nodakspeedway Archives

Turnbull triumphant at inaugural Monte Lundy Memorial

By Ben Deatherage MINOT, N.D. (Aug 18, 2024) – In a race that will be remembered for years to come, Aaron Turnbull emerged victorious in the inaugural Monte Lundy Memorial at Nodak Speedway. His masterful maneuver around the halfway point, allowing him to take the lead, was a sight to behold. Fending off a challenge after the final restart, Turnbull, the maestro from Estevan, Sask., scored an impressive Friesen Performance $3,014 payday at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds. His win holds a special significance as it was a racer from Estevan who won the first Lundy Memorial, just as Lundy had won the first IMCA Modified track title at Estevan Motor Speedway in 2000. “This means a lot to me. Monte raced against my dad. It’s awesome to win the first event,” said Turnbull. “All of Monte’s family was there. Hopefully this race becomes a long standing tradition.” The race was off to an intense start as Drew Christianson beat Shawn Strand into the first corner. However, Strand quickly gained momentum, swinging the lead in [Read More]

Grinstead – Brennor Grinstead – is Nodak winner by .007

By Ben Deatherage MINOT, N.D. (Aug. 11, 2024) – Considering how close their battle for the track championship was, it was no surprise when Brennor Grinstead and Kyler Satran were separated by just seven thousandths of a second apart at the finish of Sunday’s IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature at Nodak Speedway. The Grinstead brothers, Brennor and Tyson, engaged in a fierce battle at the start, Brennor emerging as the leader to pace the first lap. Satran threw his hat in the ring when he took over second on the fourth circuit and the next time around was pressuring Brennor Grinstead for the top spot. Finding an advantage on the inside line, Satran powered his way ahead to become the new trailblazer on lap six. Things slowed down twice with two late-race cautions, including the last one setting up a green, white, checkered finish. When the green flag was presented to the field for the final time, Brennor Grinstead tried to get around Satran via the outside and reclaim first place. Grinstead had a slight [Read More]

LaBatte banks Stock Car paydirt at Nodak

By Ben Deatherage MINOT, N.D. (Aug. 4, 2024) – The North Dakota State Fairgrounds roared to life and Brendon LaBatte raced his way to B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility on Sunday. When the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car finale came to life, Kyle Scholpp took the lead and tried to run away from the rest of the field. However, fellow Saskatchewanian, LaBatte made a masterful run on the bottom trying to reel in the leader. At the same time, Scholpp was comfortable up high and had a slight advantage up there. Shawn Green and Mike Hagen put on a show for third place, with Hagen eventually securing the spot on the third circuit. While the race for third cooled down, the battle for the lead heated up. LaBatte submitted a challenge to the inside of Scholpp the sixth time past the flag stand. Scholpp did his best to keep LaBatte back, but LaBatte’s persistence paid big dividends when he got around the leader on lap seven. He started to pull away from [Read More]

Monte Lundy Memorial for IMCA Modifieds is Aug. 18 at Nodak

MINOT, N.D. (July 31, 2024) – Nodak Speedway remembers one of its own on Sunday, Aug. 18, hosting the inaugural Monte Lundy Memorial. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds race for $3,014 to win and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility that evening. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Razor Chassis North Central Region and North Dakota State points will be awarded. There is no entry fee. Pit gates will open early for parking, the pit window opens at 3 p.m. and the drivers’ meeting is at 5 p.m. The grandstand opens at 6 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m. Driver of the number 14 IMCA Modified, Lundy was rookie of the year at Nodak in 1993 and the first-ever track champion in that division at Estevan Motor Speedway, in 2000. He finished fifth in the main event at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s the same year. Lundy passed away last Aug. 19 at the age of 53 after battling Huntington’s Disease.

Nodak hosts Aug. 4 All-Star show for IMCA Stock Cars

MINOT, N.D. (July 24, 2024) – IMCA Sunoco Stock Car drivers race for $750 to win and B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility at their aptly-named All-Star race Sunday, Aug. 4 at Nodak Speedway. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region and North Dakota State points will be given. Mach-1 Sport Compact are also on the race night card. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. Racing is at 7 p.m. Pit passes are $30 for members, $40 for non-members and $10 for kids ages 8-14. Spectator admission is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and military, $5 for kids 6-12 and free for five and under.

