but Ulmer’s charge ended abruptly when he slid off the top of turn four, falling back through the field. Gartner held on for second while points leader Brock Beeter fended off Matt Dosch for third. Hellman cruised to his second victory of the season at Mandan and in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region. Wilson Returns to Modified Victory Lane in Mandan Elijah Puckett led early in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature, but Spencer Wilson—who rolled off from the third starting position—quickly reeled him in and took command on [Read More]

Dosch Delivers First Win in Stock Car Thriller at Dacotah

By Becca Pelkey MANDAN, N.D. (Jun. 6, 2025) — When the green flag waved in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature at Dacotah Speedway, Casey Binstock and Matt Dosch battled for the lead. Binstock led early before Dosch grabbed the lead on lap four and pulled away. Binstock started to fall through the field, losing positions to Adam Goff, Geoff Hellman and Brock Beeter. Hellman, who started 10th, passed Goff for second with seven laps to go and set his sights on Dosch. Hellman reeled in Dosch and they raced hard for the win. Coming out of corner four and to the checkered flag, Matt Dosch just narrowly held off Geoff Hellman for the win for his first triumph in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region this year. Adam Goff finished third ahead of Brock Beeter. Strand Scores Second Straight in Modifieds Pole sitter Kyler Jeffrey led early in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature. Jeffrey led the first four laps before defending track champion, Shawn Strand, took the top spot. Points leader, Jeremy Keller, quickly climbed [Read More]

Strand Edges Dahl in Modified Main Before Rainstorm Rolls In

By Becca Pelkey MANDAN, N.D. (May 30, 2025) — In the final feature of the evening at Dacotah Speedway, it was not only a race for the win in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, but a race against the weather as rain in the distance was starting to settle in. Pole sitter Caden Roberts led early before defending track champion Shawn Strand took the lead on lap two. Strand quickly distanced himself from the field but as the laps wound down, Mark Dahl started to cut into Strand’s lead. By lap 10, Dahl was challenging Strand for the lead. They raced side by side, door to door for several laps. However, lapped traffic made it an exciting race for the win as the leaders sliced and diced their way around the slower cars. Coming to the white flag, Dahl cleared Strand for the top position. However, as they raced back to the checkered flag, Shawn Strand just narrowly edged Mark Dahl for the win — his first of 2025 in the Razor Chassis North Central Region. [Read More]

Dakota Classic Mod Tour Set to Bring Six Nights of Intense Racing Action to the Northern Plains

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (May 16, 2025) — The 2025 Dakota Classic Mod Tour is set to bring six straight nights of high-octane competition across North Dakota and Saskatchewan, featuring the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars. The tour kicks off at J-Town on Saturday, July 5 at Jamestown Speedway, where fans will get their first look at this year’s competitors. From there, the tour heads to the Playground of Power at Nodak Speedway in Minot on Sunday, where the stakes intensify on the fast 3/8-mile oval. On Monday, the series crosses the border into the Land of the Living Skies in Saskatchewan, stopping at Estevan Motor Speedway for what is always a fan-favorite event. Following the Canadian leg, the tour returns to North Dakota on Tuesday for a stop at Williston Basin Speedway, where drivers will go Racin’ at the Basin on the tight and demanding bullring. The penultimate night of the tour takes the field to Southwest Speedway in Dickinson on Wednesday, with the grand finale set for Dacotah Speedway [Read More]

Hellman Claims First IMCA Stock Car Win at Dacotah Speedway

By Becca Pelkey MANDAN, N.D. (May 9, 2025) — The Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature at Dacotah Speedway was a thrilling battle for the lead, with Scott Gartner initially leading the charge. However, Geoff Hellman made his move on lap two and quickly distanced himself from the pack. Gartner then found himself under pressure from Jason Meidinger, and a mistake off turn two allowed both Meidinger and Todd Carter to slip by. As the race wore on, the battle for fifth became the focal point with Aaron Aaseth, Andrew Jochim, and Brock Beeter fighting hard for position. Hellman, though, was untouchable out front, crossing the finish line for his first career IMCA Stock Car feature win in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region. Meidinger secured a career-best second-place finish, while Carter rounded out the top three. Geoff Hellman celebrates in victory lane after claiming his first Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature win at Dacotah Speedway. (Photo by MS Photography) Dahl Dominates for First Modified Win at Dacotah Speedway The Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature saw pole [Read More]