Tag Archives: Red River Valley Fair

VanMil Steals Sport Mod Win at Red River Valley Speedway

Posted on by Posted in NEWS
Chris VanMil (44D) takes the lead away from Luke Johnson (8J) in the late stages of the IMCA Sport Mod feature Friday at Red River Valley Speedway.
Photo Courtesy: Speedway Shots

By Mike Spieker

WEST FARGO – Red River Valley Speedway’s Friday night racing roared back to life after a ttwo-week hiatus last night at the Red River Valley Fairgrounds, presented by The Bowler, Casey’s General Stores, and M&J Auto Parts. The night, which featured the Audio Garage IMCA stock car King Pin Klash special, was cut short due to rain just as the stock cars took to the track for their main event.

As a result, double features for the stock cars and the All Finish Concrete IMCA modifieds will highlight a big night of racing next Friday, July 28th.

The three divisions that were able to complete their features, displayed compelling racing around the smooth, dry-slick track surface.

It looked as though Luke Johnson had his seventh overall win of the season in hand in the closing laps of the Eide Bailly IMCA Sport Mod feature. Johnson took the lead from veteran driver Scott Jacobson with eight laps to go before pulling out to a seven car length advantage over the field.

Barnesville’s Chris VanMil found in his groove in the late going, however, and used the middle groove on the three-eighths mile dirt oval to erase Johnson’s lead. With four circuits remaining, VanMil ducked to the inside of Johnson in turn one to grab the top spot.

“A couple laps before the last caution I figured out that I could run through the middle and I knew Luke (Johnson) would stay up on the top,” said VanMil after the race. “I just had to be patient. I could dive into turn three really hard and make up a lot of ground. I just kept doing that and finally reeled him in.”

VanMil then drove away from Johnson to claim his second win at RRVS and fourth overall.

“I feels really good to get a win tonight,” VanMil continued. “I went to Brainerd (North Central Speedway) and tried some different things with the setup. I hit on something there and tried it out here tonight and it worked great.”

Jeff Hooker of Minot put on an impressive drive from 12th to finish in the runner-up spot.

Another Barnesville driver found KRJB 106.5FM Victory Lane later in the evening as Josh Julsrud picked up the Petermann Seed INEX legend feature win. Julsrud methodically drove through the pack from his 11th starting position

The A Transmission City IMCA hobby stock feature went to Tim Shiek of Fargo. With three laps to go, Shiek, Brandon Schmidt and Tim Church went three wide for the lead exiting turn four. The trio made contact, which resulted in Shiek spinning in turn one.

Schmidt was charged for the caution but rallied back to finish fourth. Shiek then held off Church in the final laps to collect his third win of the season.

When racing continues next Friday night, 41-year racing veteran and fan favorite John Corell of Jamestown will lead the field of IMCA Modifieds to the green flag with Fargo’s Billy Vogel to his outside on the front row.

Rick Schulz’s self-built engine and Tim Compson’s Mopar will make up the front row for the stock car’s make-up feature.

Summary:

All Finish Concrete IMCA Modifieds:
Heat 1: 1. 84-Michael Johnson, [4]; 2. 5-John Correll, [2]; 3. 1TPO-Tyler Peterson, [7]; 4. 4D-Rob VanMil, [5]; 5. 86C-Darren Pfau, [6]; 6. 88B-Brady Petermann, [8]; 7. 4500-Cody Peterson, [3]; 8. K9-Tom Cummings, [1]

Heat 2: 1. 4V-Billy Vogel, [2]; 2. 99-Cale Arneson, [4]; 3. 17-Rich Pavlicek, [5]; 4. 38-Tailin Tommerdahl, [3]; 5. 7-Dale Kraling, [6]; 6. 72-Dave Shipley, [7]; 7. 191-Bryce Bjerke, [8]; 8. 12C-Nickolis Curtis, [1]

A Transmission City IMCA Hobby Stocks
A Feature 1: 1. 31X-Tim Shiek, [4]; 2. 21-Tim Church, [5]; 3. 37N-Nick Nelson, [2]; 4. 219-Brandon Schmidt, [3]; 5. 14-Alyssa White, [1]; 6. 106-Eric Novacek, [8]; 7. (DNF) 35W-Phillip Witt, [6]; 8. (DNF) 069-Kalvin Kesselberg, [7]

Heat 1: 1. 219-Brandon Schmidt, [5]; 2. 31X-Tim Shiek, [6]; 3. 37N-Nick Nelson, [4]; 4. 21-Tim Church, [7]; 5. 14-Alyssa White, [3]; 6. 35W-Phillip Witt, [1]; 7. 069-Kalvin Kesselberg, [8]; 8. 106-Eric Novacek, [2]

