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World of Outlaws return to Red River Valley Speedway on August 19 for Duel in the Dakotas

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(Ken Simon Photo)

WEST FARGO, N.D. — August 8, 2017 — The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series returns to Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, North Dakota on Saturday, August 19 for the Gerdau Recycling Duel in the Dakotas, which was postponed by inclement weather back on June 17. All tickets and pit pass armbands from the originally scheduled race will be honored.

When the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series last visited Red River Valley Speedway in 2012, Sammy Swindell, the three-time series champion and Hall of Famer, was victorious. Swindell started on the pole in that race and remained out front in early going, with Chad Kemenah taking the top spot on the ninth lap. Swindell re-took the lead with eight laps to go, en route to earning the seventh A-Feature win of his career at the track.

Donny Schatz, who calls Fargo home, has won four times at Red River Valley Speedway with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series, including both nights of the 2006 Duel in the Dakotas. The eight-time and defending series champion has 26 top-10 finishes in World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series action at Red River Valley Speedway. Schatz raced with the Outlaws for the first time at the track as a teenager in 1993, finishing 15th. He also has a pair of wins with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions at the track in 2010 and 2011.

Daryn Pittman, the 2013 World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series champion, won in his last start at Red River Valley Speedway in 2008. The veteran driver will be seeing the track for the first time since it was re-configured from its original half-mile layout to its current three-eights-mile configuration.

Jac Haudenschild, who is behind the wheel of the No. 17 machine for the Stenhouse Jr. Wood Racing team, has made the most Outlaws starts of any current driver, who will be in attendance. The Hall of Famer has 27 top-10 finishes in those 38 starts at the track, including a win in 2007. Haudenschild also won at Red River Valley Speedway with the All Stars in 2012.

Jason Sides has five straight top-10 finishes with the Outlaws at Red River Valley Speedway, dating back to 2005. The veteran driver has made 19 starts in his career with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at the track.

Shane Stewart and Paul McMahan have similar stat sheets at Red River Valley Speedway with the Outlaws. McMahan has made 18 starts and has seven top-10 finishes, while Stewart has taken the green flag 16 times and recorded five top-10 runs. Kraig Kinser has eight top-10 finishes in 12 starts at the track in his career, including a third-place run in 2005.

David Gravel has raced in the past at Red River Valley Speedway with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions, making a total of four starts and finishing among the top-10 in each and every one of those races.

Greg Wilson, the reigning Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award winner, has made a pair of starts with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at Red River Valley Speedway, with those coming in 2006. He also raced twice at the track with the All Stars, finishing fourth in 2010 and eighth in 2012.

Brad Sweet, who is currently second in points, has made one start at Red River Valley Speedway in his career. That came in 2011 with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions and he finished second to Schatz.

A total of six drivers competing full-time with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series in 2017 will be making their first starts with the series at Red River Valley Speedway. Jason Johnson, Logan Schuchart, Jacob Allen, Clyde Knipp, as well as rookie contenders Sheldon Haudenschild and Brent Marks will all be getting their first glimpse at the track.

Tickets for the “Duel in the Dakotas,” featuring World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, North Dakota, on Saturday, June 17 can be purchased online at slspromotions.ticketforce.com or by phone at 815-344-2023.

Fans can also save $5 on General Admission tickets when purchased at participating NAPA Auto Parts stores. Tickets buyers will exchange their NAPA receipt for a race ticket at the Main Grandstand ticket booth on race day.

All tickets and pit pass armbands from the originally scheduled race on June 17 will be honored on Saturday, August 19.

Twitter: @SLS_Promotions
Facebook: SLS Promotions LLC

Rob VanMil Doubles Down

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Photo: Rob VanMil drove to two IMCA stock car feature wins Friday night at Red River Valley Speedway
(Photo Courtesy: Speedway Shots)

By Mike Spieker

WEST FARGO – It was a big night of racing Friday at Red River Valley Speedway as Rob-See-Co, Titan Machinery, and Steffes presented the night’s action.

Rob VanMil of Barnesville swept the Audio Garage IMCA stock car action to highlight a great night of racing Friday evening at Red River Valley Speedway. VanMil, of Barnesville, Minn., began the night by claiming the King Pin Klash make-up feature that was postponed due to rain last Friday.

