Category Archives: NEWS

By Mike Spieker

WEST FARGO (June 26, 2020) – Another 100-plus race teams were checked in on Friday night at Red River Valley Speedway hosted its fourth event of the 2020 season.

Andrew Jochim scored his first career stock car win in his rookie season in thrilling fashion. Jochim, of Glyndon, Minn., moved up to the stock cars after a successful stint in the INEX legends.

“Honestly, I’m speechless,” said Jochim in victory lane. “I didn’t expect a win to come at all this year.”

The race began with a four-wide battle for the lead, a scene that was not uncommon last night as the Red River Valley Speedway track officials had a perfectly prepped racing surface.

Billy Michaelsohn of West Fargo led the opening lap before Tyler McDougall of Hawley, Minn. came from fifth to lead lap two. Jochim worked his way up to second by lap three.

Things heated up on the lap 14 restart, where the leaders again went four-wide for the top spot. McDougall and Jochim emerged as the front runners as they continued a side by side battle for the point. The two drivers raced door to door, lap after lap, trading a little paint as they fought for every inch around the three-eighths-mile oval.

With two to go, the red flag was displayed after a three-wide battle for second went awry as McDougall was spun on the front stretch in front of the field. The end result was eight cars being collected, several of which took big hits on the front straightaway wall. Included in the incident was the stock car points leader, Rick Schulz of Horace, N.D. All drivers were okay.

A green-white-checkered finish concluded the race, but Jochim’s battle was far from over. Coming off the final corner, Jochim received a pair of bumps to the left rear quarter panel from stock car sophomore Kalvin Kesselberg of Ada, Minn. Jochim was able to hang on by a car length to capture the win.

“I’m guessing it didn’t look pretty from the stands. There was a lot of beating and banging out there. You can do that in these cars (compared to the legends) and I’m still getting used to that,” said Jochim.

An impressive 30-car field made up the starting grid for the night’s IMCA modified feature. Early on, it appeared as though that 2017 track champion, Dave Shipley of Argusville, N.D., would cruise to the feature win. Shipley got by pole-sitter and defending track champion, Dylan Goplen of Fargo, on lap 15 of 30 and set sail.

However, the Arneson brothers, Casey and Austin, were working their way up the running order after starting 10th and 11th, respectively. Austin worked his way around Shipley amid lapped traffic with three laps to go.

From there, Austin withstood a challenge from Casey on a green-white-checkered restart to claim his second win of the season at the West Fargo dirt track.

Ryan Restad raced to his second IMCA SportMod feature win of the season. Restad, of West Fargo, moved from the seventh starting position to grab the lead from Austin Veralrud of Barnesville, Minn. on lap eight of 16.

Second and third-place finishers Scott Jacobson of Fargo and Rich Pavlicek of Casselton, N.D., put pressure on Restad in the closing laps, but Restad was able to hang on. Four of the top five finishers started from outside of the first three rows of the original starting lineup.

Tye Wilke of Detroit Lakes, Minn. remained undefeated in the INEX legends division. Wilke worked his way to the lead from the 10th starting spot and cruised to claim his ninth overall win of the season.

Another Detroit Lakes driver has gotten comfortable in KRJB 106.5FM victory lane. Tanner Engen collected his third consecutive IMCA hobby stock feature win in dominating fashion. Engen led 10 of the 12 circuits and won by over a full straightaway.

“It’s been such an amazing year already. We started the year off a little rough, but it’s been more than amazing,” said Engen after the race. “We started pretty deep in the field, but we chased the front and made it work.”

The Lucas Oil POWRi Minn-Kota Lightning Sprints made their second appearance of the season at the speedway. Dexter Dvergsten of Greenbush, Minn. walked away with the feature win over Kelsi Pederson of East Grand Forks, Minn.

Racing continues at Red River Valley Speedway on July 10th, featuring the Dakota Classic Modified and Stock Car Tour.

IMCA Modifieds:
A Feature: 1. 10-Austin Arneson, Fargo, N.D.; 2. 2A-Casey Arneson, Fargo, N.D.; 3. 6D-Dylan Goplen, Fargo, N.D.; 4. 40-Rob VanMil Barnesville, Minn.; 5. 3S-Jesse Skalicky, Fargo, N.D.

IMCA Stock Cars:
A Feature: 1. 21J-Andrew Jochim, Glyndon, Minn.; 2. 52-Brennan Borg, Harwood, N.D.; 3. 18-Mike Anderson Walcott, N.D.; 4. 38-Todd Heinrich, Fargo, N.D.; 5. 11-Kalvin Kesselberg, Ada, Minn.

IMCA SportMods:
A Feature: 1. 7R-Ryan Restad, West Fargo, N.D.; 2. 5-Scott Jacobson, Fargo, N.D.; 3. 17-Rich Pavlicek Casselton, N.D.; 4. 40-Chris VanMil Barnesville, Minn.; 5. 6-Austin Veralrud, Barnesville, Minn.

INEX Legends:
A Feature: 1. 72-Tye Wilke, Detroit Lakes, Minn.; 2. 58-Sean Johnson, Kindred, N.D.; 3. B1-Brody Carlsrud, Moorhead, Minn.; 4. 20-Alex Braseth, Ulen, Minn.; 5. 5G-Garrison Miller, Fargo, N.D.