Eide Bailly IMCA SportMods
A Feature 1: 1. 44D-Chris VanMil, [8]; 2. 7X-Jeff Hooker, [12]; 3. 8J-Luke Johnson, [10]; 4. 5-Scott Jacobson, [1]; 5. 5T-Matt Talley, [7]; 6. 51-Kelly Jacobson, [9]; 7. 8-Billy Michaelsohn, [2]; 8. 76-Reile Sailer, [15]; 9. 19C-Dustin Hartwig, [3]; 10. 55-Kenneth Bye, [18]; 11. 12T-Brandon Tendeland, [4]; 12. 6-Austin Veralrud, [6]; 13. 3S-Jesse Skalicky, [11]; 14. 15-Matthew Clark, [13]; 15. (DNF) 21K-Kyle Krogh, [5]; 16. (DNF) 22-Vince Jegtvig, [14]; 17. (DNF) 77-Charles Jensen, [16]; 18. (DNF) 86C-Travis Pfau, [17]; (DNS) 22S-Brian Schaffer,

Heat 1: 1. 8J-Luke Johnson, [5]; 2. 5-Scott Jacobson, [1]; 3. 6-Austin Veralrud, [3]; 4. 12T-Brandon Tendeland, [7]; 5. 15-Matthew Clark, [2]; 6. 77-Charles Jensen, [4]; 7. (DNF) 22S-Brian Schaffer, [6]

Heat 2: 1. 44D-Chris VanMil, [5]; 2. 3S-Jesse Skalicky, [6]; 3. 21K-Kyle Krogh, [3]; 4. 19C-Dustin Hartwig, [2]; 5. 22-Vince Jegtvig, [4]; 6. 86C-Travis Pfau, [1]

Heat 3: 1. 5T-Matt Talley, [4]; 2. 7X-Jeff Hooker, [6]; 3. 51-Kelly Jacobson, [5]; 4. 8-Billy Michaelsohn, [1]; 5. 76-Reile Sailer, [3]; 6. 55-Kenneth Bye, [2]

Petermann Seed INEX Legends:
A Feature 1: 1. 18-Joshua Julsrud, [11]; 2. 1-Steven Kuntz, [1]; 3. 20-Alex Braseth, [3]; 4. 14T-Tim Estenson, [17]; 5. 58-Sean Johnson, [4]; 6. 8JR-Kaitlyn Skalicky, [9]; 7. 21-Andrew Jochim, [12]; 8. 5-Dean Julsrud, [10]; 9. 15-Mariah Henriksen, [8]; 10. 72-Tye Wilke, [15]; 11. 69-Brian Hanson, [6]; 12. D1RT-Tony Brockhouse, [7]; 13. 29B-Ryan Braseth, [13]; 14. 5D8-Dylan Johnson, [5]; 15. 38-Andrew Sommerfeld, [19]; 16. 7-Cade Sogge, [16]; 17. B1-Brody Carlsrud, [14]; 18. 79-Jacob Aldrich, [2]; 19. 24-Shaun Erickson, [18]

Heat 1: 1. 1-Steven Kuntz, [1]; 2. 18-Joshua Julsrud, [6]; 3. 69-Brian Hanson, [4]; 4. 8JR-Kaitlyn Skalicky, [5]; 5. 29B-Ryan Braseth, [2]; 6. 7-Cade Sogge, [3]; 7. 38-Andrew Sommerfeld, [7]

Heat 2: 1. D1RT-Tony Brockhouse, [6]; 2. 5-Dean Julsrud, [4]; 3. 58-Sean Johnson, [3]; 4. 79-Jacob Aldrich, [2]; 5. B1-Brody Carlsrud, [1]; 6. 14T-Tim Estenson, [5]

Heat 3: 1. 21-Andrew Jochim, [6]; 2. 15-Mariah Henriksen, [4]; 3. 5D8-Dylan Johnson, [3]; 4. 20-Alex Braseth, [2]; 5. 72-Tye Wilke, [5]; 6. 24-Shaun Erickson, [1]

Audio Garage IMCA Stock Cars
Heat 1: 1. 4-Rick Schulz, [2]; 2. 40-Rob VanMil, [5]; 3. 49-Tim Compson, [1]; 4. 1-Kelly Jacobson, [3]; 5. 76Z-John Sandvig, [4]

Nygaard Nets Sprint Car Win at Red River Valley Speedway

Posted on by Posted in NEWS
Wade Nygaard drives in front of an estimated 6,000 people while leading the NOSA sprint car feature Sunday at RRVS. (Photo Credit: Speedway Shots)

By Mike Spieker

WEST FARGO – Wade Nygaard picked up his 261st career sprint car win Sunday evening at Red River Valley Speedway during the Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprint Car special. The Grand Forks driver held off perennial frontrunners Thomas Kennedy and Austin Pierce en route to his first win on Red River Valley Speedway’s three-eighths mile configuration.

