Today kicks off the thirtieth year of one of the most prominent if not most prominent traveling modified tours in the nation. Yes, the Dakota Classic Modified Tour reaches a milestone that many tours, invitationals, and heck marriages don't reach. In the thirty years the Turr as some may call it has found the key to surviving and through the ups and downs it has remained the constant of what any traveling tour strives to achieve. So let us take a look and break down this years tour.
The pre-entry list shows around seventy modifieds and close to twenty stock cars at this moment. Now this only means that they are registered to participate during the tour and that more who have not pre-registered will also be competing. The both fields have some stout competition as the mods will see drivers from fifteen states and provinces while the stock cars have a field of drivers from five different states and provinces.
Now breaking down the field there are a lot of big names coming to take on the locals who will be defending their turf. First, there is the man who has had an absolute strangle hold on the Turr for the past couple years, Hunter Marriott. Hunter from Brookfield Missouri looks to capture his fourth consecutive Mod Tour championship. While being able to pull off wins, Marriott has been extremely consistent throughout the past couple years which has allowed him to be a successful as he has been. The next traveler has a swarm of fans and is always a fan favorite Ricky Thornton Jr.. Ricky has been on a tear this year winning just about every big money show in the country. Some of those shows consist of the 100 lap Iron Man ($5,000) at Dacotah Speedway, the Clash at the Creek ($10,000) at 141 Speedway, and qualified for the feature at the Dream at Eldora to mention a few. Ricky will be bringing both his modified and his stock car this year and could very well take home a big chunk of change by the end of next week. The next driver who just signed up is Jason Hughes who will be taking a break from the USMTS to come race with the IMCA guys. Jason has made a career of stepping up and getting some big wins and the Dakota Classic Modified Tour would be another prestigious title for him to win. Other notable traveling drivers are Joel Rust, Jeff Taylor, Billy Kendall, Hank Berry and Justin O'Brien, Fans are sure to be in for a treat this as yet another talent field of drivers descends on North Dakota and Canada.
Wait one second though! The locals aren't backing down from the star and fire power of the invaders coming in. No the local tracks will be defended by some of the very best drivers the nation has to offer. First, there is the hottest driver in the state at this time as Tom Berry Jr. looks to continue his winning ways. Tom has been constantly at the front of just about every race that he has been apart of this year and is coming off an insane battle at McLean County that netted him a cool $3,000. The guy he had to out duel to get that though will also be defending the home turf and that man is former IMCA Modified National Points Champion Jason Wolla. The Big Show picked up a win last year at Dacotah Speedway and will for sure be flexing his muscle against the competition to show them what he is all about. Then there's the Dark Horse of Travis Hagen. He will be one to watch closely at Nodak, Estevan, and WIlliston. While fresh off a Tri-City Modified series win is Marlyn Seidler. Seidler has as been a staple on the DCMT and has had an excellent year as he continues to be near the or at the front just about every race. The eastern part of the state will be well repressented as well as Casey Arneson,, Allen Kent Jarrett Carter, Dylan Goplen, and Jesse Skalicky will be ready to go. Other drivers that people should keep a very close eye on Hot Rod Robert Hellebust, Shawn Strand, Travis Olheiser, John Correll, both Marcus and Myles Tomlinson, Tyler Hall, Travis Ulmer, and Tracy Domagala.
The DCMT will start tonight at the Jamestown Speedway before heading over to Minot and the Nodak Speedway. From there the DCMT heads north of the border to the Estevan Motor Speedway and then returns to the Williston Basin Speedway. The DCMT will round out with stops at the Southwest Speedway in Dickinson and a champion will be crowned at the Dacotah Speedway in Mandan the following night.
Race fans you will not want to miss any of the action from the Thirtieth Annual Dakota Classic Modified Tour and if you are unable to attend the races you can always watch the races live on IMCA.tv. Also as a friendly reminder to races fans that night after the tour ends the Dacotah Speedway will be holding the Legendary 50 which will payout $10,004 to the winner! If you are unable to attend and wish to watch that race all you have to do is go to dacotahspeedway.tv and watch! Hope to see all of you out at the tracks to help make another amazing Dakota Classic Modified Tour!