It was another beautiful night for racing as drivers and fans packed Dacotah Speedway for the Mandan Dirt Series presented by Bismarck State College on Friday, May 9th.
Young Jax Tooley led the field to the green flag in the Slingshot feature. Tooley led the first lap before a caution on lap one reset the field. On the restart, Libby Keller grabbed the lead as they raced four wide behind her between Tooley, Caiden Davenport, Tanner Martin and Landon Hallgren. Davenport shuffled into the second position but got loose while passing a slower car and spun. On the restart, the race was on between Keller and Hallgren. They raced side by side for the win. Debris on the track brought out the yellow-checkered flag. Landen Hallgren was declared the winner over Libby Keller. Caiden Davenport made a late race charge through the field to finish third ahead of Easton Olson. Korbyn Krogh finished fifth.
Wilton’s Seth Howe-Kellar led early in the Hobby Stock feature. An early caution erased his lead and on the restart Howe-Kellar, Ryker Vetter and Bill Hultberg raced three wide. Hultberg powered into the lead as it was a four car battle for second between Howe-Kellar, Ryker Vetter, Brody Michaelsohn and Devin Hanson. Using the low line around Dacotah Speedway, Michaelsohn shuffled into the second position. Michaelsohn started to reel in Hultberg for the lead but ran out of time. Bill Hultberg picked up his first victory since 2023. Brody Michaelsohn finished second ahead of third place Devin Hanson. Nathan Mundhal just narrowly edged Ryker Vetter at the finish line to finish fifth.
When the green flag waved in the INEX Legend feature, Casey Martin and Bryce Barnhardt battled hard for the lead. While Barnhardt hugged the guardrail, Martin found speed along the high side. As laps clicked down on the scoreboard, the highline picked up speed as Martin cleared Barnhardt for the top spot, bringing Ryan Erdahl and Ty Olson with him. However, Barnhardt persevered on the bottom, fighting tooth and nail to reel in Martin. With the win on the line, Martin got too high off corner two and fell out of the top five. The battle was now between Barmhardt and Erdahl. When the checkered flag waved, Bryce Barnhardt held off Ryan Erdahl for his first Dacotah Speedway victory. Gage Madler finished third ahead of Preston Martin and Noah Madler.
In the IMCA Stock Car feature, Scott Gartner was leading when the green flag waved. Gartner had his hands full with a speedy Geoff Hellman. Hellman took the lead on lap two and quickly pulled away from the field. Gartner then felt pressure from behind from Jason Meidinger. Gartner raced hard for second, got too high off corner two allowing Meidinger and Todd Carter to slip by. As the laps wound down, the race was on for fifth place between pole sitter Aaron Aaseth, points leader Andrew Jochim and Brock Beeter. When the checkered flag waved, Andrew Jochim crossed the finish line in fifth ahead of Brock Beeter. Scott Gartner finished fourth behind Todd Carter. Jason Meidinger finished a career best of second place behind first time IMCA Stock Car feature winner, Geoff Hellman.
Pole sitter Caden Roberts led early when the green flag waved in the IMCA Modified feature. An early caution regrouped the field and on the restart, veteran Marlyn Seidler motored by to take the lead. Another early caution regrouped the field. On the restart, Seidler had his hands full with Mark Dahl. The two veteran drivers raced hard for the lead but Dahl took the lead on lap seven and quickly pulled away. Seidler then slipped into the clutches of third place Jeremy Keller. Keller, who started 10th, quickly moved up through the field and passed Seidler for second. However, Keller could not catch Dahl. Mark Dahl crossed the finish line first ahead of Jeremy Keller. Marlyn Seidler finished third while Crist Pittinger finished fourth. Travis Tooley held off Zach Frederick to finish fifth.
For complete race results, go to: https://www.myracepass.com/events/565374/races
The season continues this Friday, May 16th for the Mandan Dirt Series. Green flag waves at 7:00pm.