Wrapped up the weekend at Sheyenne Speedway in Lisbon for the 2nd Annual Dakota Dream. There were 96 cars on hand including a strong field of 28 Wissota Midwest Modifieds — that featured a whole bunch of strong contenders. Good car counts for all classes except I am a little frustrated that only 11 street stocks on hand for $1,000 to win show…more on that later.
The folks at Sheyenne aren’t catching any breaks weather-wise this year it seems. It was 91 degrees, few clouds in the sky and a 20-25 mph southeast wind — which blows into the grandstand. Despite that a nice crowd was on hand, but it makes a very challenging night to keep moisture in a racetrack no matter how hard you try. Sun + wind is a lousy combination for a lot of tracks. Of course, around 9 p.m., the clouds showed up and the wind died down…
The best race of the night was the EPIC three-wide show put on by Todd Carter of Lisbon, Jonny Carter of Lisbon and Eric Riley of Morris, Minn. in the Wissota Street Stock feature. For at least a dozen laps, those three ran three-wide on the 1/4-mile oval. Jonny had the pole on the redraw, and most would figure he’d win from that spot. Todd Carter, interviewed above, found a groove in the middle and closed the gap, and soon, Riley found some speed on the bottom of the track and quickly made it a three-wide battle for the ages. And there wasn't beating and banging, just great racing.
The cars were running three-wide again — honestly it was hard telling who led at the line some laps — when a caution came out for a car off of turn three. That changed things. Todd Carter had good speed on that middle line and cleared Riley and then passed his nephew for the lead and went on to take the victory and $1,000 payday. Jonny Carter settled for second, Riley third, veteran Royce Jawaski of Horace fourth and Kyle Dykhoff of Starbuck, Minn. Dykhoff, by the way, will probably take a top five at a place he hasn’t had much luck at.
Todd Carter, at the nights I’ve seen him race, has either won, or not finished it seems. He picked up a $700 win earlier at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, and he just won Saturday at Jamestown.
The biggest story of the night was Jess Brekke’s shocking win in the Wissota Midwest Modified feature. I would consider that win a major upset — nothing against Brekke, who I haven't seen race often, but he hadn’t been at Sheyenne all year and had raced one night this season previously and that was a DNF at Devils Lake on June 20. In fact by my research on myracepass.com Brekke’s last win came in 2017.
Brekke, out of Devils Lake, drove an absolutely flawless race on the bottom, passing early leader Lucas Rodin and surviving a bunch of cautions to pick up the $2,000 payday. His 13B car was so good on the bottom and on restarts, and in a race like that, that was huge. Rodin ran a solid second. Scott “Rebel” Bintz, driving Bob Sagen’s 1S car, started ninth but ran well and took third. Jeffrey Schwind Jr. made a nice move through the field, finishing fourth after starting 17th. Preston Carr of Carrington was fifth.
The Braseth brothers from Ulen, Minn., led the way for the start of the INEX Legend feature. Ryan Braseth, driving Tony Brockhouse’s D1RT car, led early, but his brother, Alex, made the move to take the lead. Alex Braseth, interviewed above, led the rest of the way to pick up his first win of 2020 and the $400 payday. Ryan Braseth was second. Tye Wilke of Detroit Lakes, who has 10 wins already this season, finished third with Mr. Consistent Brody Carlsrud of Moorhead taking fourth for yet another top five finish. Donavin Wiest of Wishek was fifth.
Nick Thoreson of Valley City, interviewed above, has figured out something in his #69 Pure Stock at Sheyenne. He picked up his second win in a row at the 1/4-mile and did so in impression fashion. Thoreson picked up $300 for the win. Jarod Klein of Jamestown had his best finish at Sheyenne, taking second while Lane Stoppleworth of Buchanan, N.D., and Hayden Aberle of Lamoure rounded out the top five. Aberle, by the way, has run better and better every week.
It was a tough break for point leader Bo Gregor, whose engine belts slipped off. The car ran warm so Gregor pulled it in to save things for another day.
It’s almost a 200-mile drive — one way — for John Current of Bemidji, Minn., to race his #28 Mini Stock at Sheyenne. A week after having a great battle with Justin Hainline before setting for second, Current didn’t settle for second this time and picked up the win which was fourth $400. Neil Walton of Englevale started ninth but ran an excellent race to finish second. Joshua Abney of Lisbon ran a solid third with Gavin Walton of Englevale fourth and Pokey Lukes of Lisbon taking fifth. Pokey, by the way, has finished in the top five three straight nights.
There have been no repeat feature winners this season in the Mini Stocks at Sheyenne, by the way.
Sheyenne Notes
—I don’t mind the draw/redraw format for higher-paying specials, but I’d like to see more transparency by all tracks who use this for special events. For example, bring all eight of nine drivers to the pit gate or concession stand or whatever to draw at the same time (ping pong ball, chips or whatever works). Right now it’s done by computer where no one can see, and it leads to speculation that things are rigged. They 99 percent of the time aren’t, but a transparent draw eliminates that perception.
— What a great field of 20 hobby stocks were on hand on Sunday. I like this class because I think it’s affordable for the budget racer. The competition is getting better and better too.
—It was good to see some quality midwest modifieds outside the area come into town, with Justin Froemming, Jeff Nelson, Justin Bjorklund and Dawson Zabel being among them.
—The 11 street stocks, well, I think part of it honestly — totally my own opinion — is some shy away from Sheyenne because it is viewed as very difficult to beat Jonny and Todd Carter at their home track. It’s not easy to do that but consider the last two weeks neither of those drivers won at Sheyenne. I appreciate that Justin Vogel, Kyle Dykhoff and Eric Riley came over from Minnesota to race. I would like to have seen more Jamestown/Mandan streeters in town too, that puzzles me a little more…
—The INEX Legend cars have settled in nicely at Sheyenne. 16 were on hand, and they’ve steadily been among the 17-20 car range. Not to mention there are some Lisbon-area drivers who’ve hopped into the class. I expect that class to grow there.
—I’m in favor of the yellow/black flag after three yellows in a feature. Otherwise these races turn into caution-filled marathons.
Sunday Notes
Congrats to Tyler Peterson of Hickson for winning the Wissota Modified feature Sunday at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
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