"Dirt from the Stands" by Greg Cybulski
Well race fans, the season is young but I can tell you that things are heating up in the Winnipeg area already. Finally the big news I've been waiting patiently to announce. The three hottest names in North Dakota sprint car racing will be at Victory Lane Speedway for the inaugural "NAPA Auto Parts Mid Canada Sprint Car Challenge."
Who are the big three? Current NOSA points champion Mark Dobmeier of Grand Forks, former six-time NOSA points champion Wade Nygaard of Fargo, ND and former two-time Wissota National points champion Loren Langerud of Harwood, ND.
In the Upper Midwest, there's no way to dispute that Loren Langerud is Mr. Versatility when it comes to exploring the open wheel class to it's fullest. With a 360 Sprinter, he's nailed down 2 consecutive Wissota National points titles (2002, 2003), as well as winning the track championship on the half-mile at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, ND since 2003.
2004 was Loren's breakout year when he started using a 410 with some success, but his pivotal moment came during the 2004 World of Outlaws-sanctioned "Duel in the Dakotas".
In front of a packed grandstand at Red River Valley Speedway, Langerud wowed the crowd by leading most of the World of Outlaws "A" Main until being overtaken by Joey Saldana in lapped traffic late in the race.
He then backed up that performance by winning one of the most prestigious 360 Sprint events in North America by winning the Brodix Tournament of Champions event at Knoxville Raceway, Ia. in August prior to the Knoxville Nationals.
Mark Dobmeier is making his presence felt again in 2005 by not only running races at his home track of River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, ND and with the NOSA Sprint Tour, but he's spreading his wings and heading south more frequently these days. Since the start of the 2005 racing season, Mark has been a steady competitor at Knoxville Raceway, Ia and Huset's Speedway, SD.
Since NOSA's races are strictly short track, Mark's only missing link has been seat time on half mile tracks. He has shown steady improvement each time out at Knoxville and if this continues who knows what new opportunities could open for him. With this experience on the famous half-mile, it should be interesting to see how he performs at this year's "Duel in the Dakota's" in West Fargo on July 1 and 2. Stay tuned!
Wade Nygaard of Fargo, ND has history at Victory Lane Speedway and good history at that. Under the wrenches of Doug Slocum, Wade rattled off 6 consecutive NOSA points’ titles which included wins at VLS and also made his presence felt as a regular at Jackson Speedway, MN, Huset's Speedway, SD. as well as various Wissota-sanctioned events. As a driver, Wade's skills are as good as any in the game. Despite a short absence, the familiar #9 is back weekly at River Cities Speedway and on the NOSA Sprint Tour in 2005.The difference is, this time, Wade is the boss of his own race team, and from what he has told me, he likes being the boss just fine.
I had the opportunity to speak to Minot, ND's native son, Greg Nikitenko in Fargo last weekend following another rainout for the region. Greg confirmed that the #6 Sprinter will be in the hunt for the $1500 to win in Winnipeg on July 14. Look for the #6 to be traveling further south later in the 2005 season. For all you t-shirt collectors, Nikitenko Motorsports is selling a very cool racing t-shirt this year for $20 each.
Winnipeg's Richard Rogers is fired up following his first career heat win at River Cities Speedway last Friday night. He took the checker flag with a convincing half lap lead over the competition. The feature was rained out, but when they line up for the makeup race, the new RX of Rogers will be on the pole. Richard and his crew seem to have a handle on this car. Who was the former owner of this Sprinter? Greg Nikitenko. Do you get the feeling that team RX is thinking about July 14 right now too?
In the season opener in Grand Forks, Winnipeg's Lou Kennedy Jr posted a top 3 finish behind winner Mark Dobmeier and Wade Nygaard. That's not bad company to be with. With Lou Jr winning the first "Prairie Dirt Challenge" last year in Estevan, I'm sure he'll be ready to back it up with another good run at Victory Lane. Look for the next generation of Kennedy's to be entering the winged open wheel ranks in the not too distant future.
I am very pleased to announce that there are currently verbal confirmations from 19 Sprint Car teams from 2 provinces (Manitoba and Saskatchewan) and 3 states (North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota) with more pending for the "NAPA Auto Parts Mid Canada Sprint Car Challenge" race in Winnipeg.
The next issue of "Dirt from the Stands" will feature a special preview to this event as well as news from the region and beyond.
Well, that's about it for this time race fans. If it ever stops raining, I might get to take in some local racing and give you a report but you know how that goes. This has got to be the worst start to a racing season I have ever witnessed. I don't know about you, but when I enter the doors of St. Emile's Church in Winnipeg tomorrow morning, I'm going to be praying extra hard for the sun. Join me, won't you?
Take care and good racing.
Greg Cybulski, Prairie Dirt
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