The 2009 Dacotah Speedway mall show will be April 15th through April 19th at the Gateway Fashion Mall in Bismarck.  Cars may enter the Gateway Mall beginning at 8pm on Wednesday, April 15th.  Use the doors on the South side at the Rockin’ 50’s entrance.  Cars will come out of the mall at 4pm on Sunday, April 19th.

On both days, the track sealed over with rubber and cars began rounding the 3/8 mile high banked track at an increasing speed. However, keeping dust down in an area plagued by a season long drought was difficult, if not impossible, for track officials.

In the Late Model division it was a Bemidji, MN driver who had good shows both nights to take home the combined overall Governor’s Classic trophy. John Seitz is no stranger to victory lane at the Governor’s Classic, as he always seems to turn up the wick a bit when it comes to racing at Dacotah Speedway. On Saturday, he just blew the field away as he took advantage of his front row starting position to win by almost a full straightaway. Second place finisher Blaine Doppler of Menoken also looked strong as he handled lap traffic as well as Seitz, but he just couldn’t reel him in. Rounding out the top five on Saturday were Harold Schill of West Fargo in third, Edmore’s Dale Skytland in fourth and Mitch Johnson of Hickson in fifth.

On Sunday it was a young Matt Aukland of Fargo that led the most laps and cruised to the feature win despite a late race charge by Seitz, who finished in second. Third place was a father-son battle and it was the elder Skytland—Dale—who beat son Cody to the line. Rounding out the top five was Robbie Rice of Minot. Seitz, by virtue of his solid 1-2 finish was the Governor’s Classic Champion and Dale Skytland was Runner-up.

The IMCA Modifieds had a nice field on hand for some big money each night. On Saturday, Shawn Strand of Bismarck handled the dry, slick track by leading from green to checkered, but he had to duel it out with several drivers to get the win. Rusty Kollman of Carrignton had his WISSOTA Midwest Modified on hand and he looked good on the super dry track. He challenged Strand on a number of occasions, as did Bismarck’s Jeremy Keller. When the checkers flew it was Strand taking the win and Kollman right behind him in second . However, further inspection of his WISSOTA Hoosier tires led to his disqualification, as they do not meet rules for the IMCA sanctioned event. Even though the two different tires are manufactured by the same company, the IMCA tires are, by design, harder to gain traction to “level off” the racing playing field so that engines do not become the dominant force in the division. That moved Keller up to second and Troy Butz of Bismarck in third. Bismarck’s Mark Dahl was then elevated to fourth and Hank Berry of Sidney, MT taking fifth.

On Sunday, it was Strand again, but this time he held a commanding lead at races end, after dominating the feature. Mark Dahl had another good run for second and Marlyn Seidler of Underwood was third. Davin Emmel made the long tow from Estevan, SK worth the trip by taking fourth and Troy Butz finished in fifth. Strand was crowned the Governor’s Classic Champion and Dahl was Runner-up.

WISSOTA Street Stocks are a staple of the Governor’s Classic and they put on a good show once again for the fans. David Rohweder has been unstoppable this year, but a former three-time WISSOTA national champ was on hand to see if someone from the east could wrest the Wishek driver’s hold on winning features. On Saturday, Scott Paulson from Kimball, MN almost snapped Rohweder’s streak, but the #13 driver just had that little extra to secure yet another win. Paulson was second, followed by Rusty Kollman of Carrington for third and Jamestown’s Spencer Johnson who took fourth. Barrett Berg of Lincoln wrapped up the top five by coming in fifth.

On Sunday, it was just another day at the office for Rohweder, who won the feature again, despite a race long battle with Kollman, who finished second. Paulson was third and Randy Meyer came back from a nasty looking crash on Saturday to finish fourth. Johnson had another good run by taking fifth. Rohweder adds another win to his 2006 “Dream Season” by taking the Governor’s Classic Championship. Kollman was Runner-up.

