By Ben Deatherage
MINOT, N.D. (Apr. 26, 2025) — A rare Saturday night show kicked off the 2025 season at Nodak Speedway, and the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds delivered an instant classic on the 3/8-mile “Playground of Power” at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds.
Marcus Tomlinson and Justin Medler battled for the early advantage, with Tomlinson edging ahead after lap one. The six-time defending North Dakota State champion and 2022 Nodak track king looked strong before a restart brought two-time North Dakota State champion and 2017 IMCA national titlist Jason Wolla into the mix. Wolla muscled his way to the front by lap five, with Travis Hagen soon entering the fray.
What followed was a family affair as Wolla and Hagen — brothers-in-law off the track — staged a thrilling duel on it. Hagen, a former Nodak champion and eight-time Williston Basin Speedway titleholder, applied steady pressure and began drawing even with eight laps remaining. The pair traded sliders and crossovers before Hagen finally gained the upper hand with a bold move coming to the high-raised green flag.
Hagen, of McGregor, held firm to collect his first Razor Chassis North Central Region win of the season after starting seventh. Wolla settled for second, while two-time defending track champion Steven Pfeifer edged Tomlinson for third.
Wolla was a close second, while two-time defending track champion Steven Pfeifer outdueled Tomlinson for third.
Beeter Blasts to Stock Car Win at Nodak
Brock Beeter stormed from fourth to the front at the start of the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature and never looked back. The four-time Nodak champion—earning three titles in the Hobby Stocks and another in the Northern SportMods in 2023—set a blistering pace in his first full season in the class. Behind him, six-time reigning North Dakota State champion Joren Boyce fended off early challenges from Kyle Scholpp and Mike Hagen.
Hagen, a two-time Nodak Stock Car crown winner, took second on lap 6 and chased Beeter to the checkers, but a late caution set up a green-white-checkered finish. Hagen had to defend against two-time reigning track champion Will Scheresky for the runner-up spot, which he successfully secured. Beeter, the 2023 Northern SportMod state champ, held firm to win his first EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the year. Gabe Deschamp was third.
Rosselli Rolls to SportMod Win
Four-time state champ and two-time Nodak track titlist Robby Rosselli paced the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod feature from the get-go, while double-duty driver Gabe Deschamp and Saskatchewan’s Justin Fichter fought for second early. Deschamp, the reigning Motor Magic winner, briefly slipped back but recovered to challenge again mid-race.
Rosselli proved untouchable on restarts, rolling the center of the corners with speed and finesse to collect his first 2025 win. The two-time reigning Tougher Than Dirt champion, Deschamp, was second, and Ryder Raynard took third after edging out former Geographical Center and McLean County Stock Car standout Chad Strachen.
Appelt Fends Off Satran for Hobby Stock Triumph
Cade Appelt overcame a caution-filled Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature to score his first win of the season in the B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region. After a fierce early duel with 2019 Tougher Than Dirt champ Brandon Honrud and eventual challenger Kyler Satran, Appelt made his move on lap 7 and never looked back.
Despite multiple cautions—including a green-white-checkered finish—Appelt, who started ninth, stayed strong to keep the three-time track and four-time state champ Satran behind him. Saskatchewan’s Ty Saxon snuck into third after a last-lap pass on Montanan Taylor Heaton.
Yost Cruises in Sport Compact Showdown
Two-time state champion Krys Yost led every lap of the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature to notch his first win of the year. The Balfour driver and reigning McLean County and Thunder Mountain titleholder handled a mid-race caution with ease and dominated the field.
Kyle Eklund edged Landen Mikkelson for second in a late-race battle to round out the podium.
The entire event was broadcast live on IMCA TV affiliate DARN TV. Full replays are available with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription for $24.99/month. Don’t miss Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, now streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.