Minn-Kota Lightning Sprints:
A Feature: 1. 11-Dexter Dvergsten, Greenbush, Minn.; 2. 93-Kelsi Pederson, East Grand Forks, Minn.; 3. 10A-Alex Truscinski, Greenbush, Minn.; 4. 13-Alan Truscinski, Greenbush, Minn.; 5. 100-Jason Berg, Fargo, N.D.

IMCA Hobby Stocks:
A Feature: 1. 44T-Tanner Engen, Detroit Lakes, Minn.; 2. 31X-Tim Shiek, Fargo, N.D.; 3. B1-Marvin Priem, Moorhead, Minn.; 4. B2-Brodee Eckerdt, Grand Forks, N.D.; 5. 14-Alyssa White, West Fargo, N.D.

By Mike Spieker

WEST FARGO – Red River Valley Speedway roared back to life on Friday night as weekly racing continued at the three-eighths-mile oval. The large crowd on hand was treated to big car counts in all racing divisions and a multi-groove racing surface.

Any one of a handful of drivers could have won the IMCA modified feature. The 25-lap main event began with Greg Friestad of Valley City showing the way. On lap three, West Fargo’s Darren Pfau took command of the lead, while a pack of cars battled for position behind him.

In the closing laps, Pfau found himself mired in lapped traffic, which allowed Tyler Hall of Fertile, Minn. to close in. Hall got close enough to put some pressure on Pfau, but couldn’t mount a serious challenge for the lead. Pfau went on to claim his first win of the season and the third of his career at Red River Valley Speedway.

“That was very nerve-wracking,” said Pfau in victory lane. “It’s not very often I lead that many laps. We’ve had some tough luck here the last few weeks so it feels good to get things turned around.”

Hall finished second, followed by Fargo drivers Jesse Skalicky and Casey Arneson. Matt Aukland of Glyndon, Minn. rounded out the top five.

In the featured event of the evening, the IMCA stock cars boasted a 22-car field for the King Pin Klash, presented by The Bowler. Stock car rookie, Keaton Froemke of Glyndon, Minn., led the opening laps before veteran driver Rick Schulz of Horace took the lead on lap five of 25. Once in the lead, Schulz powered out to a big lead with his home-built engine under the hood.

Schulz withstood a restart with eight to go to pick up the win.

“This is an awesome class,” said Schulz of the IMCA stock cars, which, in their third year, are a relatively new class of cars to the speedway. “We’ve got a lot of good drivers in this class and it’s a lot of fun.”

After a rough outing on Thursday night at Norman County Raceway in Ada, Minn., Rich Pavlicek of Casselton rebounded to score the IMCA SportMod win on Friday.

“The motor pretty much blew up at the start of Thursday night’s feature. We stayed up until 3:30 in the morning getting it fixed. My dad pretty much rebuilt the motor and we got everything back together at about 4 o’clock today,” said Pavlicek in victory lane.

Pavlicek made the haul down to Hancock County Speedway in Britt, Iowa for the IMCA SportMod Nationals on Wednesday night. After charging from 21st to finish eighth in the main event, Pavlicek drove through the night to make it back in time for Ada’s races on Thursday.

“We got back from Iowa at about 4:30 in the morning and changed the gears on the car right away so we could be ready for Ada. We are tired,” said Pavlicek with a laugh.

Tye Wilke of Detroit Lakes, Minn. continued his dominance in the INEX legends. The race began with a three-wide battle between Ashton Spieker of Sabin, Minn., Brody Carlsrud of Moorhead, and Joshua Wiest of Jamestown.

Wilke, who started eighth, quickly worked his way forward to take over the point with 10 laps to go. Once out front, he cruised to the win to remain undefeated at Red River Valley Speedway.

For the second week in a row, Tanner Engen of Detroit Lakes claimed the IMCA hobby stock feature win. Engen had to earn it, however. The second-year hobby stock driver worked his way to the lead from the seventh starting position and went on to win by a convincing 4.1 seconds.

RESULTS:

IMCA Stock Cars:
Feature: 1. 4-Rick Schulz, Horace, N.D.; 2. 40-Rob VanMil, Barnesville, Minn.; 3. 38-Todd Heinrich, Fargo, N.D.; 4. 10R-Travis Robertson, Moorhead, Minn.; 5. 52-Brennan Borg, Harwood, N.D.

IMCA Modifieds:
Feature: 1. 86C-Darren Pfau, West Fargo, N.D.; 2. 60-Tyler Hall, Fertile, Minn.; 3. 3S-Jesse Skalicky, Fargo, N.D.; 4. 2A-Casey Arneson, Fargo, N.D.; 5. 12-Matt Aukland, Glyndon, Minn.

IMCA SportMods:
Feature: 1. 17-Rich Pavlicek, Casselton, N.D.; 2. 5-Scott Jacobson, Fargo, N.D.; 3. 8J-Luke Johnson, Moorhead, Minn.; 4. 40-Chris VanMil, Barnesville, Minn.; 5. 7R-Ryan Restad, West Fargo, N.D.

IMCA Hobby Stocks:
Feature: 1. 44T-Tanner Engen, Detroit Lakes, Minn.; 2. 3XL-Brad Orvedal, Fargo, N.D.; 3. B2-Brodee Eckerdt, Grand Forks, N.D.; 4. 31X-Tim Shiek, Fargo, N.D.; 5. 39-Caleb Gardner, Glyndon, Minn.

INEX Legends:
Feature: 1. 72-Tye Wilke, Detroit Lakes, Minn.; 2. B1-Brody Carlsrud, Moorhead, Minn.; 3. 14-Kody King, Clear Lake, IA; 4. 5D8-Dylan Johnson, Durbin, N.D.; 5. 58-Sean Johnson, Kindred, N.D.