The Legends were back at Dacotah Speedway and their two day run had familiar faces up front. Steven Kuntz of Elgin won one of the closest features on Saturday by taking the feature over Garrison’s Robert Huettl, who was having his own battle with uncle Glen, who lives just down the road. Kuntz snuck by for the win and Robert had to settle for second. Glen took third and Spencer Wilson of Minot came in fourth. Cam Schafer from Glenwood, MN rounded out the top five on Saturday.

On Sunday, the Huettl’s sandwiched Kuntz in the finishing order. This time it was Glen taking the win, with Kuntz coming in second. Robert had another good run for third. Wilson matched his Saturday performance by again taking fourth and Bill Hultberg of Bismarck came across the line in fifth.

Kuntz was overall Points Champion for the two days with Glen Huettl taking Runner-up.

The Hobby Stocks ran just one program over the two days but they definitely took home the largest amount of bent up sheet metal. On Saturday during the trophy dash, James Lawson nailed the front stretch concrete barrier so hard it severely bent his frame. That sidelined his effort to win so he borrowed another car. On Sunday, a dust filled collision during the feature had the look of a highway multiple car “stack’em up” accident, as Bismarck’s Devin Keigley spun in turn #4 and collected fellow Bismarck drivers Paul Schuh and once again Lawson. The crash was so hard that Shuh’s broken axle was pounded deep into the ground with the flange sticking straight up into the air.

After the resulting lengthy red flag, the race was re-started with Chad Hausauer of Bismarck taking the win in the “Grey Ghost.” Jamestown driver Ryan Mikkelson came in second and Bryan Bohrer of Baldwin was third. Points leader Ron Joern of Bismarck was fourth and Matt Brendel, also of Bismarck, finished in fifth. Hausauer was name Champion and Mikkelson was Runner-up.

The Thunder Fours are really starting to come together as a class. Earlier in the year they were good for at least one roll-over each nigh,t but the division made up of rookie drivers have made major progress. Nate Keena of Baldwin won his first Thunder Four Governor’s Classic championship by winning the feature. Bismarck’s Cory Lang was Runner-up Champ by virtue of his second place finish in the feature. Ron Arth of Bismarck was third and Mandan’s Wes Schmidt was fourth. Nathan Mundahl of Bismarck finished in fifth.

To be fair, the driver of the #33 IMCA Modified doesn’t look like an elderly driver. Herb eats healthy, exercises playing tennis and lives a lifestyle any minister would be proud of. He protects his real age closer than Hugh Hefner at his Playboy mansion. Even after a win he is one of the first drivers out of the pits because he has no need for traditional racing celebrations after a hard fought contest. He is conservative and has patience in racing and in life. All of these attributes are again rare in racing, but they served him well on a smooth and ultra slick track this past Friday night.

Bargmann started on the front row on a track he has learned to use that conservative and patient style to his advantage because he led each and every lap for his second win of the year. This time it was a drive that made a talented field rise up and take notice that the #33 may have the dry slick set-up, along with the skill to use it, that just blitzed the competition. Each lap he extended his lead by keeping his rear wheels from spinning, using a patient right foot that made him smooth and fast. Those drivers behind him were all trying valiantly to catch him, but they all spun their wheels and Bargmann just extended his lead. By races end that lead was more than a full straightaway, as the race stayed caution free.

When the checkers flew after 25 laps, it was Bargmann first, with Bismarck’s Jeremy Keller, Shawn Strand, Troy Butz and Mark Dahl taking the top five in order. All will admit there was no catching Bargmann, no matter what his age. And, you can bet all wondered if they will be able to do what Herb had just done when they reach his age. Don’t look to see Bargmann any time soon in the early bird senior buffet line on Friday nights because he’s tough when he’s out front.

The Hobby Stocks were the headline act for the evening as they kicked off the Bomber Tour in three North Dakota Cities. Cautions, spins, wrecks and other associated bedlam was the order of the day as all 24 drivers were trying to win the feature from the first lap. Bargmann’s patience was in short supply as the race had to be called for the time limit. James Lawson of Bismarck didn’t care as he led all 14 laps before the show was called. Ryan Mikkelson of Jamestown moved up from his sixth row starting spot to nab the runner-up position. Jamestown’s Ryan Carr was third and Matt Brendel of Bismarck took fourth. Lincoln’s Brad Hanson had a nice run, as well as he went from last place in the order to finish fifth. The Tour continues on in Jamestown and Lisbon on successive nights.

