Bogart has risen to top of Mini Stock ranks at Sheyenne Speedway

Mason Bogart is only 22 years old but is already a seasoned veteran in the Mini Stock class at Sheyenne Speedway in Lisbon. In fact, he was only 12 when he got his start in the class after his dad built him a car.

“They built me a car when I was like 12, and I’ve been doing it ever since,” said Bogart, who lives in Milnor.

Bogart drives the No. 97 Mini Stock at Sheyenne, where he is the two-time defending track champion in the 4-cylinder division. Matt Bogart was a long-time Mini Stock racer in Lisbon and raced a couple of nights last year.

“My dad’s been racing, (since) he was probably about my age,” Mason Bogart said.

Since 2021, Bogart has been a top runner at Sheyenne. He picked up his first career win on Aug. 7, 2021 at the ¼-mile track. He finished fourth in the points that year, recording five top fives in 11 starts.

The progression continued in 2022 with six top five finishes in seven starts and a third-place finish in the points. He had his best year in 2023, winning the points at Sheyenne and recording three wins and 10 top fives in 14 starts.

“Every year you do it, it slows down a little bit when you are out there,” Bogart said. “You make decisions a little quicker.”

He won the points in an abbreviated season at Sheyenne in 2024 and finished in the top five all four nights.

“I think finding the right tire setup helps for sure,” Bogart said of the success in the class. “We’ve played with a few different sizes when staggering them front to back.”

The Mini Stocks aren’t like regular race cars. They run street tires and do not have racing suspensions at all, and driving them takes a bit of finesse.

“When it comes to the actual driving the two best tips I’ve been told is that slower is sometimes faster and when you’re coming out of the corners to step on the gas like a grape,” Bogart said. “Otherwise, you’ll just spin the tires.”

Even though he likes the Mini Stock class – “it’s cheaper and not too much maintenance,” he says – he has an eye switching to another class in the future.

“I want to move up soon,” Bogart said.

Bogart, who works as a welder and in farming, isn’t worried about chasing the points in 2025.  At least at this point. He had two top fives in his first two starts.

“As of now, take it night by night,” Bogart said. “If things go good, we will give it another shot.”

After a decade behind the wheel, Bogart is enjoying racing.

“I like the people. It’s fun,” Bogart said. “My family’s done it for however long. It’s a fun thing to get away and do on the weekends and whenever you can.”

Driver Profile

Mason Bogart

Mini Stock #97

Age: 22

Residence: Milnor, N.D.

Sponsors: RC Pearson Farms, Milnor Fabrication