Nygaard powered by front row starters Jade Hastings and Jackson Moffett on the opening lap to secure the lead, as Pierce and Kennedy followed in his tracks.

A pair of incidents slowed the field in the first 10 laps, one of which brought out the red flag for Sam Miller, who got upside down.

On the lap eight restart, Kennedy maneuvered around Pierce to secure the runner-up spot. With Nygaard in his crosshairs, Kennedy looked to close in on the nine-time and defending Northern Outlaw Sprint Association (NOSA) champion.

Nygaard kept Kennedy at bay until the closing stages, when Kennedy placed a bid for the lead with four to go. Kennedy got a run on Nygaard down the front straightaway and tried to drive around the outside of him in turns one and two. Nygaard kept his foot pegged to the floor, however, as the two banged wheels exiting the corner.

Nygaard regained the lead down the backstretch as Kennedy regrouped for one last charge.

Nygaard was too fast for Kennedy in final laps and cruised to the win.

“That was a fun race,” said Nygaard in victory lane. “We were beating and banging on each other there a little bit. I just had to keep the car in the rubber on the track. Kennedy found the rubber first, but once I got in it I was able to hold him off.”

Dale Kraling backed up his IMCA Modified win Thursday night at Norman County Raceway in Ada, Minn as he parked in KRJB 106.5FM Victory Lane. Kraling led all 20 trips around to claim his first feature win of the season at Red River Valley Speedway and third overall. Fargo’s Austin Arneson was the hard charger of the race, advancing from 14th to second. He was followed to the checkers by his brother, Cale Arneson, as Michael Greseth and Bryce Borgen rounded out the top five.

Dale Kraling cruised to the IMCA Modified feature win Sunday at Red River Valley Speedway. (Photo Credit: Speedway Shots)

Tim Estenson drove away with his 13th win of the season in the INEX legends. The 15-year-old Fargo driver started fourth on the grid but managed to take the lead on lap three before driving away from the field.

Racing continues next Friday night at Red River Valley Speedway, featuring the King Pin Stock Car Klash. Racing begins at 7pm.

RESULTS:
NOSA Sprint Cars:
Feature – 1. Wade Nygaard; 2. Thomas Kennedy; 3. Austin Pierce; 4. Nick Omdahl; 5. Ryan Bickett

IMCA Modifieds:
Feature – 1. Dale Kraling; 2. Austin Arneson; 3. Cale Arneson; 4. Michael Greseth; 5. Bryce Borgen

INEX Legends:
Feature – 1. Tim Estenson; 2. Josh Julsrud; 3. Donavin Wiest; 4. Andrew Jochim; 5. Mariah Hendriksen

Wade Nygaard picked up the NOSA sprint car feature win Sunday at Red River Valley Speedway. (Photo Credit: Speedway Shots)

 

Wade Nygaard (9N) and Thomas Kennedy (21K) race for the lead during the NOSA sprint car feature. (Photo Credit: Speedway Shots)

Sprint Cars Highlight Fair Special at Red River Valley Speedway

Posted on by Posted in NEWS

By Mike Spieker

WEST FARGO – Sunday evening the Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA sprint cars make their first and only appearance of 2017 at Red River Valley Speedway. The 410 cubic inch (c.i.) winged sprint cars always bring in the biggest names in sprint car racing in the upper Midwest, including Grand Forks’ Wade Nygaard.

Nygaard, who is the nine-time and defending NOSA sprint car champion, has countless wins at Red River Valley Speedway’s half-mile configuration but says the newer three-eighths mile layout evens up the playing field.

“All the miles I’ve put on at Red River Valley Speedway were on the big track so it’s a bit of an adjustment now racing on the smaller track,” said Nygaard, who has over 250 wins tallied over a 27 year career. “I bet I don’t have any more laps around the three-eighths mile than anybody else.”

Back when Red River Valley Speedway hosted weekly 360c.i. sprint car racing, Nygaard competed regularly in his Auto Finance Super Center No. 9N machine and had built up a big fanbase in the process.

“It’s going to be nice to get to see some of my old friends and fans who don’t get to make it to the races much in Grand Forks,” Nygaard continued. “It would be great to cap off the night with a trip to victory lane.”

Among the strong contingent of talent is Harwood’s Lee Grosz.

