This is a notebook of sorts, but I want to mention something to kick things off. When I do my race reports, keep in mind that while they are based on facts (finishing order, etc.) they also have some of my opinion in them. The exceptions are the All the Dirt article I write for Sheyenne Speedway and any freelance work I do for the Fargo Forum.
There was a dust-up between a couple of IMCA modified drivers at Lisbon on Sunday and some postrace fireworks. I didn’t see the on-track stuff so I can’t comment on that — and in cases where I don’t see it, I won’t remark on those things in general. If I see some postrace bumping or stuff like that, I will call it as I see it. But I’ll be fair. In the case of the Sheyenne deal, I have nothing against either driver at all and wasn’t trying to take sides.
If I see an incident on the track and it’s clear who is at fault, dang right I will talk about it. But if I don’t see it, and all I get is secondhand accounts, I won’t go down that road. I could get five different versions of the same crash from people.
I just wanted to clear that up.
Notes:
—Jonny Carter of Lisbon has 17 feature wins this summer. What makes that more impressive is he has won at eight different tracks — Sheyenne (Lisbon), Jamestown, Devils Lake, I-94 (Fergus Falls), Southwest (Dickinson), Brown County (Aberdeen), Tri-County (Wishek) and Dacotah (Mandan). Winning at one or two tracks is one thing, but winning at eight is another.
I’ve talked to Jonny a few times about chasing national points, and honestly, that’s not his focus at this point. (He is currently sixth by the way). He joked with me on Sunday he’d start looking at national points in October. His priority is to win every race he is in, and if he keeps up on his current pace, the national title might just take care of itself.
—Adam Goff of Minot is unbeaten in the IMCA Hobby Stocks this season at BRRP, going 5-for-5. If you wonder why Goff is making the more than four hour trip, it is because he is running for national points — but also has family in this region. Goff is 13th in the national points. He has also made trips to Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo this season.
—Shane Sabraski of Rice topped Dan Ebert of Lake Shore for the Advantage RV Mod Tour title. Ebert was the defending champion. Both drive Lethal Chassis, by the way that are built by former NASCAR driver David Stremme. Jeremy Nelson of Rogers was third in the points, Johnny Broking of Grand Rapids fourth. Glyndon driver Joseph Thomas finished eighth in the RV tour mod points.
—Several RaceChaser area drivers have qualified for the Wissota Race of Champions which are set for the Wissota 100 in September at I-94 Speedway. Cole Schill of Horace is qualified in the Wissota Late Models (win at River Cities Speedway); in the Wissota Modifieds, Brady Gerdes of Villard (I-94), Dan Ebert of Lake Shore (KRA Speedway) and Dustin Bitzan of Brandon (Viking Speedway) are qualified. And just outside the area, a driver I follow, Mike Stearns of Aberdeen, qualified at Casino Speedway. Alexandria Wissota super stock driver Jeff Crouse has qualified with a win at Fiesta City Speedway; in the Wissota Midwest Modifieds, Brennon Weight of Lamoure (Jamestown), Brock Gronwold of Fergus Falls (Viking) and Matt Schow of McIntosh (River Cities) have qualified. In the Wissota streets, Todd Carter of Lisbon (Jamestown), Jonny Carter of Lisbon (I-94), Eric Riley of Morris (Sheyenne), Ryan Satter of Dent (Viking), John Halvorson of Warren (River Cities), Dan Aberle of Finley (Devils Lake) and Justin Vogel of Brooten (KRA) have qualified. Riley finished third at Sheyenne; however because both Jonny and Todd Carter, who finished first and second, had qualified at other tracks, Riley earned Sheyenne’s bid.
—Buffalo River Race Park in Glyndon is hosting Fan Appreciation Night this Saturday. All classes, including the IMCA Modifieds, are in action. Check with BRRP drivers for tickets and I am told there will be some cool giveways that night.