In the regularly scheduled feature, Horace’s Rick Schulz jumped out to the early lead and paced the field until five to go. That’s when eighth place starter, VanMil, chased down Schulz to steal the lead. Once out front, VanMil put his No. 40 machine on cruise control as he picked up the win by nearly two full seconds.

“The car has been awesome. I just have to thank my dad for giving me this opportunity,” said VanMil in victory lane. VanMil has been driving his father’s, Corey, stock car for the past couple weeks at the area race tracks. “I couldn’t gain any ground (on Schulz) so I decided to go to the top side to get some momentum going,” he said of his pass for the lead.

Tailin Tommerdahl took the lead on the opening lap of the All Finish Concrete IMCA modified feature. Tommerdahl paced the field for the first four circuits until last Sunday’s winner at Buffalo River Race Park, “Magic” Mike Johnson, took the point.

Within a couple laps, Johnson had his hands full with Michael Greseth. Greseth took the spot on lap five, but Johnson battled back up top to regain the position on lap eight.

Dave Shipley entered the fray inside 10 to go as Johnson and Greseth encountered lapped traffic. With seven to go, Shipley made a move which catapulted him into the lead. From there, the driver of the Dakota Cat No. 72 held on to take his second RRVS win of the season.

Billy Vogel claimed the modified make-up feature.

An early race charge by Fargo’s Kelly Jacobson put him in solid position to win the Eide Bailly IMCA Sport Mod feature. Jacobson charged from ninth to first in just two laps.

A restart with 10 to go led to a three wide battle for the runner-up spot between Luke Johnson, Kelly’s father Scott Jacobson, and Thursday night’s winner at Norman County Raceway in Ada, Minn., Jesse Skalicky.

Johnson won the battle for second and gave Jacobson a run for his money in the final laps, but came up short at Jacobson raced to his second win of the season.

Fifteen-year-old Tim Estenson scored his 15th win of the season in the Petermann Seed INEX legends. The young up-and-comer from Fargo drove his way from the 10th starting position into the lead in just nine laps. From there he drove away from Tye Wilke and Scott Richardson, who finished second and third, respectively.

Andrew Bertsch backed up his win the previous night at Norman County Raceway. Bertsch took the lead on lap four of the A Transmission City IMCA hobby stock Mid-Summer Shootout, presented by Schmidt and Sons Construction and Collins Brothers Towing, and held off Austin Jahnz to score the $500 win.

Racing continues next Wednesday night, featuring the NLRA Late Models.

RESULTS:
All Finish Concrete IMCA Modifieds
A Feature 1: 1. 72-Dave Shipley, [12]; 2. 84-Michael Johnson, [3]; 3. 1TPO-Tyler Peterson, [11]; 4. 17G-Michael Greseth, [10]; 5. 4V-Billy Vogel, [8]; 6. 4D-Rob VanMil, [7]; 7. 7-Dale Kraling, [9]; 8. 38-Tailin Tommerdahl, [2]; 9. 17-Rich Pavlicek, [6]; 10. 88B-Brady Petermann, [4]; 11. 51T-Tim Thomas, [13]; 12. E85-Jason Strand, [14]; 13. 86C-Darren Pfau, [5]; 14. 98-John Nord, [17]; 15. 10-Cale Arneson, [15]; 16. 4500-Cody Peterson, [16]; 17. 7B-Bryce Bjerken, [18]; 18. 12C-Nickolis Curtis, [20]; 19. 52-Brennan Borg, [21]; 20. 5-Justin Bieber, [19]; 21. 191-Bryce Bjerke, [1]; 22. K9-Tom Cummings, [22]
Heat 1: 1. 17G-Michael Greseth, [6]; 2. 17-Rich Pavlicek, [4]; 3. 4V-Billy Vogel, [5]; 4. 84-Michael Johnson, [3]; 5. 51T-Tim Thomas, [8]; 6. 4500-Cody Peterson, [2]; 7. 5-Justin Bieber, [7]; 8. K9-Tom Cummings, [1]
Heat 2: 1. 88B-Brady Petermann, [3]; 2. 1TPO-Tyler Peterson, [6]; 3. 4D-Rob VanMil, [4]; 4. 191-Bryce Bjerke, [2]; 5. E85-Jason Strand, [5]; 6. 98-John Nord, [7]; 7. 12C-Nickolis Curtis, [1]
Heat 3: 1. 72-Dave Shipley, [6]; 2. 86C-Darren Pfau, [3]; 3. 7-Dale Kraling, [5]; 4. 38-Tailin Tommerdahl, [2]; 5. 10-Cale Arneson, [4]; 6. 7B-Bryce Bjerken, [7]; 7. 52-Brennan Borg, [1]