By Mike Spieker

WEST FARGO – A trio of first-time winners highlighted the second week of racing action on Friday night at Red River Valley Speedway. Brennan Borg in the IMCA stock cars, Kelsi Pederson in the lightning sprints, and Tanner Engen in the IMCA hobby stocks all visited KRJB 106.5FM Victory Lane for the first time in their career.

Second-year IMCA stock car driver Brennan Borg of Harwood dominated the 16-lap feature. Borg charged from the sixth starting position to take the lead on lap three. Borg withstood challenges from Todd Heinrich of Fargo and opening night winner at Norman County Raceway in Ada, Minn., Mike Anderson of Walcott, N.D., on a late-race restart.

Detroit Lakes, Minn. driver Tanner Engen, who is also in his second year in the IMCA hobby stocks, claimed his first career win in convincing fashion.

“We didn’t have the luck last week, but we weren’t going to let that get the best of us,” said Engen after the race. “(That race tonight) was a blast. This is my second year in this class, with a new car. I love it and it’s running great.”

Kelsi Pederson of East Grand Forks, Minn. parked her No. 93 Minn-Kota lighting sprint in Red River Valley Speedway’s victory lane for the first time. Pederson, who is the daughter of veteran late model driver Joey Pederson, bested Alex Truscinski of Greenbush, Minn. after a great battle for the lead.

Pederson ran relatively unchallenged the remainder of the race. After the checkers, the red flag flew when Jason Berg’s machine burst into flames. Red River Valley Speedway officials and the West Fargo Rural Fire Department were quickly on the scene to get Berg out and extinguish the flames.

In the race of the night, Austin Arneson of Fargo stole the IMCA modified win away from Tyler Hall of Fertile, Minn. in the closing laps. Hall, who was in search of his first Red River Valley Speedway win since June 7th of last year, led 18 and a half of the 20 laps before Arneson found his groove in the middle lane of the speedway. Arneson powered his way around the outside of Hall coming to the white flag to claim his 14th career modified win at his home track.

“Later in the race, the top side of the track cleaned off and we got some momentum going,” said Arneson, who now builds his own race cars. “This is still a new car so we are still tweaking on some things and getting a list of notes to get it a little better. The track was awesome tonight.”

After blowing up the motor last week, Ryan Restad of West Fargo grabbed the checkered in the IMCA SportMod feature. Restad started on the pole and led every trip around the three-eighths-mile oval.

Tye Wilke’s strong start to the 2020 season continues. Wilke of Detroit Lakes, Minn., raced to his fourth win in seven events entered thus far in 2020.

RESULTS:

IMCA Modifieds:
Feature: 1. 10-Austin Arneson, Fargo, N.D.; 2. 60-Tyler Hall, Fertile, Minn.; 3. 3S-Jesse Skalicky, Fargo, N.D.; 4. 9-Billy Kendall III, Baxter, Minn.; 5. 2A-Casey Arneson, Fargo, N.D.

IMCA Stock Cars:
Feature: 1. 52-Brennan Borg, Harwood, N.D.; 2. 38-Todd Heinrich, Fargo, N.D.; 3. 18-Mike Anderson, Walcott, N.D.; 4. 10-Travis Robertson, Moorhead, Minn.; 5. 40-Rob VanMil, Barnesville, Minn.

IMCA SportMods:
Feature: 1. 7R-Ryan Restad, West Fargo, N.D.; 2. 41-Doug Gardner, Glyndon, Minn.; 3. 17-Rich Pavlicek, Moorhead, Minn.; 4. 5-Scott Jacobson, Fargo, N.D.; 5. 40-Chris VanMil, Barnesville, N.D.

Minn-Kota Lightning Sprints
Feature: 1. 93-Kelsi Pederson, East Grand Forks, Minn. 2. 13-Alan Truscinski, Greenbush, Minn.; 3. 22-Bryce Haugeberg, West Fargo, N.D.; 4. 100-Jason Berg, Fargo, N.D.; 5. 11-Dexter Dvergsten, Greenbush, Minn.

IMCA Hobby Stocks:
Feature: 1. 44T-Tanner Engen, Detroit Lakes, Minn.; 2. B2-Brodee Eckerdt, Grand Forks, N.D.; 3. 31X-Tim Shiek, Fargo, N.D.; 4. 14-Alyssa White, West Fargo, N.D.; 5. 3XL-Brad Orvedal, Fargo, N.D.

INEX Legends:
Feature: 1. 72-Tye Wilke, Detroit Lakes, Minn.; 2. B1-Brody Carlsrud, Moorhead, Minn.; 3. 29-Ryan Braseth, Ulen, Minn.; 4. 20-Alex Braseth, Ulen, Minn.; 5. 34-Alex Kukowski, Edgelely, N.D.

By Mike Spieker

WEST FARGO – For the 50th time since 1968, Red River Valley Speedway hosted its season opener on Friday night at the Red River Valley Fairgrounds. A large, yet socially distant crowd enjoyed a stacked field of competitors that included 104 race teams – the most the speedway has hosted in nearly 10 years.

In recent years, Austin Arenson of Fargo has dominated Red River Valley Speedway’s season openers in the IMCA modified division. Arneson has won each of the last three openers. The only opener he hasn’t won since the speedway reopened in 2016, he didn’t attend – he was racing a national event out of state.

