July 5, 2025 - Elko, MN
By Jason D Searcy
The 249th Indepence Day Holiday was celebrated at Elko Speedway with a full race program on Saturday July 5th. Threatening skies that cancelled the scheduled race of every nearby race track did not stop the Eve of Destruction program at ELKO.
The first NASCAR sanctioned Late Model feature event had a strong field of 15 cars racing 25 laps at Elko Speedway. Veteran driver #8 Billy Mohn from New Market (MN) grabbed the lead from the opening lap, he developed a big lead until a caution slowed the field on lap 9. After the restart #14 of Grant Brown fought for the top spot, he tried both high and low but could not get up alongside Mohn for the position. Mohn won the race by only 0.158 seconds at the finish line, it was the second win of the season for Mohn. Grant Brown started fifth and finished in second place, Chris Marek #3 finished third, defending Champion #19 Jake Ryan was fourth and #8 Colin Stocker was fifth. 10-time ELKO Champion #72 Jacob Goede was the fast qualifier with a lap of 14.789, he raced at Elko Speedway for the first time this year, he started the race 13th and finished 7th.
The second Late Model division race had Jacob Goede #72 from Carver (MN) taking the top spot from his outside front row starting position, Goede held the lead and won this cautionless 25 lap race, it was his first win of the season at ELKO. Chris Marek #3 kept it close, he finished second place, just 1.031 seconds behind Goede at the finish line. Chad Walen #52 finished in the third position, #19 Jake Ryan was fourth and pole-sitter #50 Steve Anderson Jr was fifth of the 15 cars in attendance. Jared Duda #53, 2013 Bando Champion originally from St Michael (MN), returned to race at ELKO on Saturday, he is now living in Charlotte (NC) and works for Ford Performance in the simulator department, he finished 9th place in both races.
Chris Marek now leads Chad Walen by 13 points and Chad Walen by 23 in the race for the 2025 Late Model points title at Elko Speedway.
The Eternity Homes Thunder Car division raced two 20 lap feature events Saturday night during Eve of Destruction at Elko Speedway.
The first race had 7-time Champion #3 Conrad Jorgenson leading the first handful of laps until #88 Jason Novak from New Market (MN) jumped up on the inside lane, drove side by side for numerous laps and then passed for the lead just before the half-way mark of the race, Jorgenson then dropped from the race with a mechanical issue and did not finish. Novak never made a mistake and drove to the win during this cautionless race by 1.192 seconds, it was the first Thunder Car win of his career at ELKO. Gary West #27 finished runner-up for the second week in a row, #41 Ben Gannon was third, #99 Brent Kane started 11th and finished fourth and #16 Jimmy Omeara was fifth of the 12 cars in attendance.
The second NASCAR sanctioned Thunder Car race had the 2023 Women in Motorsports North America Champion #83 Julie Jorgenson lead a majority of the race, she fought side by side with #8 Taylor Goldman early and then with #29 Tommy Sorem mid-race. Five-time Champion #99 Brent Kane moved his way up to second place until #16 Jimmy Omeara from Randolph (MN) had a magical run. He passed Kane for second with a couple laps to go, then he shot up to the high side on the last lap to pass Jorgenson for the lead. Omeara crossed the finish line 0.448 seconds ahead to win for the second time this year. Jorgenson was second place, Tommy Sorem finished third, Brent Kane was fourth and #88 Jason Novak was fifth. Fitting for Jimmy Omeara, who is a current US Marshall, to win on Independence Day weekend. Brent Kane continues to be the point leader, now by 28 points over Tommy Sorem in the battle for the 2025 Thunder Car Championship at ELKO.
The NASCAR sanctioned Power Stocks raced two 20 lap feature events Saturday night during Eve of Destruction at Elko Speedway.
The Power Stock race was the first feature of the night, it had #14 Brock Westermayer lead the first half of the race, he was furiously trying to hold onto the lead but then #77 Payton King then made his way past with a high-side run and he led laps eleven and twelve. Then 5-time Champion #88 Nick Oxborough took over, he blasted to the lead on the low side. The battle ensued as the top four cars battled hard for the top spot. Oxborough was able to hold on, he won by just 0.156 seconds over #3 Jimmie Jorgenson, #08 Mike Stoer was third and Payton King finished fourth, #14 Clayton Dorner was fifth of the 8 cars participating. It was the third win of the season for Oxborough.