Eide Bailly IMCA Sport Mods
A Feature 1: 1. 51-Kelly Jacobson, [9]; 2. 8J-Luke Johnson, [11]; 3. 3S-Jesse Skalicky, [12]; 4. 44D-Chris VanMil, [10]; 5. 5-Scott Jacobson, [5]; 6. 19C-Dustin Hartwig, [3]; 7. 5T-Matt Talley, [17]; 8. 55-Kenneth Bye, [2]; 9. 77-Charles Jensen, [8]; 10. 76-Reile Sailer, [6]; 11. 6-Austin Veralrud, [18]; 12. 8-Billy Michaelsohn, [4]; 13. 12T-Brandon Tendeland, [15]; 14. 15-Matthew Clark, [16]; 15. 89-Jeff Bieber, [13]; 16. 47-Kreig Kasin, [19]; 17. (DNF) 1RM-Taylor Grove, [7]; 18. (DNF) 22-Vince Jegtvig, [14]; 19. (DNF) 13C-Paul Colvin, [1]
Heat 1: 1. 19C-Dustin Hartwig, [2]; 2. 1RM-Taylor Grove, [4]; 3. 44D-Chris VanMil, [6]; 4. 77-Charles Jensen, [5]; 5. 89-Jeff Bieber, [7]; 6. 15-Matthew Clark, [1]; 7. 47-Kreig Kasin, [3]
Heat 2: 1. 5-Scott Jacobson, [3]; 2. 8J-Luke Johnson, [6]; 3. 8-Billy Michaelsohn, [2]; 4. 13C-Paul Colvin, [1]; 5. 22-Vince Jegtvig, [4]; 6. 5T-Matt Talley, [5]
Heat 3: 1. 3S-Jesse Skalicky, [6]; 2. 51-Kelly Jacobson, [5]; 3. 55-Kenneth Bye, [1]; 4. 76-Reile Sailer, [3]; 5. 12T-Brandon Tendeland, [2]; 6. 6-Austin Veralrud, [4]

A Transmission City IMCA Hobby Stocks
A Feature 1: 1. 146-Andrew Bertsch, [4]; 2. 32J-Austin Jahnz, [3]; 3. 219-Brandon Schmidt, [8]; 4. 5G-Tim Gonska, [10]; 5. 37N-Nick Nelson, [6]; 6. 52X-Joe Gonska, [2]; 7. 31X-Tim Shiek, [12]; 8. 9-Torey Fischer, [5]; 9. 211-Joe Schrodt, [16]; 10. 06-Clint Hudkins, [14]; 11. 73-Maranda Borg, [17]; 12. 069-Kalvin Kesselberg, [15]; 13. 32-Wes Jahnz, [9]; 14. 35W-Phillip Witt, [11]; 15. 106-Eric Novacek, [1]; 16. 21-Tim Church, [7]; 17. (DNF) 14-Alyssa White, [13]
Heat 1: 1. 32J-Austin Jahnz, [1]; 2. 219-Brandon Schmidt, [6]; 3. 32-Wes Jahnz, [7]; 4. 37N-Nick Nelson, [8]; 5. 106-Eric Novacek, [3]; 6. 35W-Phillip Witt, [2]; 7. 14-Alyssa White, [4]; 8. (DNF) 069-Kalvin Kesselberg, [5]
Heat 2: 1. 146-Andrew Bertsch, [5]; 2. 21-Tim Church, [1]; 3. 5G-Tim Gonska, [7]; 4. 52X-Joe Gonska, [4]; 5. 9-Torey Fischer, [2]; 6. 31X-Tim Shiek, [8]; 7. 06-Clint Hudkins, [3]; 8. 211-Joe Schrodt, [6]; 9. 73-Maranda Borg, [9]

