Category Archives: NEWS

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
Facebook: SLS Promotions LLC

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

Arneson Remains Unbeatable at Red River Valley Speedway

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By Mike Spieker

WEST FARGO – Austin Arneson picked up his fifth win of the season Friday night at Red River Valley Speedway. Arneson has now won five of the first six IMCA Modified features at the West Fargo dirt track. The only race he hasn’t won came on May 25th, where he crossed the finish line first, but was disqualified following the race for his car weighing in too light.

Jason Strand took the early lead of the modified feature from the third starting position. Strand paced the field in his No. E85 machine until defending track champion, Rob VanMil, took the top spot on lap six.

Strand battled back with 15 circuits remaining and briefly took the lead down the back straightaway. VanMil was too strong, however, and pulled away from Strand using the high lane.
With Arneson starting 11th, it took him several laps to make his way up to the front, but once he did he made his presence known.

Arneson took second at the halfway point before challenging VanMil for the lead with under five laps remaining. The two veteran drivers were side by side for the lead when they made contact on the front straightaway, which sent VanMil spinning uncontrollably into the infield. Race officials charged VanMil with the caution, which sent him to the back of the pack.

Arneson held off Dave Shipley and Strand in the final laps to take the win.

The IMCA Sport Mod feature began with Taylor Grove taking the early lead after starting in the fourth position. The Shelly, Minn. driver held a comfortable lead over Luke Johnson before the yellow flag waved with 10 laps to go.

On the restart, Johnson took the point after a four-wide battle for the lead with Grove, Chris VanMil, and Jesse Skalicky. In what looked to be a replay of last week’s feature, Johnson had his hands full with Skalicky as they raced for the lead in the closing stages.

After battling side by side for four trips around the three-eighths mile dirt oval, Skalicky grabbed the lead with seven laps to go and went on to claim his fifth win of the season.

Duffy Froemke picked up the IMCA stock car feature win in dramatic fashion. The Lisbon driver stalked Rick Schulz for the duration of the 15-lap feature before stealing the win on the last corner of the final lap. Froemke dove to the inside of Schulz entering turn three and slid up right in front of Schulz exiting turn four to win the race back to the checkered flag. The win was Froemke’s fourth of the year.

Hillsboro’s Brandon Schmidt executed a dominating performance in the IMCA hobby stock feature. Tim Estenson grabbed the INEX Legends feature win from the fourth starting position. The win marks Estenson’s fifth win of the young 2017 season.

RESULTS:

Modifieds:
Feature – 1. Austin Arneson, Fargo, N.D.; 2. Dave Shipley, Fargo, N.D.; 3. Jason Strand, Portland, N.D.; 4. Jarrett Carter, Lisbon, N.D.; 5. Dale Kraling, Mayville, N.D.

Sport Mods:
Feature – 1. Jesse Skalicky, Fargo, N.D.; 2. Luke Johnson, Moorhead, Minn.; 3. Kelly Jacobson, Fargo, N.D.; 4. Chris VanMil, Barnesville, Minn.; 5. Taylor Grove, Shelly, Minn.

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

Legends:
Feature – 1. Tim Estenson, Fargo, N.D.; 2. Donavin Wiest, Wishek, N.D.; 3. Andrew Jochim, Glyndon, Minn.; 4. Baiden Heskett, Shakopee, Minn.; 5. Kaitlyn Skalicky, Fargo, N.D.

Hobby Stocks:
Feature – 1. Brandon Schmidt, Hillsboro, N.D.; 2. Tim Shiek, Fargo, N.D.; 3. Tim Church, Moorhead, Minn.; 4. Torey Fischer, West Fargo, N.D.; 5. Eric Novacek, West Fargo, N.D.

World of Outlaws set for Gerdau Recycling Duel in the Dakotas at Red River Valley Speedway on June 17

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WEST FARGO, N.D. — June 7, 2017 —The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series will hit the track at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, North Dakota for the first time since 2012 on Saturday, June 17, 2017 for the Gerdau Recycling “Duel in the Dakotas.”