Grosz travels the Midwest competing in events from Nebraska to Iowa, and all through South Dakota. Sunday will be a homecoming for Grosz, as he will also get to compete in front of family and friends.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back to Red River Valley Speedway,” said Grosz, who just picked up a feature win in Jackson, Minn. last Saturday. “We don’t race around the area much so to be able to race in my hometown is going to be really special. I’ve had this one circled on the calendar all year. It’s always fun to be racing in front of your family, friends, and sponsors.”

Despite running a smaller 360c.i. motor against the bigger 410c.i. powerplants of the NOSA sprints, Grosz is still a favorite each time his No. 4J enters the pit area. Grosz last topped the NOSA sprints in 2013 at Norman County Raceway in Ada, Minn. In his only appearance against the NOSA sprints in 2017, Grosz charged to a solid eighth place finish at Norman County Raceway on June 22nd.

Racing starts at 6pm Sunday at Red River Valley Speedway. The race is free to attend after purchasing a Red River Valley Fair gate admission. The IMCA Modifieds will be co-headlining the event with the NOSA Sprints.

Zomer and Strand Highlight Unforgettable Night at RRVS

Posted on by Posted in NEWS, Uncategorized

By Mike Spieker

WEST FARGO, ND (July 19th) – It was the night we have all been waiting for. It was the night we’ve had circled on our calendars since the 2016 Red River Valley Speedway (RRVS) schedule came in out February. It was the night where the upper Midwest’s two biggest touring series would come together for the first time in RRVS history.

And it was everything we’d hoped it would be; and more!

An estimated 4,500 race fans came out to RRVS Sunday evening for the NOSA Sprint Car/NLRA Late Model special, presented by Buffalo Wild Wings and the Red River Valley Fair. A RRVS record 33 NOSA Sprints and 29 NLRA Late Models packed the pit area, along with 17 IMCA Hobby Stocks/Pure Stocks. Dusty Zomer, Dustin Strand, and Kasey Ussatis all visited KRJB 106.5FM Victory Lane.

The event brought in the area’s biggest names in racing, including seven-time and defending World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car champion, Donny Schatz, who had won the $50,000 Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway less than 18 hours prior.

The field of 33 Sprint Cars was trimmed to the fastest 24 for the 25-lap A-main. Minot’s Greg Nikitenko grabbed the early lead over 20-year-old pilot Jordan Adams as Thomas Kennedy and Wade Nygaard raced for third. Three laps in, Kennedy and Nygaard made contact in turn four, which sent Nygaard spinning to a stop bringing out the yellow. Nygaard was sent to the tail of the field, but still rallied to finish in fifth.

Nikitenko led the first half of the race as Adams, Kennedy and Lee Grosz raced for second through fourth, but with 11 to go Sioux Falls, SD driver Dusty Zomer came on strong to challenge Nikitenko. Zomer drove his Buffalo Wild Wings #82 to the low side of turn one and completed a slide job on Nikitenko to take the lead.

Once out front, Zomer built up a lead he would not relinquish as he went on to claim his first-ever RRVS win and sixth career NOSA victory, putting him 15th on the all-time wins list.
Prior the 2016 season at RRVS, Dustin Strand had claimed the last checkered flag ever waved at the 3/8th mile oval when the track saw its last race to date on August 25, 2012. Since then a lot has changed at RRVS, but Strand still knows how to find victory lane.

Strand started outside of the front row and took off as soon as the green flag waved. Within four laps, the two-time and defending NLRA champion had amassed a full straightaway lead over current series point leader, Brad Seng. Seng closed in slightly in lapped traffic, but was never able to mount a serious threat on Strand. Strand went on to take the victory; his second in a Late Model and third overall on the RRVS 3/8th mile configuration.

The A Transmission City IMCA Hobby Stocks/Pure Stocks had a wild main event. It all started with a four car pileup on lap two, which brought the race to its first caution. The destruction continued on the restart when Dan Dowling and Billy Carou were fighting hard for the lead. Dowling’s #5X snapped around on him in turn four and he was met head on by Austin Veralrud, who then was collected by Brad Orvedal. Veralrud’s #6 burst into flames, but the West Fargo Fire Crew was quick to the scene to extinguish the flames.

Kasey Ussatis and Carou then put on a great show as the battled for the lead. Ussatis cleared the #7C of Carou with three laps to go to take the win.

Racing continues this Friday night, presented by M&J Auto Parts and All Finish Concrete. Green flag flies at 7pm!

