Late model numbers have trended upward locally

Larimore, N.D., driver Jamie Dietzler has moved into the Wissota Late Models for 2025. (Photo courtesy of Dietzler racing facebook page)

I have admitted in this blog in the past that I grew up a late model fan and have remained one for four decades since. Where I grew up, in western Minnesota, there were late models and in the mid-1980s, the A mods were added, and they quickly grew on me as well. The nearest sprint car track was two hours away, so I just never saw them race until I was an adult.

Racing numbers go in cycles when it comes to which classes fare better numbers wise but lately, at least within a good radius of Fargo-Moorhead, have trended up in the late models.

Both I-94 EMR Speedway and River Cities Speedway have had very good weekly numbers over the past few years.  NLRA shows continue to draw good numbers at most events.

I love it.

A big reason for the good late model numbers, at least in the Red River Valley, is the NLRA. I’ve talked to several drivers who said late model racing locally owes a lot to the formation of the NLRA, which pays a solid nightly purse and has a points fund paid out at the end. A few have said late model racing might not even be around this region anymore without the NLRA and I would concur.  Another theory I have is that the late models are popular now, and for a lot of drivers, their goal is to race in the late models. If you get a chance to buy an affordable car to get started, that can spur that decision to move up, too.

Recently, two Wissota Midwest Modified drivers – Matt Schow of McIntosh and Jamie Dietzler of Larimore --- announced on their Facebook pages that they will be racing Wissota/NLRA late models this summer. Both were very good runners in the midwest modified class, and I think as they get more laps and learn about the late models set-up-wise, will be competitive in the lates.

East Grand Forks driver Kelsi Pederson, who raced many years in the lightning sprints, has moved into the late models for 2025, joining her dad, Joey and brother Tucker in the class. That is a cool family connection there.

Veteran Mitch Johnson of Hickson returned to the late models in 2021 after an eight-year hiatus. I would not include him moving into the class since that is where he made his mark locally for decades, but he did rejoin the late model ranks which was welcoming to many fans in the region. According to his Facebook racing page, this will be year 50 behind the wheel for Johnson, who has won a ton of big late model races in Wissota.

For the fun of I am going to list some of the drivers who’ve made the jump over the last 4-5 years. I will not get to list everybody, but this gives you an idea of some of the drivers who’ve joined the class.

Tyler Peterson, Hickson (previous class: Modified): He is still doing double duty with his modified but stormed into the late model scene in 2023, winning Wissota Late Model national championship and rookie of the year honors. He repeated as Wissota national champion in 2024 and was second on the Structural Buildings Challenge Series  a year ago. Needless to say TPO acclimated quickly.

Mike Greseth, Harwood (Modified): Greseth hopped into a late model in 2021, and proceeded to win three NLRA titles in a row. He is particularly tough on the dry slick tracks. He doesn’t race a ton of shows but is a threat to win wherever he unloads locally.

Jayson Good, Watertown (modified): Good was runner-up in points at Casino Speedway in 2024 and had two wins and 22 top fives on the season. Good also had a modified out at Ogilvie earlier this season.

Tucker Pederson, East Grand Forks (Wissota Street Stock): Pederson, following his in father Joey’s footsteps, hopped into a late model for the first time in 2024 and had one win and four top fives in 22 starts. Against a deep weekly field at River Cities Speedway, that isn’t a bad rookie season.

Nate Reynolds, Manvel (midwest modified): Reynolds ran 16 shows in his first late model season and had four top 10s. He was a very formidable foe in the midwest modified class and I expect as he gains more experience will improve in the late models.

Lindsey Hansen, Fargo (midwest modified): Hansen got his feet wet in the late models in 2023, and last year in 13 starts had a pair of top 10s. He hasn’t raced a ton of shows in the lates but has shown promise.

Amelia Eisenschenk and Laela Eisenschenk, Fargo (IMCA RaceSaver Sprint): The two teenage twins have fared very well in the IMCA sprints and have been in the late models for a couple of years now.  Their uncle, Donny Schatz, serves as a great mentor for the two drivers, who I think with more experience will continue to develop and progress.

Greg Friestad, Valley City (IMCA Mod): Friestad moved into the late models in 2021 and hasn’t raced a ton in the class – he’s averaged about 12 shows a year.  He had four top 10 finishes a year ago which is encouraging. He was a good solid runner in the modifieds.

Jason Strand, Portland (midwest modified): Strand moved into the late models in 2021, and in 2022 picked up a pair of feature wins. He was dang tough in the midwest modifieds. Strand has also run some open late model shows in the midwest.

Laine Schwehr, Sanborn (midwest modified): Schwehr, like Strand, Reynolds, Hansen, Dietzler and Schow, jumped up from the midwest modifieds in 2023.

Greg Moore, Jamestown (hobby stock): Moore moved into the late models in 2021, and in 2023 had a pair of top fives.

Lee Grosz, Watertown (modified): Grosz was well known as a good sprint car driver before moving into the modified class a few years ago. He had two feature wins in his 2024 rookie late model season. A twist for him: he races in the same class as his wife, Morgan and father-in-law, Scott.

Blake Boelens, Garfield: (modified): Boelens moved into the late models last year after spending several years in the modifieds.  He had three top 10s in eight A main starts at I-94, not a bad first year in the class.

John Seng of Grand Forks hopped right into the late models in 2022 and in 2023 picked up his first two feature wins.

I know I didn’t list everybody (I didn’t have time to look everybody up) but this gives you an idea of the late model growth in the region.