Arneson, fresh off his third career Norman County Raceway season opener win the night before in Ada, Minn., looked to complete the four-peat against a stout field of modifieds from across the upper Midwest. After winning his heat, Arneson drew the 10th starting position for the main event but quickly moved his way forward. A late-race caution set up a green-white-checkered finish. Running second behind Billy Kendall of Baxter, Minn., Arneson lined up in second ahead of his younger brother, Casey Arneson.

Arneson gave Kendall a challenge in the final circuits but came up short at the checkers. The win was Kendall’s first win at the West Fargo dirt track. Kendall has upped his game in recent years. He debuted his homebuilt chassis earlier this season and recently picked up a top 10 finish in Boone, Iowa – arguably one of the most competitive weekly IMCA-sanctioned tracks in the country – before picking up the win on Friday.

Fourteen-year-old Grand Forks driver Brodee Eckerdt stole the show with his IMCA hobby stock feature win. Eckerdt started the race by spinning out on the opening lap, but rebounded to take the lead and cruise to the win. Friday was only Eckerdt’s second time in a hobby stock.

A big field of 20 Northern Renegade non-wing sprints took to the speedway as the nightcap. Ken Hron of Grand Rapids, Minn. led every lap but the last one. As the white flag flew, Hron and Jori Hughes of Tower, Minn. tangled in turn two, giving the lead and the win to 13th-place starter, Jack Berger. Zach Hultstrand of Bismarck, N.D. brought out the red flag after a violent end-over-end flip in turn one. Hultstrand walked away from the incident uninjured.

In what was one of the best battles of the night, Rick Schulz of Horace outdueled defending stock car track champion, Rob VanMil of Barnesville, Minn., in a fight to the finish. Trading the lead lap after lap in the closing stages, Schulz held the advantage in the final laps and held on for the win.

Luke Johnson’s title defense in the IMCA SportMods has gotten off to a great start. The two-time and defending track champion picked up the feature win in convincing fashion. Tye Wilke of Detroit Lakes, Minn. charged from the fifth starting position to lead 11 of the 12 laps in the INEX legends feature and take the win.

Racing continues at Red River Valley Speedway next Friday night with the green flag dropping at 7pm.

RESULTS:

IMCA Modifieds:

Feature – 1. 9-Billy Kendall III, Baxter, Minn.; 2. 10-Austin Arneson, Fargo, N.D.; 3. 2A-Casey Arneson, Fargo, N.D.; 4. 442-Aaron Johnson, Brainerd, Minn.; 5. 40-Rob VanMil, Barnesville, Minn.

IMCA Stock Cars:

Feature – 1. 4-Rick Schulz, Horace, N.D.; 2. 40-Rob VanMil, Barnesville, Minn.; 3. 10-Travis Robertson, Moorhead, Minn.; 4. 38-Todd Heinrich, Fargo, N.D.; 5. 30A-Adam Goff, Minot, N.D.

IMCA SportMods:

Feature – 1. 8J-Luke Johnson, Moorhead, Minn.; 2. 41-Doug Gardner, Glyndon, Minn.; 3. 6-Austin Veralrud, Barnesville, Minn.; 4. 24-Kelly Henderson, Minot, N.D.; 5. 22-Vince Jegtvig, Dilworth, Minn

IMCA Hobby Stocks:

Feature – 1. B2-Brodee Eckerdt, Grand Forks, N.D.; 2. 14-Alyssa White, West Fargo, N.D.; 3. 31X-Tim Shiek, Fargo, N.D.; 4. 3XL-Brad Orvedal, Fargo, N.D.; 5. 5G-Tim Gonska, Brainerd, Minn.

INEX Legends:

Feature – 1. 72-Tye Wilke, Detroit Lakes, Minn.; 2. B1-Brody Carlsrud, Moorhead, Minn.; 3. 29B-Ryan Braseth, Ulen, Minn.; 4. 20-Alex Braseth, Ulen, Minn.; 5. 58-Sean Johnson, Kindred, N.D.

Non-Wing Sprints:

Feature – 19B-Jack Berger, Lake Elmo, Minn.; 2. 15E-Caley Emerson, Grand Rapids, Minn.; 3. 56-Josh Braford, Grand Rapids, Minn.; 4. 101-Paul Schultz, Grand Rapids, Minn.; 5. 4N-Nolan Olmstead, Lakota, N.D.

By Mike Spieker

WEST FARGO – The hard-packed clay oval that sits on the south end of the Red River Valley Fairgrounds became a playground for power on Friday and Saturday as it came back to life after a winter’s dormancy. Red River Valley Speedway kicked off its unofficial start to its 50th season of weekly racing with three separate practice sessions this past weekend for area racers.

Over 75 race teams took to the high-banks of the three-eighths-mile oval to get a feel of the race track, shakedown their new cars, and work on setups for the upcoming season opener.

“Everything went phenomenal. From getting all the drivers signed in, to keeping everybody socially distant, to the racing surface we provided for the drivers,” said Nick Skalicky, chief operating officer for the speedway. “The track stayed together really well for it being the first time we’ve had cars on it since late August. All the drivers seemed really happy with it.”

Extensive measures went into place to comply with state regulations and for the safety of the participants. Some of which included there only being one person allowed in line when signing in at the pit window. Only the driver and one crew member were allowed in the pit area. On a typical race night, a pit crew for a single driver can include but isn’t limited to, around five crew members. Teams were to park at least 20 feet away from each other and crew members were highly encouraged to not leave their pit stall, but if they did, it was highly encouraged to wear a mask. Several other measures were also in place.