RESULTS:
NOSA Sprint Cars:
1. Dusty Zomer
2. Greg Nikitenko
3. Lee Grosz
4. Austin Pierce
5. Wade Nygaard
6. Chris Ranten
7. Jordan Adams
8. Dave Glennon
9. Bob Martin
10. Thomas Kennedy
11. Shane Roemling
12. Jade Hastings
13. Ty Hanten
14. Trent Stengl
15. Nick Omdal
16. Jordan Graham
17. Zach Wilde
18. Jackson Moffett
19. Brenden Wilde
20. Tee Young
21. Tom Egeland
22. Casey Mack
23. Alex Larson
24. Cory Mack – DQ
IMG_9374

NLRA Late Models:
1. Dustin Strand
2. Brad Seng
3. Mike Balcaen
4. Cole Schill
5. Jeff Massingill
6. Donny Schatz
7. Shane Edginton
8. Cody Skytland
9. Bill Mooney
10. Steve Anderson
11. Greg Meyer
12. Shawn Meyer
13. Steffen Snare
14. Kevin Robertson
15. Jeremy Keller
16. Casey Meyer
17. Rob Odegard
18. Ryan Corbett
19. Jeff Hapala
20. Dave Zimmerman
21. Adam Fischer
22. Tom Corcoran
23. Josh Johnson
24. Tommy Thompson

IMG_9307

IMCA Hobby Stocks/Pure Stocks:
1. Kasey Ussatis
2. Billy Carou
3. Brandon Schmidt
4. Tim Shiek
5. Kodee Ussatis
6. Brennan Urbach
7. Clare Miller
8. Tim Church
9. Paul Colvin
10. Wade Moerke
11. Kristen Nelson
12. Taylor Saari
13. Dylan Heger
14. Austin Veralrud
15. Brad Orvedal
16. Dan Dowling

IMG_9266

Entrance To Sunday’s Race

Posted on by Posted in NEWS, Uncategorized

With the Red River Valley Fair going on during the races on Sunday, here’s a breakdown for the race teams on entrance into the pits. (See map for details)

  • Come in Gate 4 (Fair Entrance)
  • Everyone has to pay to get though Gate 4 (Adults $10; Kids 6-11 $5; Kids 5 & under Free)
  • Then, proceed as normal to the Pit Entrance sign-in shed.
  • At the shed you’ll pay your Pit Entrance fees and get your wristband. (Late Model Drivers $40; Sprint Car Drivers $30; Everyone else $20)
(Click on map to enlarge)

RRVS-Fair Map640

Fans: You can come through any gate. Your paid entrance to the Fair will be your entrance to the race: Adults $10; Kids 6-11 $5; Kids 5 & under Free

  • See map below for fan parking availability
(Click on map to enlarge)

2016_FairMap

More race details can be found by clicking HERE

 

RACING: Sunday, July 17

Posted on by Posted in NEWS, Uncategorized

RRVS-July17-640

The races on Sunday, July 17th are presented by: The Red River Valley Fair Association, Buffalo Wild Wings

Red River Valley Fairgrounds – West Fargo, ND

We’ll have:
– The HotSpring Spas & Pool Tables Duck Toss
– The Nugget Vending Candy Toss
– T-shirt Cannon
– Red River Valley Speedway Apparel
– Delicious Concession Food & Ice Cold Beverages from the Fair vendors and Beer Garden

Times:
Pit Gates Open: 2:30pm
Grandstands Open: 4:00pm
Draw Cutoff: 4:30pm
Racing Starts: 5:00pm

Grandstand Admission:
Races are FREE with paid admission to the Fair
Adults: $10
Kids 6-11: $5
Kids Under 5: Free
Pit and Fan entrance details can be found HERE

Racing Divisions This Week:
NOSA Sprint Cars
NLRA Late Models
IMCA Hobby Stocks/Pure Stocks

Social Media:
Website – redrivervalleyspeedway.com
Facebook – facebook.com/redrivervalleyspeedway
Twitter – twitter.com/rrvspeedway
Instagram – instagram.com/redrivervalleyspeedway
Snapchat – rrvspeedway

#TurnItUp

Red River Valley Fair Race – Sunday, July 17

Posted on by Posted in NEWS, Uncategorized

Racing is back at the Red River Valley Fair! Come out to the Fair with your friends and family to enjoy a night of racing. NLRA Late Models will be joining the NOSA Sprint Cars for this race event along with the IMCA Hobby Stocks/Pure Stocks.

Grandstand gates open at 4 pm and racing will begin at 5.

Cost: Gate admission to the Red River Valley Fair
Adults: $10
Kids 6-11: $5
Kids Under 5: Free

Presented by:
Red River Valley Fair Association
Buffalo Wild Wings

#TurnItUp

RRVS-FairRace