It took about a minute sitting in the seat of friend Barry Robertson’s race car to Billy Michaelsohn’s addiction to racing.
“I sat in his car one time when I was 18 years old,” Michaelsohn said. “I’ve been hooked ever since.”
Michaelsohn currently pilots the #8 IMCA Stock Car at Red River Valley Speedway. He’s also raced at Norman County Raceway in Ada this year.
A resident of Fargo, Michaelsohn started his racing career in 1997 in the Mod 4s. He’s raced in the street stock, late model, sport mod and now in the IMCA Stock Car class, which he’s been in since 2020.
Prior to jumping into the stock cars, Michaelsohn raced in the sport mod class, where he had several top five finishes. But the fast-growing, and popular, IMCA Stock Car class had an allure for the long-time veteran.
“I like the fendered, full-bodied cars,” Michaelsohn said. “I like to stick with those. That seems to be my style.”
As much as Michaelsohn enjoys the competition on the racetrack, the atmosphere in the pit area is just as enjoyable. At Red River Valley Speedway each week, he pits in the far northeast corner and next to sport mod drivers John and Thomas Sandvig and IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car driver Ty Hanten.
“The biggest thing about racing is the camaraderie,” Michaelsohn said. “We have a great group here. We’ve been friends a long time.”
Michaelsohn has some feature wins in his career but has never chased points but has had some top five finishes in the points.
Michaelsohn, who works for OK Tire in Fargo, sees first hand how competitive the IMCA Stock Car class is locally.
“It’s super tough. It’s fun. It’s very challenging,” Michaelsohn said. “I think almost any of them could win.”
He has four top 10s in six starts this season, and is aiming for some top five finishes.
“I’d like to get a top five or top three (finish). I’m trying to get the car going. I can’t quite get the set up yet,” Michaelsohn said.
In the end, a night at the racetrack comes down to hanging out with friends, and Michaelsohn gets to do that Fridays at RRVS. And there is plenty of joking around.
“I’ve raced everything but a sprint car, and Ty (Hanten) won’t let me drive it,” MIchaelsohn joked. “I’ve asked him 100 times. He won’t even let me hot lap it.”
Driver Profile
Billy Michaelsohn
IMCA Stock Car #8
Residence: Fargo, ND
Age: 53
Sponsors: The Bowler, Thunder Road, General Equipment, OK Tire, Interstate Motor Car, Leann’s Bridal
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