In the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series last visit to Red River Valley Speedway in 2012, three-time series champion and Hall of Famer Sammy Swindell was victorious. Swindell started on the pole and led early before Chad Kemenah took the top spot on lap-9. Swindell would re-take the lead with eight laps remaining to earn his seventh A-Feature win at the track.

Donny Schatz, who calls Fargo home, has won four times at his home track, including winning 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 competition at Red River Valley Speedway. Schatz raced with the Outlaws for the first time at the track as a teenager in 1993, finishing 15th.

Joey Saldana, who is currently ninth in points, has three wins at Red River Valley Speedway in his career, with the most recent of those coming in 2004. The veteran driver has finished seventh or better in each of his last six starts at the track.

Daryn Pittman, the 2013 World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series champion, won in his last start at Red River Valley Speedway in 2008.

Jason Sides has five straight top-10 finishes 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 now-three-eighths-mile, which was a half-mile for many years.

Shane Stewart and Paul McMahan have similar resumes at Red River Valley Speedway. 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.

Greg Wilson, the reigning Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award winner, has made a pair of starts at Red River Valley Speedway, with those coming in 2006.

Exactly half of the 16 drivers competing full-time with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series in 2017 will be making their first visit to Red River Valley Speedway. David Gravel, Brad Sweet, 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.

Twitter: @SLS_Promotions

Facebook: SLS Promotions LLC

Discount World of Outlaws tickets available at NAPA Auto Parts stores for Red River Valley Speedway event on June 17

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WEST FARGO, N.D. — June 2, 2017 — Discount General Admission tickets for the Gerdau Recycling Duel in the Dakotas, featuring the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, N.D., on Saturday, June 17 are now available for purchase at participating NAPA Auto Parts stores.

Each General Admission ticket purchased at a NAPA Auto Parts location will feature a special $5 discount. Tickets buyers will exchange their NAPA receipt for tickets at the Main Grandstand ticket booth on race day.

With the NAPA Auto Parts $5 discount, Adult General Admission tickets purchased at participating stores are $32, while Child General Admission (6-12-years-old) are $12. Children ages five-under will be admitted free in the General Admission seating section.

To find a NAPA Auto Parts store, visit:
https://www.napaonline.com/en/auto-parts-stores-near-me

Additional information for the Gerdau Recycling Duel in the Dakotas at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, N.D., on Saturday, June 17 can be found at https://slspromotions.ticketforce.com. Reserved seats can also be purchased online and by calling 815-344-2023.

Twitter: @SLS_Promotions
Facebook: SLS Promotions LLC

Johnson Steals Rrv Speedway Win on Final Lap

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By Mike Spieker

WEST FARGO – With threatening skies off to the west, it was an accelerated night at Red River Valley Speedway Friday evening as the track hustled to beat the weather.

Luke Johnson picked up his first win of the season in the IMCA Sport Mods. The Moorhead driver was charged for a debris caution in the opening laps, which put him to the tail of the 17 car field. Within a matter of laps, Johnson had made his way back up to second, but he had defending track champion, Jesse Skalicky, in his way.

Johnson took advantage of a late-race caution as he used the low side of the speedway to reel in Skalicky. It came down to a drag race to the checkers, where Johnson edged out Skalicky by a half car length.

“There was a real small tack strip around the bottom, and if you entered the corner real slow and hit it, you could carry a lot of speed out of the corner,” said Johnson in KRJB victory lane.

Fargo’s Austin Arneson continued his winning ways after picking up his third win at the West Fargo three-eighths mile dirt oval.

After four and even five wide racing early on, Rob VanMil paced the field of 22 cars in the early going.

On lap seven, Arneson, who started in 11th, came up to challenge the Barnesville, Minn. wheelman for the race lead. Arneson successfully maneuvered by the No. 4D of VanMil before cruising out to a five and one-half second lead.

Arneson backed up his win Thursday night at Norman County Raceway in Ada, Minn. as he went on to score the victory over Jarrett Carter, who started 13th.