--The RaceChaser area first-time career wins club added another person to the list on Friday when Cory Dykhoff of Perham won the Wissota Street Stock feature at I-94 Speedway.
By my count, the following 13 drivers have won their first features:
Alyssa White, West Fargo (IMCA Hobby Stock, Norman County Raceway, July 18)
Cory Dykhoff, Perham (Wissota Street Stock, I-94 Speedway, Aug. 2)
Jaden Christ, Jamestown (Wissota Street Stock, Brown County Speedway, June 1).
Tucker Pederson, East Grand Forks (Wissota Street Stock at River Cities, June 28)
Kelby Anderson, Fort Ransom (Mini Stocks at Sheyenne Speedway)
Brody Carlsrud, Moorhead (INEX Legends at Buffalo River Race Park, June 1)
Zack Nord, Enderlin (Hobby Stock at Sheyenne Speedway, June 2)
Jaren Wibstad, Jamestown (Wissota Midwest Modified at Sheyenne Speedway, June 30)
Cole Greseth, Harwood (Mini Stock at Sheyenne Speedway, June 30)
Ryan Schow, McIntosh (Wissota Midwest Modified, River Cities Speedway, June 14)
Jarod Klein, Wimbledon (Bombers, Jamestown Speedway, June 22)
Zach Kort, Fergus Falls (Short Tracker at I-94, June 28)
Dillon Thorpe, Monango (Bombers at Jamestown Speedway, May 11)
--The promoters of Brown County Speedway in Aberdeen have announced they will not be placing a bid to run the track in 2020, according to their Facebook page. I say it's a good thing -- change never hurts, and to be honest I haven't heard a ton of good things about how things have been run there in recent years. It is a great facility that has hosted a lot of great racing over the years, so I hope someone with a good racing-mind steps up to bid to run the place. There is a lot of potential there.
National Points Updates
—Speaking of street stock national points, defending national champion Justin Vogel of Brooten is the leader in the latest standings. Eric Riley of Morris is second in points — and has piled up the second-place finishes this season. He hasn’t gotten a win yet, but has been so darn close. He will get one soon. Kasey Ussatis of Nome, who has three wins, is fifth in national points. A lot of shows left to sort that out.
--Jeff Crouse of Alexandria is eighth in the Wissota Super Stock national points.
—Andrew Jochim of Glyndon is the national point leader in the INEX Pro division. IN the latest standings on the INEX website, he leads Wisconsin driver Ryan Mech by 30. Jochim picked up his eighth win of 2019 on Sunday at Sheyenne.
—Brody Carlsrud of Moorhead is Mr. Consistent. He has 23 top five finishes this season with two wins in his B1 INEX Legend. He leads the points at Sheyenne, is second in points at Buffalo River Race Park, three behind Tye Wilke of Detroit Lakes, and is second at Norman County, seven behind Wilke. In the Semi-Pro National points, Carlsrud is second. Brody is a good, young clean racer and one of the rising young talents in the area.
—Speaking of rising young talents, Tye Wilke clearly fits that mold. He leads the points at BRRP, including a performance a few weeks ago that was jaw-dropping where he rallied late for a win. He also leads the points at NCR, where he has two wins, and is fourth at Red River Valley, where he has three wins. Overall Wilke has 11 wins, dating back to a win in Iowa in April. Wilke is really fast right now.
—Aaron Blacklance of Thief River Falls is seventh in the latest Wissota Midwest Modified national points. He won last week at Norman County.
—IMCA Sport Mod driver Torey Fischer of West Fargo is 15th in the IMCA Lady Eagle national points through Aug. 1, while Alyssa White of West Fargo (IMCA Hobby Stock) is 21st. Fischer is in the top five of points at both BRRP and NCR. White is third in points at NCR and fourth at RRVS. And watch for a RaceChaser blog soon on Alyssa White, there is a story behind the names printed on the trunk of her #14 machine.
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