As far as when racers and fans can expect a season opener, Skalicky said he his hopeful it will be sooner, rather than later.

“There are a few scenarios that can play out. I really want to host our season opener with fans in attendance. It’s just not viable to do it without them,” he said.

The State of North Dakota’s current guideline for large gatherings allows for up to 50% certificate of occupancy for that room but no more than 250 persons.

“That just won’t work either,” said Skalicky. The speedway averages between 1,000 to 1,500 fans for a weekly Friday night program.

Skalicky said a decision will be made by Monday night or early Tuesday on whether or not the speedway’s season opener will be held this Friday, May 22nd. The season was originally scheduled to begin on Friday, May 1st, but has been on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Back behind the wheel:

Two-time and defending IMCA Sport Mod track champion, Luke Johnson of Moorhead, was excited to be back at the speedway on Friday night, even if it was only for practice.

“The first two sessions we were just out there to turn some laps and shake the car down. After that, we tried some different setups to get the car dialed,” he said. “The track was awesome. It was nice and smooth and perfect for practice.”

Since the track reopened in 2016, Johnson has tallied nine wins in the Sport Mod division, which is tied for the most with current IMCA modified driver, Jesse Skalicky of Fargo. Consistency was key in Johnson’s championship run last year as he collected eight top-five finishes in 12 events in the very competitive Sport Mod class. Johnson’s pair of wins in 2019 were tied for the most in the class, which had eight different winners throughout the course of the season.

“My two track championships are definitely towards the top of my career highlights,” said Johnson. “To get the first one in 2018 was awesome and to be able to back that up last year was even better.”

Johnson will be going for the three-peat in 2020.

We are transitioning from “Text Alerts” via the RainedOut website to the new “Push Notifications” through the MyRacePass app. If you want the very latest schedule or news updates, you’ll need to download the MyRacePass app. View the instructions from MyRacePass below.

Push notifications can be sent to your phone from the MyRacePass App on iOS and Android devices. They are a great way to stay in the know about the latest updates at Red River Valley Speedway.

To get notifications, you will need to favorite Red River Valley Speedway in the app. To do that, click the hamburger menu in the top left and hit “Search MyRacePass.” Search for Red River Valley Speedway. When you get to the profile, hit the star to the top right of the profile.

If you need to enable push notifications on your phone, you can follow the directions below.

iOS – https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201925

Android – https://support.google.com/android/answer/9079661?hl=en

https://www.myracepass.com/users/subscription

RED RIVER VALLEY RACING HALL OF FAME ESTABLISHED TO HONOR COMPETITORS & CONTRIBUTORS OF RED RIVER VALLEY SPEEDWAY & BUFFALO RIVER RACE PARK

Click here to submit your nomination!

WEST FARGO, N.D. – Weekly auto racing has been a part of the landscape of the Fargo-Moorhead sports scene since the mid-1950s. For nearly 70 years, some of the most talented and daring drivers in the upper Midwest have battled the high-banks of our local dirt tracks. The Fargo-Moorhead area has produced some of the country’s top talent and local legends who will be remembered and talked about for years to come.

The Red River Valley Racing Hall of Fame was established to honor the drivers, promoters, car owners, track staff, crew members, and fans of Buffalo River Race Park in Glyndon, Minn. and Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, N.D., as well as Fargo Speedway Park, which was in operation during the late-1960s to early-1970s.
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Organized by RRVS & BRRP photographer and publicist, Mike Spieker, a committee with diverse backgrounds and involvement, rooted in local racing, has been formed.

Committee members include:
Jon Bachmeier – Five-time RRVS Modified Track Champion
Ernie & Gail Brookins – Founders of Minn-Kota Racing Association
Tom Cummings – 40-plus year racing veteran
Mitch Johnson – Holder of most Late Model track championships at RRVS
Dev Malmlov – Multi-time BRRP Modified Track Champion
Steve Pavlicek – Veteran Modified driver at RRVS & BRRP
Duane Peterson – Long-time crew member and track worker at BRRP and now car owner
Chuck Thompson – former driver, car owner, and engine builder

Advisors: Corey Litton (RRVS & BRRP announcer) and Josh Johnson (local racing historian and Late Model competitor)

The Red River Valley Racing Hall of Fame committee will announce their inaugural Class of 2020 this summer. Fans are encouraged to submit their nominees. For more information, visit redrivervalleyspeedway.com/nomination-form

About Buffalo River Race Park:
Established in 1955, Buffalo River Race Park was one of the earliest dirt tracks in the upper Midwest to offer weekly racing. The Buffalo River Race Park opened as the Fargo-Moorhead Speedway in 1955 as a quarter-mile dirt track. From 1964 to 1967, the quarter-mile track was paved. Since 1968, the track has maintained a dirt surface. Over the years, the track has also operated under the names F-M Speedway, Fargo Motor Speedway, Glyndon Speedway, and Buffalo River Speedway. In 2007, it was renamed Buffalo River Race Park when current general manager Kevin Nathe took the helm.

About Red River Valley Speedway:
The first auto race in Fargo was held at the original Red River Valley Fairgrounds in 1906 on the flat, half-mile horse track in north Fargo. Auto racing was regularly held at the track until the fairgrounds moved to its current location in West Fargo in 1967. The new, highly touted high-banked half-mile was inaugurated with a series of fair races in 1967 before weekly racing began in 1968. The World of Outlaws Sprint Cars made their first of many visits to the speedway in 1981 and brought a live, national television audience to the speedway in the late 1990s.