The Audio Garage IMCA Stock Cars
A Feature 1: 1. 40-Rob VanMil, [8]; 2. 4-Rick Schulz, [5]; 3. 99M-Kevin Mattox, [7]; 4. 87-Eric Harpole, [6]; 5. 1-Kelly Jacobson, [4]; 6. 28M-Keith Mattox, [11]; 7. 76-Bob Fuegmann, [9]; 8. 12-Rob Stenvold, [10]; 9. 76Z-John Sandvig, [1]; 10. 72-Adam Geist, [12]; 11. (DNF) 49-Tim Compson, [2]; 12. (DNF) 82-MIke Anderson, [3]
Heat 1: 1. 76-Bob Fuegmann, [6]; 2. 49-Tim Compson, [2]; 3. 1-Kelly Jacobson, [3]; 4. 76Z-John Sandvig, [1]; 5. 87-Eric Harpole, [4]; 6. 28M-Keith Mattox, [5]
Heat 2: 1. 82-MIke Anderson, [2]; 2. 99M-Kevin Mattox, [4]; 3. 40-Rob VanMil, [5]; 4. 4-Rick Schulz, [3]; 5. 12-Rob Stenvold, [6]; 6. 72-Adam Geist, [1]

Petermann Seeds INEX Legends
A Feature 1: 1. 14T-Tim Estenson, [10]; 2. 72-Tye Wilke, [8]; 3. 79-Scott Richardson, [5]; 4. D1RT-Tony Brockhouse, [6]; 5. 5-Dean Julsrud, [7]; 6. 8JR-Kaitlyn Skalicky, [9]; 7. 29-Brandon Erickson, [12]; 8. 20-Alex Braseth, [2]; 9. 29B-Ryan Braseth, [11]; 10. B1-Brody Carlsrud, [1]; 11. 24-Shaun Erickson, [14]; 12. (DNF) 5D8-Dylan Johnson, [3]; 13. (DNF) 69-Brian Hanson, [4]; 14. (DNF) 77-Tony Jagoditsh, [13]
Heat 1: 1. 14T-Tim Estenson, [6]; 2. 72-Tye Wilke, [5]; 3. 5D8-Dylan Johnson, [3]; 4. 79-Scott Richardson, [4]; 5. B1-Brody Carlsrud, [1]; 6. 29B-Ryan Braseth, [2]; 7. 77-Tony Jagoditsh, [7]
Heat 2: 1. 5-Dean Julsrud, [4]; 2. 20-Alex Braseth, [2]; 3. 8JR-Kaitlyn Skalicky, [5]; 4. 69-Brian Hanson, [3]; 5. D1RT-Tony Brockhouse, [7]; 6. 29-Brandon Erickson, [6]; 7. 24-Shaun Erickson, [1]

VanMil Steals Sport Mod Win at Red River Valley Speedway

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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

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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

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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.

Kraling picks up win at Red River Valley Speedway

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By Mike Spieker

WEST FARGO—Veteran modified driver Dale Kraling picked up his first win on Red River Valley Speedway’s three-eighths mile track Friday night.

The Mayville, N.D., driver, who has countless wins on the old half-mile, started sixth on the field before taking second from Tim Thomas on just the second circuit. Last Sunday night’s winner at Buffalo River Race Park, Michael Greseth followed Kraling into the third spot with five laps in the books.

In a matter of four laps, Kraling erased pole position starter, Michael Johnson’s, advantage as the race for the lead was on. Kraling took the top spot as the lead duo entered lapped traffic.

Once out front, Kraling was gone.

The driver of the No. 7 Modified checked out from the rest of the field, taking the win by a staggering five-and-a-half second. In the process, Kraling lapped up to eighth.

Johnson, Darren Pfau, Greseth, and Thursday night’s winner at Norman County Raceway, Tyler Peterson, rounded out the top five.

After a three-wide pass for the lead, Luke Johnson of Moorhead controlled the pace of the IMCA Sport Mod main event. Johnson got by Dustin Hartwig and Kenneth Bye before opening up a sizable advantage over second place.

In the late going, 10th place starter, Jesse Skalicky, moved into second, but he didn’t have enough time to reel in Johnson. The win was Johnson’s second at RRVS of the season and seventh overall.

With four laps remaining in the IMCA stock car feature, Rich Schulz stole the lead from Bismarck’s Eric Harpole. Schulz utilized the low groove exiting turn two to get by Harpole and distance himself from the field. The win marked Schulz’s second of the season at RRVS.

Troy Hoff scored his first win of the season at RRVS in the INEX Legends. The driver hailing from Flasher started on the pole and held off a hard charging Tim Estenson in the closing laps to record his eighth overall win of 2017.

Tim Church picked up his seventh win of 2017 in the IMCA hobby stocks. The driver out of Moorhead grabbed the lead away from Tim Shiek with seven laps to go before cruising to KRJB 106.5FM Victory Lane.