The second Power Stock feature was just as exciting as the first with numerous drivers swapping positions at the front. Alexis Montour #18 took the early lead until #24 Donovan Michaud grabbed the top spot on lap three of twenty. Payton King #77 shot to the inside and took over the lead on lap 6 until #3 Jimmie Jorgenson slid under King to gain the top spot on lap seven. Jorgenson was able to hold onto the lead and won by 1.008 seconds, it was his fourth win of the season already in just 9 races. Nick Oxborough #88 started last and worked his way up to finish second place, Mike Stoer #08 was third, Donovan Michaud finished fourth and Payton King was fifth.
Jimmie Jorgenson now has a slim 5 point lead over Mike Stoer in the race for the 2025 Power Stock division title at ELKO.
The INEX sanctioned Legends cars raced a 20 lap feature event at Elko Speedway on Saturday night. Veteran driver #3 Dirk Henry led the first half of the race until fast-timer #64 Tristan Swanson from Elko (MN) took advantage of lapped traffic, shot to the high side and passed for the lead on lap eleven. A yellow flag was displayed on lap 15 tightening the field but Swanson was able to hold on after the restart to win by 0.764 seconds at the finish line. It was the third win of the season at ELKO in just four races for Tristan Swanson. Dirk Henry finished second place, #22 Cam Panitzke, #41 Jason Michaud was fourth and #51 Justin Henry finished 5th of the 10 cars competing. Top competitor #12 Ayrton Brockhouse dropped out with mechanical problems mid-race.
Tristan Swanson won qualifying with a time of 15.737, Swanson and Panitzke were the two heat race winners at ELKO on Saturday night.
Ayrton Brockhouse now has a slim 1 point lead over Cam Panitzke in the battle for the 2025 Legends points title at Elko Speedway.
The INEX sanctioned Bandoleros raced a feature event during Eve of Destruction at Elko Speedway on Saturday night.
George Brochman #56 took the lead off the start until #32 Mason Westphal passed him with an inside move on lap 2. After a couple attempts at a restart, #15 of Justice Doubrava from Apple Valley (MN) dove down to the inside and took over the lead on lap three. Doubrava did a great job defending the lead on restarts after a few more caution periods occurred. The race hit the 20 minute time limit during the 6th yellow flag and Doubrava was named the winner after 11 of the 12 scheduled laps were completed. It was the first career Bando win for 14 year old Doubrava. Christopher Flynn #5 started 14th and raced his way up to finish second place, Mason Westphal was third, #57 Rev Heitkamp was fourth and #42 Ryan Kamish Jr finished fifth in his Bando division debut. Seven of the fourteen drivers finished the race. Roman Crow #27 and Mason Westphal won the head races.
Mason Westphal now has a slim 1 point lead over Christopher Flynn in the race for the 2025 Bando points championship at ELKO.
All points and results were unofficial at the time of this release. Get further details at ElkoSpeedway.com <http://elkospeedway.com> or MyRacePass and search Elko Speedway.
The action athletes of ATV Big Air Tour and Mega Jump BMX entertained the crowd in attendance at Eve of Destruction.
Troy Stocker from Northfield (MN) won the spectator drags with his Black 2006 Ford Mustang GT.
The evening finished with a crazy figure 8 School bus race and a fantastic Fireworks show celebrating our Nation's Independence.
Up Next at Elko Speedway is an Eve of Destruction on Saturday July 19th with racing in all 5 divisions, the Dwain Behrens memorial Late Model race, Drifters, Monster Trucks, spectator drags, School Bus races, MAW wrestling and a live band. Gates open at 4:30pm, action begins at 5:15pm. Get more information at ElkoSpeedway.com <http://elkospeedway.com>
Elko Speedway is a NASCAR sanctioned 3/8th mile high banked asphalt track with stadium seating located 30 minutes South of the Twin Cities in Elko-New Market (MN). Rack Shack BBq and Grill is open at Elko Speedway at 11 am Thursday-Sunday, full arcade open as well. Get more information at ElkoSpeedway.com <http://elkospeedway.com>
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