In 2010, Danny Schatz took over the reins of the speedway and reconfigured the speedway to a high-banked, racy three-eighths mile. Today, the speedway is operated by Nick Skalicky and Jake and Sharnel Bitker. The 2020 season will mark the 50th season of weekly racing at Red River Valley Speedway.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR HALL OF FAME NOMINEE

By Mike Spieker

WEST FARGO – The Red River Valley Speedway pit area was packed with 92 race teams among six racing divisions for the speedway’s only Wednesday night program of the year. The 2019 season concludes with season championship night on Friday, August 30th.

The evening kicked off with an IMCA modified feature that was a make-up from last Friday night’s program. Rich Pavlicek of Casselton, N.D. and Jamie Schulz of Harwood, N.D. led the 20-car field to green with Pavlicek taking the early advantage.

Pavlicek held that position until 13th place starter, Austin Arneson of Fargo, came tearing through the pack to take the point on lap 12 of 20. Once out front, Arneson couldn’t be touched as he cruised to his second win at the speedway in just four starts. Finishing in second was Austin’s younger brother, Casey Arneson. Pavlicek held on to round out the podium.

In the second modified feature of the evening, Austin Arneson looked poised to duplicate his effort from earlier in the night. Arneson started 12th on the grid and found himself in second at the halfway point. A few cautions allowed Arneson to restart on the rear bumper of race leader Dave Shipley of Argusville, N.D. But Shipley, who started fourth and took the lead on lap two, proved he was the class of the field in the final stages. Arneson gave Shipley all he could handle on each and every restart, but Shipley flawlessly ran the low side of the speedway and drove to his first win of the season. Arneson came home in second, followed by Jesse Skalicky of Fargo.

Ryan Restad of West Fargo raced to his second win at Red River Valley Speedway by besting a stout field of IMCA SportMods. It looked as though Ryan Veralrud of Ottertail, Minn. was destined for victory lane less than a week after his brother Austin claimed his first career SportMod win at the speedway. Veralrud led early while a three-car battle for second ensued behind him. That battle for second quickly became the battle for the lead at the halfway point of the 20-lap event, but Veralrud fended off the challenge. Restad finally struck with eight laps to go and checked out, but a late-race caution put point leader Luke Johnson of Moorhead, Minn. right on Restad’s bumper for the restart.

Johnson pulled alongside of Restad down the back straightaway on the final lap and looked to steal the win away, but Restad held on to claim his first career win on the three-eighths-mile configuration at the speedway.

The NLSA lightning sprint series made their third and final appearance of the season to Red River Valley Speedway. Jason Berg of Fargo jumped to the lead on the opening lap and picked up a convincing win. The win was the first-ever at the West Fargo speedway and the second of his career for Berg, who had spent countless years working at the speedway in various capacities until getting behind the wheel a couple of years ago.

Rob VanMil of Barnesville, Minn. took the lead on lap five of 15 in the IMCA Stock Car and dominated en route to his division-leading fifth win of the season.

In what was one of the most competitive features of the season at Red River Valley Speedway, Andrew Jochim of Glyndon, Minn. emerged as the INEX Legend winner. Jochim charged from the 10th starting position to claim the lead on lap eight of 15. Once out front, Jochim led the rest of the way, holding off Tye Wilke of Detroit Lakes, Minn. and Alex Braseth of Ulen, Minn. in the final laps. Before Jochim took the point, the lead officially changed hands four times at the start/finish line, but the top spot was traded on several more occasions among a handful of drivers at both ends of the speedway in the first half of the race.

An excited Brad Orvedal of Fargo pulled his IMCA hobby stock into victory lane for the first time in his career. Orvedal led all 12 trips around the track, but nearly lost it on the final corner. Orvedal’s car pushed in turn four coming to the checkers, which allowed seven-time hobby stock winner Matt Olson to peak underneath. In a drag race to the line, Orvedal won it by a half car length.

RESULTS:

IMCA Modifieds:
Feature – 1. 72-Dave Shipley, Argusville, N.D. 2. 10-Austin Arneson, Fargo, N.D.; 3. 3S-Jesse Skalicky, Fargo, N.D.; 4. 6D-Dylan Goplen, Fargo, N.D.; 5. 17-Rich Pavlicek, Casselton, N.D.

Feature (Make-up from Aug. 16) – 1. 10-Austin Arneson; 2. 2A-Casey Arneson, Fargo, N.D.; 3. 17-Rich Pavlicek; 4. 6D-Dylan Goplen; 5. 84-Michael Johnson, Moorehead, Minn.

IMCA SportMods:
Feature – 1. 7R-Ryan Restad, West Fargo, N.D.; 2. 8J-Luke Johnson, Moorhead, Minn.; 3. 51-Kelly Jacobson, Fargo, N.D.; 4. 41-Doug Gardner, Glyndon, Minn.; 5. 5-Scott Jacobson, Fargo, N.D.

IMCA Stock Cars:
Feature – 1. 40-Rob VanMil, Barnesville, Minn.; 2. 10-Travis Robertson, Moorhead, Minn.; 3. 1-Tyler McDougall, Hawley, Minn.; 4. 38-Todd Heinrich, Fargo, N.D.; 5. 52-Brennan Borg, Harwood, N.D.