RESULTS

Modifieds
Feature: 1. Dale Kraling, Mayville, N.D. 2. Michael Johnson, Moorhead. 3. Darren Pfau, Fargo. 4. Michael Greseth, Harwood, N.D. 5. Tyler Peterson, Hickson, N.D.

Sport Mods
Feature: 1. Luke Johnson, Moorhead. 2. Jesse Skalicky, Fargo. 3. Chris VanMil, Barnesville, Minn. 4. Kenneth Bye, Moorhead. 5. Charles Jensen, Pelican Rapids, Minn.

Stock Cars
Feature 1: Rick Schulz, Horace, N.D. 2. Eric Harpole, Bismarck, N.D. 3. John Sandvig, West Fargo. 4. Adam Geist, West Fargo. 5. Mike Anderson, Walcott, N.D.

Legends
Feature 1: 1. Troy Hoff, Flasher, Minn. 2. Tim Estenson, Fargo. 3. Joshua Julsrud, Barnesville, Minn. 4. Andrew Jochim, Glyndon, Minn. 5. Tye Wilke, Detroit Lakes, Minn.

Hobby Stocks
Feature: 1. Tim Church, Moorhead, Minn. 2. Tim Shiek, Fargo. 3. Brandon Schmidt, Hillsboro, Minn. 4. Nick Nelson, Georgetown, Minn. 5. Eric Novacek, West Fargo.

Dave Shipley Collects First RRVS Modified Win

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By Mike Spieker

WEST FARGO – A stout field of 28 IMCA Modifieds made up the starting grid for the 25-lap main event Friday night at Red River Valley Speedway. Dave Shipley of Fargo picked up the win, ending Austin Arneson’s stranglehold on victory lane.

Shipley started ninth on the field before charging into the lead. The driver of the Dakota Cat No. 72 topped fellow Fargo driver, Cale Arneson, who finished second. Michael Greseth, Rob VanMil, and Dale Kraling rounded out the top five.

IMCA hobby stock drivers Brandon Schmidt and Tim Church have been battling each other hard all season long. More often than not, it’s for the win.

That was the case again Friday night at the high-banked three-eighths mile oval. Both Schmidt and Church started in the fourth row, but they didn’t stay back there long. The two drivers rubbed fenders as they fought for the win in the closing laps.

At the checkers, Schmidt took the win over Church to record his fifth triumph of the 2017.

Entering the night, Jesse Skalicky was riding a wave of momentum after picking up the biggest win of his career Tuesday night at Hancock County Speedway in Britt, Iowa.

The Fargo driver used that momentum to carry him from his 11th starting position into the lead of the IMCA Sport Mod main event. Skalicky held off Moorhead’s Luke Johnson, who came in second, and was followed by Kelly Jacobson, Chris VanMil, and Austin Veralrud.

Mike Anderson of Walcott started on the pole of the IMCA stock car feature and picked up the win over Horace’s Rick Schulz. The win marks Anderson’s first of the season at RRVS.

Racing continues next Friday night at Red River Valley Speedway, starting at 7pm.

RESULTS

IMCA Modifieds:
Feature – 1. Dave Shipley, Fargo, N.D.; 2. Cale Arneson, Fargo, N.D.; 3. Michael Greseth, Harwood, N.D.; 4. Rob VanMil, Barnesville, Minn.; 5. Dale Kraling, Mayville, N.D.

IMCA SportMods:
Feature – 1. Jesse Skalicky, Fargo, N.D.; 2. Luke Johnson, Moorhead, Minn.; 3. Kelly Jacobson, Fargo, N.D.; 4. Chris VanMil, Barnesville, Minn.; 5. Austin Veralrud, Fargo, N.D.

IMCA Stock Cars:
Feature – 1. Mike Anderson, Walcott, N.D.; 2. Rick Schulz, Horace, N.D.; 3. Tim Compson, Valley City, N.D.; 4. John Sandvig, West Fargo, N.D.; 5. Kelly Jacobson, Fargo, N.D.

IMCA Hobby Stocks:
Feature – 1. Brandon Schimdt, Hillsboro, N.D.; 2. Tim Church, Moorhead, Minn.; 3. Torey Fischer, West Fargo, N.D.; 4. Alyssa White, West Fargo, N.D.; 5. Maranda Borg, Harwood, N.D.