WISSOTA Street Stocks were on hand to try to break David Rohweeder’s win streak, but it appears no one can beat the #13 car from Wishek. He started this week in the third row and it only took him six laps to find the point position and then everybody started racing for second. Rusty Kollman of Carrington claimed that prize, with Randy Meyer taking third. Spencer Johnson of Jamestown was fourth and Lincoln’s Barrett Berg took over fifth. Only one caution period slowed the Street car feature.

The “Big Crash” of the night happened in the Legends division. Early in the race a try for a five wide pass on the front straight caused young Anthony Kopp to hit the concrete barrier protecting the flag stand. The collision was so hard a scary looking fire developed, but the Mandan and Rural Fire Departments were only a stone’s throw away and they put out the fire and Anthony got out of the care shaken, but in one piece. At the end of the straightaway was a gaggle of Legend cars all tangled together from another part of the incident.

After a red flag the race resumed missing several cars, but another Huettl won the race. This time it was Garrison’s Glenn who claimed the prize after a short battle with Spencer Wilson of Minot. Wilson did hang on for second with Tracy Domagala of Bismarck taking third. Elgin’s Steven Kuntz and Ivan Sailer of Bismarck rounded out the top five.

The Thunder Fours did another good job as the four cylinder front wheel drive cars had a fairly caution free race. Nate Keena of Baldwin started in the second row and he wasted little time getting to the front and led all 10 laps for the win. Matt Gross of Bismarck took second and James Hellman of Mandan had another good run for third. Cory Lang of Bismarck was fourth and Baldwin’s Shawn Keena claimed the fifth place prize.

Racing resumes next Saturday and Sunday with the annual Governor’s Classic Race. Late Models will join the regular line-up with many out of town entries expected in the six division special. Complete programs will be run in the top divisions each night.

When the Tour came to Championship Night on yet another new track Cordes found himself in an enviable on top of the point standings due to super consistent qualifying efforts and good finishes. No wins, but outstanding efforts considering he had not raced here before and he stayed out of trouble and kept his equipment in great shape.

Ten points behind Cordes were two veterans of the modified wars in North Dakota for many years. Hank Berry of of Sidney MT, would need a truck to take home all the money he has won on the Tour over the years.

He seems to always do exceptionally well at Dacotah Speedway when money is on the line. Tied with the #25 driver was the current points leader of Dacotah
Speedway Marlyn Seidler and he had a good starting position in his heat– something he hadn’t had all week. Both of these drivers were hungry for a win and had to hope Cordes would either not qualify, break down early in the feature or finish 11 positions lower in the finishing order.

With Cordes clearly in the catbird’s seat,the qualifying heats only created more pressure. Seidler did what he had to do by winning his heat and ending
his bad luck with drawing positions by pulling the #1 position out of the bucket and putting the #7 on the pole for the feature. Berry qualified in his heat third–good enough to make the feature but putting him way back in the 18th starting position. Cordes won his heat and started right behind Seidler in the third position on the starting grid. All he had to do was stay out of trouble and stay within 10 spots of Seidler or Berry if he could get up that far.

When the green flag flew Seidler immediately took command of the race by driving straight to the front with Kenmare’s Robert Hellebust right on his rear bumper. Cordes starting slipping back to third, then fourth as other drivers started their own charge to the front. By lap seven Berry had already passed half the field, including Cortes and he was hot on Seidlers rear bumper. On lap eight the #25 passed Seidler and set sail that extended his lead each and every lap.

Berry was clearly in command but all eyes were on the #71 of Cordes to see if he could stay close enough in position to Berry to take his first ever Tour points title.

Lap after lap Berry extended his lead with Seidler still holding onto second with Hellebust giving the #7 driver fits to hold onto the #2 spot. Cordes watched the battle from his fourth spot knowing he could not be beat for the title even if Berry lapped the entire field. He had to play it cool as he couldn’t get into a crash with two drivers ahead of him that were starting to rub bumpers and paint with each other.