NLSA Lightning Sprints:
Feature – 1. 100-Jason Berg, Fargo, N.D.; 2. 13-Alan Truscinski, Greenbush, Minn.; 3. 2-Presley Truedson, Kennedy, Minn.; 4. 10A-Alex Truscinski, Greenbush, Minn.; 5. 93-Kelsi Pederson, East Grand Forks, Minn.

INEX Legends:
Feature – 1. 21-Andrew Jochim, Glyndon, Minn.; 2. 72-Tye Wilke, Detroit Lakes, Minn.; 3. 20-Alex Braseth, Ulen, Minn.; 4. 8JR-Kaitlyn Skalicky, Fargo, N.D.; 5. B1-Brody Carlsrud, Moorhead, Minn.

IMCA Hobby Stocks:
Feature – 1. 3XL-Brad Orvedal, Fargo, N.D.; 2. 56M-Mathew Olson, Morton, Minn.; 3. 14-Alyssa White, West Fargo, N.D.; 4. 31X-Tim Shiek, Fargo, N.D.; 5. 106-Eric Novacek, West Fargo, N.D.

By Mike Spieker

WEST FARGO – Former late model racer, Matt Aukland, proved once again that he can wheel any type of car on dirt. Aukland drove to the IMCA modified feature win on Friday night at Red River Valley Speedway. The Fargo driver started 10th on the grid for the 21-car, 20-lap IMCA Modified feature and methodically moved his way forward, eventually taking the lead with three laps remaining.

The race began with Jamestown’s Jason Grimes grabbing the early race lead. Grimes led without challenge until Michael Johnson of Harwood and Aukland reeled him in. The lead trio raced three wide with three laps remaining. Aukland was the big mover in that battle, advancing from third to first using the high side of the speedway.

From there, Aukland had to contend with lapped traffic, but he was able to hold on and take the win – his second of the season.

The IMCA SportMods had a wild and controversial finish. Any of the three cars had a shot at the win in the closing stages as Matt Talley of Sabin, Minn., Luke Johnson of Moorhead, Minn., and Ryan Restad of West Fargo raced hard for the top spot. Talley started third on the field but worked his way into the lead on lap six. Talley and Johnson, who started 13th on the grid, traded the lead back and forth with six to go. Johnson held the lead as they crossed under the flag stand with two laps to go.

Things got dicey on the final trip around the high-banked three-eighths-mile oval.

Talley slid up the track out of turn four and Johnson got into the back of Talley, spinning Johnson into the front stretch wall. Talley scrambled to the finish line and crossed under the checkers just ahead of Restad. However, the yellow flag was simultaneously waved with the checkers. The call for the yellow flag was charged to Talley. By IMCA rules, when there is a yellow flag, the field is reset to the running order of the previous completed lap. That was led by Johnson, which gave him his second SportMod win of the season at the West Fargo speedway. Talley was credited with a DNF (did not finish) and was scored in the 19th position.

Tim Estenson of Fargo, who scored an INEX legend feature win at Red River Valley Speedway last week, was competing with the NLSA lightning sprints on Friday. Estenson and fellow front row starter, Alex Truscinski of Greenbush, Minn., engaged in a hard-fought battle for the win. Truscinski, who scored the win Thursday night at Norman County Raceway in Ada, Minn., looked to take the lead away from Estenson on the final lap. Truscinski had the slim advantage going into the final set of corners on the last lap, but Estenson dove underneath him into the final set of turns to steal the win at the finish line.

Rick Schulz of Horace raced to the IMCA stock car feature win from the seventh starting position. Schulz took the point on lap two after a three-wide pass for the lead over Tim Church of Dilworth, Minn. and Ernest Geist of West Fargo. After a mid-race challenge from stock car point leader, Rob VanMil of Barnesville, Minn., Schulz broke away from the pack to collect his first win of the season.

Ryan Braseth jumped out to a big lead to start the INEX legend main event. However, the youngster from Ulen, Minn. was surpassed by brothers Sean and Dylan Johnson. Dylan, of Durbin, N.D., and Sean, of Kindred, broke away from the rest of the field. Sean took the lead with five laps to go and brought Tye Wilke of Detroit Lakes, Minn. with him. Sean Johnson and Wilke battled for the lead in the final stages. In a drag race to the finish line, Johnson narrowly held off Wilke at the checkers.

Mathew Olson of Fargo cruised to his fourth IMCA hobby stock feature win of the season.

RESULTS

IMCA Stock Cars:
Feature – 1. 4-Rick Schulz, West Fargo, N.D.; 2. 40-Rob VanMil, Barnesville, Minn.; 3. 18-Mike Anderson, Walcott, N.D.; 4. 52-Brennan Borg, Harwood, N.D.[14]; 5. 49-Tim Compson, Valley City, N.D.

IMCA SportMods:
Feature – 1. Luke Johnson, Moorhead, MN; 2. 7R-Ryan Restad, West Fargo, ND; 3. 219-Brandon Schmidt, Kindred, ND; 4. 40-Chris VanMil, Barnesville, MN; 5. 3X-Andy Wagner, Ada, MN

NLSA Lightning Sprints:
Feature – 1. 14T-Tim Estenson, Fargo, ND; 2. 10-Alex Truscinski, Greenbush, MN; 3. 16-Josh Abrahamson, Moorhead, MN; 4. 11-Dexter Dvergsten, Greenbush, MN; 5. 100-Jason Berg, Fargo, ND.

INEX Legends:
Feature 1: 1. 58-Sean Johnson, Kindred, ND; 2. 72-Tye Wilke, Detroit Lakes, MN; 3. 8JR-Kaitlyn Skalicky, Fargo, ND; 4. 5D8-Dylan Johnson, Durbin, ND; 5. 20-Alex Braseth, Ulen, MN.

