May 23, 2026- Elko, MN
By Jason D Searcy
A Memorial weekend Eve of Destruction occurred Saturday night at Elko Speedway. The opening ceremony included all drivers in attendance on track to salute the memory of military members who gave their life in service to this country. A tribute in honor of recently deceased NASCAR Champion and local racing advocate Kyle Busch was also held during the proceedings, all of the #8 and #18 cars did a lap of remembrance. NASCAR member track coordinator Rebecca Wallace was in attendance for this event. The American Legion post 1776 from Apple Valley (MN) presented the Nations Colors.
14 NASCAR sanctioned Late Models raced the 40 lap main event Saturday night at ELKO. Colin Stocker #8 from Farmington (MN) raced side by side with #14 Grant Brown for numerous laps before finally taking over the race on lap 10 and cruising to win by 0.721 seconds in this cautionless race. Stocker is a former two time Legend Car and Bando Champion at ELKO, he also participates in the Drifter competitions, but this was his first win in the Premier Late Model division. Michael Ostdiek #18 finished second place, #14 Grant Brown was third, #13 Bryan Wrolstad and #41 Donny Reuvers rounded out the Top 5.
Michael Ostdiek, #3 Chris Marek and #20 Devin Schmidt were the heat race winners. Fast Qualifier was #52 Chad Walen with a time of 14.843 seconds.
The NASCAR sanctioned Eternity Homes sponsored Thunder Cars had 11 cars competing during the 25 lap main event.
Tommy Sorem #29 from Northfield (MN) was the winner, he shot out to the early lead and built a full straight-away advantage mid-race. The race got close at the end though as #07 Dillon Sellner made his way through traffic to close up to his back bumper at the finish line. It was the first win of the 2026 season for Sorem. Sellner finished second place, #99 Brent Kane was third, #83 Julie Jorgenson was fourth and #89 Allen Royle finished fifth.
Julie Jorgenson and Taylor Goldman were the two heat race winners and Brent Kane was the fast qualifier with a time of 15.380.
The NASCAR sanctioned Power Stocks had 14 competitors for their 20 lap main event. This was a wild race with four different drivers leading laps at the front of the pack. 17 year old #14 Clayton Dorner led the opening lap before being overtaken by #46 Adam Gerlach, he was then passed by #14 Brock Westermayer on lap four. Westermayer led the pack until defending Champion #08 Mike Stoer from Prior Lake (MN) grabbed the top spot just before the half-way mark of the race. Stoer held on to win by 1.817 seconds, it was his second win of the season at ELKO. Jimmie Jorgenson started 6th and finished second place, Brock Westermayer was third, #57 Jesse Fischer fourth and Adam Gerlach fifth in this cautionless race.
Tom Doten #62 and Mike Stoer won the heat races and Stoer also was the fast timer with a lap of 16.888 seconds.
The INEX sanctioned Legend Cars raced 20 caution-free laps for the main event during Eve of Destruction Saturday night at Elko Speedway. 15 cars started the race with #87 Robby Carter leading the first few laps, #64 Tristan Swanson from New Market (MN) passed Carter for the lead on lap 4 and held on for the win by 0.809 seconds, it was his first win of the 2026 season at ELKO during a local points night race at the track. 10 year old #82 Frank Jirik started the race 7th and moved his way up to finish second place, #8 Mark Anderson Jr was third, Robby Carter finished fourth and defending Champion #12 Ayrton Brockhouse was fifth.
Mark Anderson Jr and Frank Jirik were the heat race winners and #2 Tyler Sjoman was the fast-timer with a lap of 15.902.
Fifteen INEX sanctioned Bandolero’s raced a 15 lap main event Saturday night as the last event before intermission. Roman Crow #27 from Delano (MN) won the race, he got shuffled back in the pack on the opening lap but fought back to take the lead and eventually the win. It was his first win of the season at ELKO in a local points race. #57 Rev Heitkamp finished second, #21 Aiden Kubiszewski finished third followed by #59 Kaleb Hawes and #11 Adriana Hawes.
Aiden Kubiszewski and #11 Tirzah Ratcliff won the heat races and Adriana Hawes was the fast qualifier with a lap of 15.807 on the flat ¼ mile inside track at Elko Speedway.
The action athletes of Big Air ATV entertained the large holiday crowd with high flying stunts and the Timberworks Lumberjacks put on a show prerace and during the intermission. Eight Drifter cars put on an amazing display of precision driving and Forrest Drengler from Mankato (MN) won the spectator drags in his 2007 Subaru WRX.
ALL RESULTS are UNOFFICIAL at the point of this release.
Up next at Elko Speedway is a Drift event the weekend of May 29-31. On Saturday June 6th is another Eve of Destruction event with racing in all 5 divisions plus spectator drags, School Bus races, a petting zoo, Mega Jump BMX and Monster Trucks. Get more information at ElkoSpeedway.com <http://elkospeedway.com> or follow us on Social Media.
Elko Speedway is a NASCAR Sanctioned 3/8th mile asphalt race track with stadium seating located just 30 minutes South of the Twin Cities in Elko-New Market Minnesota.
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