Nodak winner Hibdon dedicates Dakota Tour checkers to Deuce

Feature, Modified, Stock Car

Kollin Hibdon raced to a convincing and emotional Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature win Sunday, opening night of the Dakota Classic Modified Tour, at Nodak Speedway. (Photo by Tyler Hagen)

MINOT, N.D. (July 7, 2024) – The driver they call Kid Smooth was smooth from start to finish Sunday night at Nodak Speedway.

Kollin Hibdon, the Nevada native now racing out of Fargo led all 30 laps of the caution-free Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature that kicked off the Dakota Classic Modified Tour powered by Industrial Electric, dedicating the $2,000 win to late friend and fellow driver Casey Arneson.

“This one means a lot more to me,” Hibdon said, following his career third tour victory. “A couple days ago marked two years since we lost Deuce. I should have done this two years ago right after he passed. I was leading and had the tire delam(inate). I’m just glad I could do it now.”

“This one’s for him. All of ‘em are for him,” he continued. “This win means more than words can describe.”

Already Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible. Hibdon drew the outside front row starting spot and was chased the last 29 times around the track by Ethan Braaksma, who would get close to but never catch up.

Ricky Alvarado settled into third for good on lap seven. Two-time tour champion Tom Berry Jr., winner of the previous two tour events at Minot, and Travis Hagen completed the top five.

Two-time and defending series champion Tim Ward was a plus nine spots, ending in sixth. Hard charger Kyle Stickler raced from 20thstarting to ninth.

“Thirty laps is a long time when you’re hardly cracking it,” said Hibdon, who’d also led all 30 laps of the 2021 tour main event at Nodak. “I was running a little warm there but was just hoping it would hold together.”

And Iowan Austin Brands credited patience in his IMCA Sunoco Stock Car tour win, after passing Cameron Starry for the front spot following the last of six early restarts and leading the last 23 green flag laps.

“It feels great,” said Brands, adding compliments to the track prep crew and his home state competition. “Coming here with the run (from 17th the second) we had last night, this means so much to me.”

The win made Brands B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible and came three seconds ahead of Dan Mackenthun.

Mike Hagen, Angel Munoz and Zach Madrid ran 3-4-5. Defending champion and hard charger Rob VanMil was seventh after starting 14th.

Austin Brands impressed Sunday night, leading the last 23 laps in winning the Dakota Classic Modified Tour main event for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars at Nodak Speedway. (Photo by Tyler Hagen)

Eighty-four entries from 14 states and three provinces were on hand for what became opening night of the 35th annual tour following the rainout of Saturday’s scheduled event at Jamestown. A non-sanctioned, non-points event was held that evening at Minot.

Next up is the Monday night show at Estevan Motor Speedway. All Dakota Tour events are broadcast by IMCA.TV.

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