IMCA Hobby Stocks:
Feature – 1. 56M-Mathew Olson, 04:45.831[4]; 2. 30A-Adam Goff, 04:48.581[5]; 3. 14-Alyssa White, 04:51.833[2]; 4. 31X-Tim Shiek, 04:52.271[7]; 5. 3XL-Brad Orvedal,

Modifieds:
Feature – 1. 12-Matt Aukland, Glyndon, MN; 2. 99-Jason Grimes, Jamestown, ND; 3. 84-Michael Johnson, Moorhead, MN; 4. 40-Rob VanMil, Barnesville, MN; 5. 6D-Dylan Goplen, Fargo, ND.

By Mike Spieker

WEST FARGO – Brandon Schmidt is no stranger to victory lane at Red River Valley Speedway. The Hillsboro driver has collected wins in several classes, including the IMCA stock car and hobby stock ranks. Schmidt competed in the stock car division last season but made the move to the IMCA SportMods in 2019 with high expectations.

So far, those expectations have been met.

Schmidt took the lead with just four laps remaining in Friday’s 16-lap IMCA SportMod main event. Once out front, he drove unchallenged to the checkered flag.

Charlie Jensen of Pelican Rapids, Minn. looked to have the race in hand for the majority of the event. At one point, Jensen held a full straightaway lead. In the late stages of the race, Schmidt found his groove in the middle of the track and began reeling in Jensen and cut his lead down to a few car lengths.

With four laps to go, Jensen’s strong run came to an end after he made heavy contact with the outside retaining wall on the back straightaway, which allowed Schmidt to take command.

Kelly Henderson of Minot charged his way from 12th to finish second while Austin Veralrud rounded out the podium. Jensen was credited with a disappointing 16th-place finish.

The lightning sprints made their first of three scheduled appearances to the high-banked three-eighths-mile oval this season. The lightning sprints are a three-quarter scale winged sprint car with a 1000cc motorcycle engine under the hood. Moorhead’s Josh Abrahamson led the opening lap before Alan Truscinski of Greenbush, Minn. took the lead on lap two. Once out front, Truscinski checked out. Abrahamson tried to mount a late-race charge, but Truscinski was able to hold him off and collect the win.

Tye Wilke of Detroit Lakes, Minn. looked poised to back up his Thursday night win at Norman County Raceway in Ada, Minn. The young up-and-comer in the INEX legend division stormed out to a big lead in the early going. However, that advantage began to shrink as Wilke began to encounter lapped traffic. Kindred’s Sean Johnson came up from the sixth starting position to take the lead with four laps to go after Wilke bobbled in turn two. Wilke came back at Johnson on the final lap, but Johnson held on to take his second win of the season.

Adam Goff made the long tow from Minot to compete in the IMCA hobby stock division. Goff started fifth on the grid but quickly took the lead. Goff, who picked up one win at the speedway last season, was the class of the field in the feature as he cruised to the feature win to end Mathew Olson’s two-race win streak.

Rob VanMil of Barnesville, Minn., Rick Schulz of Horace, and Tim Compson of Valley City put on a show during the IMCA stock car feature. The three veteran drivers battled back and forth for the race lead nearly all race long, but at the checkers, VanMil was able to take the win. With the win, VanMil remains undefeated at the speedway in the stock car division with a perfect three wins in three races. VanMil also picked up the win Thursday night at Norman County Raceway.

Racing returns to Red River Valley Speedway next Friday night, featuring non-wing sprint cars. The green flag drops at 7 pm.

RESULTS (Top Five Finishers):

IMCA SportMods:
Feature: 1. 219-Brandon Schmidt, Hillsboro, N.D.; 2. 24-Kelly Henderson, Minot, N.D.; 3. 6-Austin Veralrud, Barnesville, Minn.; 4. 8J-Luke Johnson, Moorhead, Minn.; 5. 5-Scott Jacobson, Fargo, N.D.

NLSA Lightning Sprints:
Feature: 1. 13-Alan Truscinski, Greenbush, Minn.; 2. 16-Josh Abrahamson, Moorhead, Minn.; 3. 11-Dexter Dvergsten, Greenbush, Minn.; 4. 10-Alex Truscinski, Greenbush, Minn.; 5. 93-Kelsi Pederson, East Grand Forks, Minn.

IMCA Stock Cars:
Feature: 1. 40-Rob VanMil, Barnesville, Minn.; 2. 4-Rick Schulz, Horace, N.D.; 3. 49-Tim Compson, Valley City, N.D.; 4. 18-Mike Anderson, Walcott, N.D.; 5. 52-Brennan Borg, Harwood, N.D.

INEX Legends:
Feature: 1. 58-Sean Johnson, Kindred, N.D.; 2. 72-Tye Wilke, Detroit Lakes, Minn.; 3. 21-Andrew Jochim, Glyndon, Minn.; 4. 29B-Ryan Braseth, Ulen, Minn.; 5. 5D8-Dylan Johnson, Durbin, N.D.

IMCA Hobby Stocks:
Feature: 1. 30A-Adam Goff, Minot, N.D.; 2. 56M-Mathew Olson, Morton, Minn.; 3. 31X-Tim Shiek, Fargo, N.D.; 4. 701-Kyle Hallgren, Hankinson, N.D.; 5. 14-Alyssa White, West Fargo, N.D.