By Mike Spieker
WEST FARGO – Weekly racing returned to Red River Valley Speedway Friday night. The evening was highlighted by the King Pin Klash IMCA Stock Car special, presented by The Bowler. A season-high number of Stock Cars were in attendance for the higher payout.
After picking up the opening night win of the two-night King Ping Klash Thursday night at Norman County Raceway in Ada, Minn., Brandon Schmidt of Hillsboro went back-to-back to sweep the event.
Schmidt took the lead at the drop of the green flag. Kevin Mattox, who made the haul from Ray, N.D., near Minot, to compete in the King Pin Klash. He ran in the runner-up position in the early going, but Mattox’s night came to an end early after he suffered a flat right rear tire near the halfway point to bring out a caution.
Schmidt held the point on the restart as Rob VanMil inherited the second spot. VanMil rode right in the tire tracks of Schmidt, but Schmidt was too strong.
Schmidt went on to drive his No. 219 machine to a division-leading fourth win of the season as VanMil, who has three wins to his credit, settled for second.
Dan Dowling of Davenport, who was fresh off a win Sunday at Buffalo River Race Park in Glyndon, Minn., picked up the IMCA SportMod win. Dowling took the point in the early going, but the race was quickly halted for a 10 car pile up in turn three. All drivers were able to rejoin the field for the restart with little to no damage.
On the restart, Dowling opened up a comfortable lead. As Dowling approached lapped traffic, Chris VanMil closed the gap to become a contender. Dowling and VanMil traded the lead with under five laps remaining, but Dowling held on to take his first win of the season at the speedway.
Tim Estenson cruised to yet another INEX legends feature win. The Fargo driver took the lead on lap three and never looked back. Sean Johnson remained within striking distance of Estenson, but Estenson went on to collect his 19th win of the season.
Jason Strand, who also picked up a win Thursday at Norman County Raceway, was looking to collect his second win in as many nights in the IMCA Modifieds. Strand appeared to be the class of the field through the first half of the 20-lap feature, but a string of cautions kept him at bay to the rest of the field. After holding off Rob VanMil, Strand had his hands full with Dale Kraling of Mayville. Strand’s race car pushed up the track in turn three, which allowed Kraling to take the lead.
Strand was quickly challenged by Tyler Peterson for the second position, which gave Kraling an opportunity to pull away. Kraling went on to take the win over Peterson and Strand as Black Widow Chassis drivers swept the podium.
Nick Nelson of Georgetown, Minn. raced to his first IMCA hobby stock win of the season by a large margin over Tim Shiek.
RESULTS:
IMCA Modifieds:
Feature 1: 1. 7-Dale Kraling, Mayville, N.D.; 2. 1TPO-Tyler Peterson, Hickson, N.D.; 3. E85-Jason Strand, Portland, N.D.; 4. 6D-Dylan Goplen, Fargo, N.D.; 5. 84-Michael Johnson, Moorhead, Minn.
IMCA SportMods:
Feature: 1. 2D-Dan Dowling, Davenport, N.D.; 2. 33-Brennan Urbach, Englevale, N.D.; 3. 5-Scott Jacobson, Fargo, N.D.; 4. 77-Charles Jensen, Pelican Rapids, Minn.; 5. 51-Kelly Jacobson, Fargo, N.D.
IMCA Stock Cars:
Feature: 1. 219-Brandon Schmidt, Hillsboro, Minn.; 2. 40-Rob VanMil, Barnesville, Minn.; 3. 4-Rick Schulz, Horace, N.D.; 4. 99M-Kevin Mattox, Ray, N.D.; 5. 18-MIke Anderson, Walcott, N.D.
INEX Legends:
Feature: 1. 14T-Tim Estenson, Fargo, N.D.; 2. 58-Sean Johnson, Kindred, N.D.; 3. 79-Scott Richardson, Pelican Rapids, Minn.; 4. 72-Tye Wilke, Detroit Lakes, Minn.; 5. 8JR-Kaitlyn Skalicky, Fargo, N.D.
IMCA Hobby Stocks:
Feature: 1. 37N-Nick Nelson, Georgetown, Minn.; 2. 31X-Tim Shiek, Fargo, N.D.; 3. 3XL-Brad Orvedal, Fargo, N.D.; 4. 30A-Adam Goff, Minot, N.D.; 5. 14-Alyssa White, West Fargo, N.D.