Wilkinson contending for first career point title at Sheyenne Speedway

Bomber/Hobby Stock driver Brent Wilkinson picked up his first career feature win earlier this season. This week, he has the chance to wrap up his first track championship.

The third-year driver from Jamestown leads the Hobby Stock points at Sheyenne Speedway in Lisbon by just five points over former track champion Bo Gregor of Lisbon.  Sheyenne wraps up its 2026 season on Thursday night during the Ransom County Fair with its season championship.

“I’m hoping to finish in the point lead here,” Wilkinson said recently from the pit area in Jamestown. “That would be a big accomplishment to get a track championship in my third year.”

Wilkinson, 51, hasn’t taken the traditional path to driving a race car.  He grew up following Jamestown drivers John Corell Sr. and Jr. and Corey Seckerson, but his financial situation prevented him from being able to buy a car.

“I was poor. Plain and simple,” Wilkinson said. “I quit drinking about five years ago, and you know what, (now) ‘I’ve got the money to buy a race car.’

“I’ve always had a passion for cars and working on engines,” Wilkinson said.

His first night in the car didn’t go well – he wrecked it. He then bought a car from Jodie Michaelsohn that he’s raced ever since.

“I’ve had it ever since. It’s been a good car,” Wilkinson said.

He ran a few shows in 2023 but 2024 was his first full season behind the wheel. He had 15 feature starts and had two top fives with a best finish of fifth (twice).

Wilkinson showed improvement in his second year with six top fives in 18 starts.  He had runner-up finishes at Sheyenne Speedway and Tri-County Speedway in Wishek.

This year has been a breakthrough season for the 77 team.  He had 23 feature starts and 15 top five finishes, which includes the first three feature wins of his career. The first victory came on June 14 at Sheyenne Speedway.

“It was pretty emotional. It’s been a lot of hard work,” Wilkinson said. “Brian Hanson Sr., I’ve known him forever, he’s helped me get the car set up. I’ve been playing with more with my tire setups. I’ve got it working good down here.”

He is fourth in the points at Jamestown, his hometown track. He has two feature tins there, including one last Saturday night.

Wilkinson bought a street stock and planned to move up in the class next year because there was “too much banging” in the Bomber class.

“It’s been a lot better this year,” Wilkinson said.  “I’ll stay another year in the Bomber here and get a little more time behind the wheel. (Street Stocks), that’s a whole another animal.”

Wilkinson has started 23 features this year, and has 21 top 10 finishes.  The other two nights are his only DNFs of the year.

“I like to call myself a clean racer,” Wilkinson said. “I don’t think cutting a guy off or slamming into him, that’s not fun to me. That seems like a lot of work.”

Driver Profile

Brent Wilkinson

Bomber/Hobby Stock #77

Residence: Jamestown, N.D.

Age: 51

Sponsors: Hanson Tire Service, Hondo’s Hideaway, Joe Mechanical, Rickhous Frozen Products, RTS Shearing, West End, Better Homes Property Management, Allied Energy, Scherbenske, Inc.