Rick Schulz picked up the IMCA Stock Car feature win. The Horace driver has scored countless victories in the WISSOTA street stock class over the years at the speedway but held off Lisbon’s Duffy Froemke for his first win in the brand new stock car division.

Sean Johnson was victorious in the INEX Legends, while Tim Shiek won the IMCA hobby stock feature.

Racing continues next Friday night at Red River Valley Speedway with ‘Meet N Greet’ night, where all fans can get an up-close look at the cars and visit with their favorite drivers during intermission. On June 17th the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars make their highly anticipated return to West Fargo.

RESULTS

Modifieds:

Feature – 1. Austin Arneson, Fargo, N.D.; 2. Jarrett Carter, Lisbon, N.D.; 3. Dave Shipley, Argusville, N.D.; 4. Rich Pavlicek, Casselton, N.D.; 5. Rob VanMil, Barnesville, Minn.

Sport Mods:

Feature – 1. Luke Johnson, Moorhead, Minn.; 2. Jesse Skalicky, Fargo, N.D.; 3. Matt Talley, Sabin, Minn.; 4. Chris VanMil, Barnesville, Minn.; 5. Kelly Jacobson, Fargo, N.D.

Stock Cars:

Feature – 1. Rick Schulz, Horace, N.D.; 2. Duffy Froemke, Lisbon, N.D.; 3. Kelly Jacobson, Fargo, N.D.; 4. Randy Klein, Lisbon, N.D.; 5. Tim Compson, Valley City, N.D.

Hobby Stocks:

Feature – 1. Tim Schiek, Fargo, N.D.; 2. Torey Fischer, West Fargo, N.D.; 3. Nick Nelson, Georgetown, Minn.; 4. Kalvin Kesselberg, Ada, Minn.; 5. Eric Novacek, West Fargo, N.D.

Legends:

Feature – 1. Sean Johnson, Kindred, N.D.; 2. Dean Julsrud, Barnesville, Minn.; 3. Brandon Erickson; 4. Scott Richardson, Pelican Rapids, Minn.; 5. Mariah Henriksen, Glyndon, Minn.

Arneson Finds Victory Lane Friday Night at Red River Valley Speedway

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By Mike Spieker

WEST FARGO – Many race fans left Red River Valley Speedway after Thursday night’s ‘Dakota Cat 100’ event thinking Austin Arneson won the night’s 42-lap IMCA Modified feature. However, Arneson came up 25 pounds light at the scales, forcing an automatic disqualification. That handed the win over to Austin’s brother, Cale, who followed Austin to the checkered flag.

That only fueled Austin’s drive to win even more on Friday night.

The Fargo native led the final 27 laps in a dominating performance to win the second and final night of the inaugural ‘Dakota Cat 100.’

With 12 laps in the books, it quickly became another battle between the Arneson brothers for the win as Cale led Austin.

On lap 15, Austin got a run on Cale and stole the point before opening a sizable lead.

With 23 laps to go, a caution reset the field, which allowed last Friday’s winner, Michael Greseth, to move into the runner-up spot. Greseth set his sights on the No. 10 of Arneson, but Arneson was too strong as he pulled away by four seconds in the closing laps.

Arneson was unchallenged on the final lap as he took his second RRVS win of the season.

“The track was [in the best condition] we’ve seen in a long time. Hats off to Jake and Sharnel [Bitker] and Nick [Skalicky],” said Arneson in victory lane. “The track was really technical tonight. It was slow and you had to hit your marks. We are still fine tuning on some things to make [the car] better.”

Luke Johnson edged out Dan Dowling in the final laps of the IMCA Sport Mod feature. However, Johnson and Dowling were both disqualified following post-race inspection. That gave Jesse Skalicky his fourth RRVS win of 2017.

Duffy Froemke held off Rick Schulz in a thrilling green-white-checkered finish during the IMCA stock car feature. The win was Froemke’s second of the year at the West Fargo three-eighths mile dirt oval.

Scotty Richardson picked up a popular win in the INEX Legends, while Tim Shiek was victorious in IMCA Hobby Stock action.

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