redrivervalleyspeedway Archives

Tye Wilke Powers to Danny Schatz Memorial Sprint Car Victory at Red River Valley

By Ben Deatherage WEST FARGO, N.D. (May 31, 2025) — The 3rd Annual Danny Schatz Memorial drew an event-record 26 RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car entries at Red River Valley Speedway, where Tye Wilke became the third different winner in as many editions of the prestigious event. Jeremy Kerzman jumped to the early lead in the 20-lap, $1,515-to-win feature and quickly distanced himself from the field. By lap four, lapped traffic began to factor in, and Laela Eisenschenk — granddaughter of the race’s namesake — started reeling him in. But the driver on the move was Wilke, the two-time defending North Dakota State champion from Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, who started fifth and made the bottom groove work to perfection. He grabbed second on lap 13 and slipped past Kerzman one lap later for the lead. From there, Wilke sliced through heavy traffic and never looked back, pulling away in the non-stop main event to score his fifth win of the season and third triumph of 2025 at Red River Valley Speedway. Kerzman held on for second, while [Read More]

Minnesota IMCA Sprint Series returns with 10 race dates

ARLINGTON, Minn. (April 13, 2023) – After a three-year hiatus, the Minnesota IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Series will return this summer with 10 dates at seven different tracks in four states. Main events each night pay $700 to win with $150 to start. IMCA draw/redraw procedures will be in effect at all tracks. Toppers & Trailers Plus of Mankato and LeSueur is title sponsor of the 2023 Minnesota IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Series and adds $1,500 to the series point fund. 2023 ScheduleMay 26 at Jackson, Minn., MotorplexMay 27 at Arlington, Minn., RacewayMay 28 at Huset’s Speedway, Brandon, S.D.June 22 at Norman County Raceway, Ada, Minn.June 23 at Red River Valley Speedway, West Fargo, N.D.July 14 at Princeton, Minn., SpeedwayJuly 15 at Arlington, Minn., RacewayAug. 16 at Buena Vista Raceway, Alta, IowaAug. 17 at Jackson, Minn., MotorplexAug. 19 at Arlington, Minn., Raceway

Superior Customs IMCA Red River Sprint Series set to launch in 2023

By Mike Spieker WEST FARGO, N.D. (March 31, 2023) – In 2021, Nick Skalicky and Jake and Sharnel Bitker, promoters of Red River Valley Speedway and Norman County Raceway, took the leap to start a brand new division in the area, the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars. After having a handful of cars for the first season, the class more than doubled in its second season in 2022, often having two heat races and up to 12 cars. As the class continues to grow, more opportunities will be available for its drivers in 2023 with a brand new traveling series, which already has a title sponsor. The Superior Customs IMCA Red River Sprint Series is set to hit the road this season with 15 dates on its schedule at five different tracks. All tracks are within 75 miles of the series’ home track, Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo. The series schedule does not include every IMCA Sprint Car event in the area this season as Red River Valley Speedway will host the class 15 times this [Read More]

Norman County, Red River Valley host $800 to win Sanders IMCA Stock Car Challenge features

ADA, Minn. – Sanders Stock Car Challenge winners will be living high on the hog July 29 at Norman County Raceway and July 30 at Red River Valley Speedway. IMCA Sunoco Stock Car features Thursday at Ada, Minn., and Friday at West Fargo, N.D., both pay $800 to win and a minimum of $120 to start. The winners of both become eligible to qualify for the B & B Chassis All-Star Invitational and the driver winning both nights earns a $200 Clean Sweep bonus. Entry fee is $30. Pit passes are $30 and $10 for kids ages six and under both nights. IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods run both nights; IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars are also on the Friday program, as is a meet and greet with Stock Car contestants. Pit gates open at 3:30 p.m., the grandstand opens at 5:30 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m. at Norman County, where spectator admission is $15 for adults, $10 for veterans and active military with ID and free for kids 12 and [Read More]

IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars racing into Red River, Norman County history books

WEST FARGO, N.D. – IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car history will be made this season at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, N.D. and sister track Norman County Raceway in Ada, Minn. Red River becomes the first track in North Dakota to sanction the division weekly with IMCA, running Friday nights from May 7 to Aug. 27. Norman County adds the Sprints for its 103rd season, to run Thursdays from June 10 to Aug. 26. The winged class joins IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods on IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing programs at both tracks. “We have followed the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars for about three years now. We’ve watched them race, we have a friend who races them and we’ve had drivers ask about them. We decided about last August to sanction them this year,” promoter Jake Bitker said. “RaceSaver Sprint Cars are a good complement to our other IMCA divisions and have a black and white set of rules. It’s a good class for drivers [Read More]

Former champs top Dakota Tour openers

WEST FARGO, N.D. (July 10) – Two former champions were feature winners for the Friday night lidlifter at Red River Valley Speedway. Ricky Thornton Jr., the 2015 Modified and defending Stock Car king, started ninth and motored to the $2,400 IMCA Modified checkers. Already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, Thornton led Tyler Hall, Austin Arneson, Alex Stanford and Jake O’Neil to the finish. And Elijah Zevenbergen began adding to the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car Tour legacy of his own as the five-time tour champion started from the pole and took that $1,000 win ahead of Eric Mahlik. Rob VanMil, Joe Flory and Travis Ulmer were next across the stripe. Feature Results Modifieds – 1. Ricky Thornton Jr.; 2. Tyler Hall; 3. Austin Arneson; 4. Alex Stanford; 5. Jake O’Neil; 6. Tripp Gaylord; 7. Grey Ferrando; 8. Casey Arneson; 9. Justin O’Brien; 10. Billy Kendall III; 11. Jason Wolla; 12. Brad Hartigan; 13. Tanner Black; 14. Allen Kent; 15. Dylan Goplen; 16. John Nord; 17. Cody Laney; 18. John Hansen; 19. Jesse Skalicky; 20. Eddie [Read More]

Red River Valley, Norman County host Sanders Modified Challenge Tour dates

WEST FARGO, N.D. – IMCA Modifieds take to the track in $1,300 to win, Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying features on both nights of the Sanders Modified Challenge Tour. Events Wednesday, Aug. 8 at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, N.D., and Thursday, Aug. 9 at Norman County Raceway in Ada, Minn., are draw/redraw and pay $1,100 for second and $1,000 for third. Minimum start money is $200. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Side Biter Chassis North Central and Minnesota State points, but no track points will be awarded. Out-Pace Racing Products gives a $100 hard charger award. Both shows will be broadcast by IMCA.TV and pork chops will be served in the pit area after the race program is complete at Ada. Pit gates open at 3:30 p.m., the grandstand opens at 5:30 p.m., the draw cutoff is at 6:30 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m. both nights. Car and driver is $30. More information is posted on the track websites.