Rain forces postponement of World of Outlaws event at Red River Valley Speedway to August 19

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WEST FARGO, N.D. — June 17, 2017 —Rain has forced the postponement of the Gerdau Recycling Duel in the Dakotas for the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series originally scheduled for Saturday, June 17 at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, North Dakota.

The event has been re-scheduled for Saturday, August 19. All tickets from the originally scheduled race will be honored for that date.

For more information on tickets, visit www.slspromotions.com or call 815-344-2023.

Twitter: @SLS_Promotions

Facebook: SLS Promotions LLC

Well Known Track: Donny Schatz returns to Red River Valley Speedway this weekend

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Steve Eichelberger Photo
Paul Arch Photo

WEST FARGO, N.D. — June 14, 2017 — Every racetrack in his home state of North Dakota is special to Donny Schatz for one reason or another. Though, Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo may be on top of the list. Growing up, he was a fan in the stands when the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series would come to town. As he cut his teeth in the sprint car world, he spent many nights at the track competing. He even was involved on the promotional side, as his family ran operations at Red River Valley Speedway for a few years.

Schatz will get his first crack at Red River Valley Speedway since 2012 this week, as the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series returns to the historic track on Saturday, June 17 for the Gerdau Recycling Duel in the Dakotas.

“If there is one place you look forward to getting back to, it’s a place you got a lot of laps at growing up,” said Schatz. “That was really my home track, even though I grew up in Minot. I spent a lot of Friday night’s racing there. We have only been there once with the new configuration, with the World of Outlaws, so I am looking forward to getting there and trying to get that elusive win in front of the hometown crowd.”

While the Schatz family was in charge of Red River Valley Speedway they shortened the track from a sprawling half-mile to a three-eighths-mile. The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series has competed once on that configuration, which was the series last visit in 2012. Schatz, who has four wins with the Outlaws at Red River Valley Speedway, finished third in that event. He actually was victorious with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions on the re-configured surface in 2011, as well as finishing second with the series earlier that season at the track.

“The big tracks across the country seem to be dwindling for weekly racing and it was something we as a family felt like it was necessary to make it smaller,” explained Schatz. “We went through that expense. The people that are running it now are doing an awesome job. I’ve watched a lot of races online and they are doing a fantastic job with the race track and the racing has been pretty stellar.”

Prior to racing at Red River Valley Speedway this weekend, Schatz will get to compete at another track that is well known to him, River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks. He has won eight times at the high-banked bullring, including four straight and six of the last seven races contested by the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at the track.

“They have made Grand Forks a little bigger over the years and have made it wider and a lot of fun,” Schatz noted. “We’ve had a lot of success there. That’s another place I spent a lot of Friday night’s racing at, when I was growing up. It’s kind of like the perfect weekend. You get Grand Forks and Fargo in the same weekend. That’s something you dream of as a kid and here were are in 2017, with that opportunity.”

The Northern Late Model Racing Association (NLRA) will compete both nights with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at River Cities Speedway and Red River Valley Speedway and Schatz will do double duty both nights in his Tony Stewart Racing owned sprint car and his self-owned late model. Schatz won on the same night in both cars in August of 2013 at the track and also picked up an NLRA win at River Cities in August of 2014.

“I’ve done it at Grand Forks several times and if everything is going okay, it’s a good thing,” he shared. “If something goes wrong on either side of the fence, it’s a big challenge. To do it two nights in a row, I can tell you that on Sunday, I’ll be pretty worn out. That’s part of it, though. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. We’ll do our best to have a good weekend in both cars and see if we can’t have a lot of fun in the process.”

With the schedule picking up and the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series competing nine times in a 19-day stretch to wrap up the month of June and open July, Schatz is looking forward to being at the track night after night. Entering the pair of races in his home state this weekend, Schatz leads the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series standings as he chases his ninth championship. He tops the leaderboard with 10 wins as well as 27 top-five finishes.

“We are getting to more race tracks and doing a lot more racing, which is great,” said Schatz. “For me, this time of the year, we are at a lot of tracks that are closer to home and places that I’ve been around quite a few times. It’s a little bit more humbling for me to be around this area. We’re definitely ready to get the summer started and, yeah, we enjoy it. Hopefully we can have a great summer like we have in the past.”

Tickets for the Gerdau Recycling Duel in the Dakotas, featuring World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and NLRA at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, North Dakota, on Saturday, June 17 can be purchased online at slspromotions.ticketforce.com or by phone at 815-344-2023 and at the track on race day.

