By Ben Deatherage
MINOT, N.D. (Apr. 27, 2025) — Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars took center stage at Nodak Speedway’s season opener, and the 3/8-mile “Playground of Power” delivered thrilling side-by-side action on a crisp Sunday evening.
Chris Tuchscherer, the 2005 Williston Basin Stock Car champion and double-duty driver for the night, grabbed the early lead. However, two-time defending track champion Will Scheresky found a way around him by lap 4 and began pulling away before a caution slowed the field on the fifth circuit.
On the restart, Gabe Deschamp — fresh off a win at Marshalltown’s Frostbuster earlier in the month — tracked down Scheresky and completed a bold move on the inside to take command on lap 6. The two would battle fiercely until another yellow interrupted the action. Deschamp nailed the restart and continued his dominance, but Mike Hagen soon emerged as a threat.
Hagen, a two-time Nodak Stock Car champion, briefly edged ahead on lap 15 only for Deschamp to counter immediately and retake the lead. The Westhope driver scampered away in the final circuits to score his second EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season. Scheresky reclaimed second from Hagen late, while Hagen settled for third.
Hagen Scores Second Straight Nodak Modified Win
Isaac Sondrol was shot out of a cannon at the start of the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified 25-lap finale. The 2020 North Dakota State and 2017 Nodak Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod champion paced the field early, holding back Chris Tuchscherer despite repeated challenges.
A caution around lap 10 bunched the pack and allowed Travis Hagen — Saturday night’s Modified winner — to climb to second and mount a serious attack. Hagen, a two-time Nodak champ and eight-time Williston Basin titlist, challenged high before another yellow flew near the halfway point.
On a late restart, Sondrol, Steven Pfeifer, and Hagen went three-wide for the lead. Contact between Sondrol and Pfeifer ended Sondrol’s night, handing the top spot to Hagen. Hagen then fended off 2022 Nodak champion and six-time North Dakota State king Marcus Tomlinson to notch his second Razor Chassis North Central Region win in as many nights. Hagen, from McGregor, is expected to take some time off soon, with a new baby on the way. Tomlinson was second, while Tate Johnson completed the podium.
Stenvold Seals First Career SportMod Win
The Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods had a wild 20-lap contest with Minot’s Taylor Stenvold stealing the show. Trenton Erven set the early pace despite multiple cautions, but Stenvold charged to the inside after a midrace restart to snag the lead on lap 12.
Veteran Chad Strachen, a 2006 Stock Car champion at Geographical Center and McLean County Speedways — and Stenvold’s uncle — moved into second late, but Stenvold was flawless on the final restart to earn his first career SportMod win. Strachen rallied from 10th to finish second, while double-duty racer Gabe Deschamp stormed from 11th to third.
Heaton Hustles to Hobby Stock Victory
Trever Haas blazed the trail early in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature, but it was Montana’s Taylor Heaton who rose to the top. Heaton, the reigning Williston Basin champion, masterfully worked the bottom to seize the lead on lap five and pulled away after a midrace caution.
The Baker, Montana native, who started eighth, earned his first win of the season in the B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region — and his first-ever at Nodak. 2019 Tougher Than Dirt Tour champion Brandon Honrud secured second, while Kyler Satran, the reigning three-time Nodak track champion and four-time North Dakota State titleholder, made a late charge to finish third.
Hughbanks Soars to Compact Win
The Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact finale saw Zach Hughbanks dominate early and survive an early caution. Hughbanks held back the hard-charging two-time defending North Dakota State champion and 2023 Nodak titleholder Krys Yost to claim his first win of the year.
Yost, who started eighth, finished a strong second, while Landen Mikkelson crossed the stripe in third after a spirited late-race battle.
The entire event was broadcast live on IMCA TV affiliate DARN TV. Full replays are available through the IMCA TV Replay Subscription for just $24.99/month. Already subscribed? Be sure to catch the highly anticipated Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, now streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.