With three laps to go Joren Boyce of Minot spun in the #4 turn bringing out a yellow flag and bunching up the field. Berry was in the lone front row position and Seidler and Hellebust were side by side in the second row. Cordes took his third row restart position knowing there was going to be fireworks ahead of him as three drivers all thought they could win the race and all three are not afraid of bending a bumper or two to get that win.

Berry shot out to the lead again but Seidler and Hellebust started getting into it for the runner-up spot. Berry wasn’t looking back but the contact
between Seidler and Hellebust caused the #7’s front tire to go flat and Cordes went around both of them for second. Hellebust moved to third and Jeremy Keller of Bismarck moved into fourth.

Berry shot across the line for the win and the honor of being the only double winner on the Tour. Cordes’ wise patience and ability to stay out of a pushing
match on the track gave him second place and the overall series points title–nine points ahead of Berry. Hellebust finished in third and Keller fourth.
Rodney Scheuermann of Scranton, Iowa was fifth.

Seidler kept his car on the track but had to settle for a 10th place finish and third in overall points.

Overall, the Tour raced six consecutive night with 31 drivers racing in all events. This beats last year’s record. Average car counts for the Tour were also records with Dickinson having the largest car count with 55 IMCA race cars on hand for their first night of racing.

Randy Artz of Battle Mountain, Nevada won the longest tow award and Tony Steward of Belgrade. Montana was the winner of the hard luck award.

Dacotah Speedway also raced the Hobby Stocks and the Thunder Fours with two new winners coming out of the two support divisions. Chad Hausauer of Bismarck raced the “Gray Ghost” to victory by starting on the pole and keeping the lead for the entire 15 lap race.

Bismarck drivers James Lawson and Ron Joern were second and third with Baldwin’s Bryan Bohrer taking fourth. Wayne Jahner of Mandan rounded out the top five.

Wes Schmidt of Mandan followed Hausauer’s lead in the Thunder Fours by leading his entire 10 lap feature from start to finish. Nate Keena of Baldwin grabbed
the runner-up spot with Bismarck’s Kyle Hagen taking third. James Hellman of Mandan was fourth and Matt Gross of Bismarck was fifth.

Next Friday night is the Hobby Stock Special with many Bomber drivers from Jamestown and Lisbon joining the regulars of Dacotah Speedway.

All features, on all six nights pay $1,200 to win, take 24 cars for the feature event, with a minimum of $200 paid to start the 30 lap feature event. The point fund winner will get a check for $500, with second taking home $300, $200 for third and $150 to the fifth place finisher. Fifth through eighth places pay $100, while ninth through tenth are both worth $75. In addition, Dakota Trackside of Minot will contribute $3.00 per gallon of fuel and $3.00 per wheel and Hoosier tire sold throughout the event. This should net a conservative estimate of another $500 to be added to the points fund, to be distributed, using the same mathematical formula, to the top ten in points.

“The combination of nightly purses and the Tour points fund makes this the richest six days of IMCA racing during the regular point season,” said IMCA Vice president of Operations Brett Root. “The purse is very fair and the point fund will reward drivers who run consistently well throughout the Tour.” Entries have already been received from nine states and two Canadian provinces.

Over 25 IMCA and Tour Corporate Sponsors have pooled together an impressive list of over $8,000 worth of contingency prizes for the top 10 in series points. These sponsors include: (Corporate) Dakota Trackside, Keith Black Racing Pistons, Schoenfeld Headers, AFCO Racing Shocks, Intercomp, Four Bears Casino, Corral Sales, (IMCA) Belleville Motorsports, Big Dog Chassis, Brinn Transmissions, Design 500 Racewear, DJ Safety, Finish Line Racewear, Hawk Performance, Impact Racing, Isky Racing Cams, KSE Racing Products, Larson Racing Specialists, Midwest Motorsports, Quarter Master, Racemart, Racing Optics, Real Racing Wheels, and Ringers Gloves.

For more information call John Gartner at (701) 667-2053 or email at:johnygman@bis.midco.net