Fans can also save $5 on General Admission tickets when purchased at participating NAPA Auto Parts stores. Tickets buyers will exchange their NAPA receipt for a race ticket at the Main Grandstand ticket booth on race day.

Twitter: @SLS_Promotions
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The Breakdown: World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at Red River Valley Speedway

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(Rob Kocak Photo)

WEST FARGO, N.D. — June 12, 2017 — The Gerdau Recycling Duel in the Dakotas was a longtime fixture on the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series schedule. The event returns on Saturday, June 17, marking the first time since 2012 that the series has visited the track in West Fargo, North Dakota. Leading the way will be eight-time and reigning series champion Donny Schatz who now calls Fargo home. This edition of The Breakdown sets the stage for the 2017 edition of the Gerdau Recycling Duel in the Dakotas for the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at Red River Valley Speedway.

The track
Red River Valley Speedway is a high-banked, three-eighths-mile that was formerly a half-mile. The track record of 12.566-seconds was established by Joey Saldana on June 17, 2012 on the new configuration of the track.

Past winners
Donny Schatz is the winningest active full-time World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series driver at Red River Valley Speedway with four victories. Schatz, who raced with the Outlaws for the first time at the track in 1993 as a teenager, won for the first time at Red River Valley Speedway in 2002. He followed that up with a preliminary feature win in 2003 and swept both nights of the Duel in the Dakotas in 2006, the season he won his first World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series championship.

Daryn Pittman, the 2013 series titlist, won at Red River Valley Speedway in 2008, while Joey Saldana won at the track in 2004.

Steve Kinser, the 20-time series champion, leads all drivers with 16 overall wins at Red River Valley Speedway. Kinser won nine A-Feature events and seven preliminary features. Fellow Hall of Famer Sammy Swindell, who won the most recent Outlaws race at the track in 2012, is next on the list with 14 totals wins, split evenly between A-Features and preliminary features.

Former series champions Jason Meyers and Danny Lasoski were both victorious at Red River Valley Speedway, when it was a half-mile.

Doug Wolfgang is also a past winner with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at Red River Valley Speedway, along with Jac Haudenschild, Stevie Smith, Johnny Herrera, Jeff Swindell and Craig Dollansky.

The players
Donny Schatz is the current point leader with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series and leads the series with 10 A-Feature wins thus far in 2017. David Gravel and Brad Sweet are currently tied second, with Daryn Pittman fourth and Shane Stewart fifth. Jason Johnson is currently sixth in points, with rookie Sheldon Haudenschild seventh, Logan Schuchart eighth, Joey Saldana ninth and Jason Sides 10th.

Also on the road this season are veteran drivers Paul McMahan, Kraig Kinser and Greg Wilson, along with youngsters Jacob Allen, Clyde Knipp and rookie Brent Marks.

Double Duty
Donny Schatz will also compete in his late model with the Northern Late Model Racing Association (NLRA) at Red River Valley Speedway, as well as the night before at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks. Schatz swept both the World of Outlaws and NLRA races at River Cities in August of 2013. Schatz raced his late model last week in Winnipeg, picking up a top-10 finish.

Plenty of starts
Jason Sides, Paul McMahan and Shane Stewart have each raced nearly 20 times at Red River Valley Speedway in their respective careers. McMahan has seven top-10 finishes at the track, while Sides has six and Stewart five. Sides leads the trio with a best finish of second in 2007.

Return visit
Greg Wilson, the defending Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award winner, made a pair of starts at Red River Valley Speedway in 2006, finishing 15th in each of those races.

On the podium
Brad Sweet and David Gravel both raced at Red River Valley Speedway in 2011 with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions. Sweet finished second in that event to Donny Schatz, while Gravel finished third. Shane Stewart also competed in that race. Gravel has made a total of four starts with the All Stars at the track and has four top-10 finishes.

First timers
Jason Johnson, Logan Schuchart, Jacob Allen, Clyde Knipp and Brent Marks will all be making their first visit to Red River Valley Speedway.

Tickets for the Gerdau Recycling Duel in the Dakotas, featuring World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, along with the Northern Late Model Racing Association (NLRA) at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, North Dakota, on Saturday, June 17 can be purchased online at slspromotions.ticketforce.com or by phone at 815-344-2023, as well as at the track on race day.

Twitter: @SLS_Promotions
Facebook: SLS Promotions LLC