Nodak winner Hibdon dedicates Dakota Tour checkers to Deuce

MINOT, N.D. (July 7, 2024) – The driver they call Kid Smooth was smooth from start to finish Sunday night at Nodak Speedway. Kollin Hibdon, the Nevada native now racing out of Fargo led all 30 laps of the caution-free Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature that kicked off the Dakota Classic Modified Tour powered by Industrial Electric, dedicating the $2,000 win to late friend and fellow driver Casey Arneson. “This one means a lot more to me,” Hibdon said, following his career third tour victory. “A couple days ago marked two years since we lost Deuce. I should have done this two years ago right after he passed. I was leading and had the tire delam(inate). I’m just glad I could do it now.” “This one’s for him. All of ‘em are for him,” he continued. “This win means more than words can describe.” Already Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible. Hibdon drew the outside front row starting spot and was chased the last 29 times around the track by Ethan Braaksma, who would get [Read More]

Early entry list is “stacked’ for 35th Dakota Classic IMCA Modified Tour

JAMESTOWN, N.D. (July 1, 2024) – After looking over the names, new co-promoter Byron Fichter could have used any number of words to describe pre-entry lists for the upcoming Dakota Classic IMCA Modified Tour. But it turned out he only needed one: “Stacked.” Fichter and partner Aaron Turnbull take over at the helm of the 35th annual tour, which travels to six tracks in North Dakota and Saskatchewan July 6-11. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds race for $2,000 to win, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for $1,000 to win each night Saturday, July 6 at Jamestown Speedway with following dates Sunday, July 7 at Nodak Speedway in Minot; Monday, July 8 at Estevan Motor Speedway; Tuesday, July 9 at Williston Basin Speedway; Wednesday, July 10 at Southwest Speedway in Dickinson; and Thursday, July 11 at Dacotah Speedway in Mandan. “We’ve got former tour champions, former national champions and former Super Nationals champions pre-registered,” said Fichter, listing the likes of four-time tour king Hank Berry, 2023 tour champions Tim Ward – also champion at Super Nationals – and Rob [Read More]

IMCA Dakota Classic Tour history made in 35th season

JAMESTOWN, N.D. (May 31, 2024) – Byron Fichter and Aaron Turnbull have been part of the Dakota Classic Tour for maybe more years than they’d like to admit. This year, they’ll be in charge of it. The two are new co-directors of the tour for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, set to visit six tracks in North Dakota and Saskatchewan from July 6-11. “We have big shoes to fill,” Fichter said, acknowledging the efforts of founder and director John Gartner over the tour’s first 34 years. “People who come on the tour know the tracks in North Dakota and Canada are good hosts. We’re proud of our racing facilities and our racing communities.” “We have a lot of history, including 34 years of history as the best traveling series for Modifieds in North America.” The 35th annual tour opens Saturday, July 6 at Jamestown Speedway with following dates Sunday, July 7 at Nodak Speedway in Minot; Monday, July 8 at Estevan Motor Speedway; Tuesday, July 9 at Williston Basin Speedway; Wednesday, July [Read More]

Sale of Dakota Classic Modified Tour announced

MANDAN, N.D. (Dec. 5, 2023) – Dakota Classic Modified Tour owner John Gartner has agreed to sell the long-time running series to a promoters’ governing group that represents the six tracks currently hosting the tour. The tour for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars will be held during the previously agreed upon dates next July starting with Jamestown Speedway on Saturday, July 6; Nodak Speedway in Minot on Sunday, July 7; Estevan Motor Speedway on Monday, July 8; Williston Basin Speedway on Tuesday, July 9; Southwest Speedway in Dickinson on Wednesday, July 10; and Dacotah Speedway in Mandan on Thursday, July 11. No significant changes are planned to be made with tour payouts, fees or procedures. The governing group will be selecting a tour director/promoter at some point in the future. The new governing board members and promoters of each track state that that “Words cannot do enough to describe our gratitude to John for his commitment to this tour over the years. This tour would not exist without him. As we move [Read More]

North Dakota driver Deschamp soars to new heights

BOTTINEAU, N.D. – His fascination with buttons and gauges and all things mechanical first took Gabriel Deschamp to the dirt track. Then it took him to the skies. The 19-year-old from Bottineau got his private pilot’s license this summer and has already begun studies toward a degree in commercial aviation at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. He’ll drive, or maybe fly, home on the weekends to continue quests for Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod track titles at hometown Thunder Mountain Speedway and at Nodak Speedway in Minot. “Ever since I was younger, I liked buttons and gauges, and race cars and planes both have a lot of them,” explained Deschamp. “It’s just something I’ve always been interested in, and one of the things I like best about flying is the freedom. You can get to other places quickly and easily. And it’s pretty cool when you’re in control of where you’re going.” He’d built and flown his own balsa wood radio controlled planes before following his grandfather and father Beau – now [Read More]