dacotahspeedway Archives

Pavlicek Finally Breaks Through in SportMods at Dacotah’s Oktoberfest

By Becca Pelkey MANDAN, N.D. (Sept. 27, 2025) — Casselton’s Rich Pavlicek quickly pulled away in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA SportMod feature on the final night of Oktoberfest at Dacotah Speedway. The real battle was for second as Keenan Glasser, Troy Speten and Nathan Speten fought it out. A series of mid-race cautions regrouped the field, with Nathan Speten slipping past Glasser for second. Glasser rallied, however, and retook the spot with six laps remaining. After coming up short the past two years, Pavlicek finally broke through and parked in Dacotah Speedway victory lane. Glasser held off Nathan Speten for second, with Chris VanMil fourth and Jayden Pavlicek rounding out the top five. Satran Survives Caution-Filled Hobby Stock Main When the green flag waved in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature, it was an early duel between Diezel Raynard and Kyler Satran. Satran grabbed the lead before a caution reset the field, the first of several that slowed the pace. The restarts worked to the advantage of former Oktoberfest champion Brandon Beeter, who sliced his way [Read More]

Seidler Scores Stock Car Finale at Mandan; Hellman Clinches Title on Tie-Breaker

By Becca Pelkey MANDAN, N.D. (Aug. 22, 2025) — The points battle in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars at Dacotah Speedway was razor-thin between Geoff Hellman and Matt Dosch, with just one point separating the two entering the final race of the season. Hellman’s night started rough after a heat race incident, putting extra pressure on the feature. Cautions flew early and often, helping both Hellman and Dosch work their way toward the front. Up ahead, Marlyn Seidler — who came up short the week prior — grabbed the early lead. Hellman mounted a charge, racing Seidler side by side while Dosch lurked in third. Hellman took control on lap eight, but Seidler wasn’t finished. The veteran fought back, retaking the lead with five to go and pulling away to his second win of the season in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region, both coming at Dacotah Speedway. The drama wasn’t over. Behind Seidler, Dosch and Hellman waged their own battle — not only for second place but for the track championship. At the line, Dosch [Read More]

Oktoberfest Returns to Dacotah Speedway September 26-27

By Ben Deatherage MANDAN, N.D. (Aug. 21, 2025) – The tradition of fall racing at Dacotah Speedway continues with Oktoberfest presented by TransTrash, set for Friday and Saturday, September 26-27. The two-day special will once again feature the same format as last year, with heats and Dash for Cash races on Friday night and ‘B’ mains and championship features on Saturday night. Four IMCA divisions will headline the program, each racing for a $1,000 top prize: Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, Karl Chevrolet IMCA SportMods, and Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks. Friday’s program begins with the pit gate opening at 5:00 p.m. and grandstands at 6:00 p.m. Draw cutoff is 6:15 p.m., with racing beginning at 7:00 p.m. Drivers unable to make it to the track Friday but planning to race Saturday must check in on Friday by messaging the Dacotah Speedway Facebook page or by contacting Becca Pelkey directly. All drivers must check in on Friday to be eligible for Saturday competition – no exceptions. Passing points will determine transfers into the Dash [Read More]

Dosch Steals Dacotah Speedway Stock Car Thriller at the Line

By Becca Pelkey MANDAN, N.D. (Aug. 15, 2025) — The Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature at Dacotah Speedway had fans on their feet from green to checkered. Veteran Marlyn Seidler led the opening circuits, setting a strong pace before an early caution bunched the field. On the restart, Brock Beeter and Matt Dosch went to work on Scott Gartner for second, while Geoff Hellman used the high line to move past both into contention. The race quickly turned into a three-way fight for the win, with Seidler steady through the middle, Dosch working the low side, and Hellman charging upstairs. They ran three wide as the white flag waved, trading the lead back and forth in a thrilling dash to the finish. Out of turn four, it was Dosch by a nose over Hellman at the line, with Seidler settling for third after leading all but the final two laps. The victory was Dosch’s second of the season in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region, both coming at his home track in Mandan. Keller Outduels Wolla [Read More]

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]