Inductees

BILL DELONG 
CHARTER MEMBER, ANNOUNCER, BOARD MEMBER, CAR OWNER & SPONSOR

Bill was one of the club’s charter members, and started out at the club as its announcer on North Hill. Operating from the back of a pickup truck hooked up to a car battery, DeLong informed the race fans of what was happening on the track. He also held various board member positions, and had a stint as the head flagman as well. In his later years in the club, DeLong was the owner of the familiar number 0 Bardahl sponsored sprint car. DeLong also sponsored and helped the club out as a business owner in any way that he could.

CLAUDE HANSON
CHARTER MEMBER, DRIVER, PRESIDENT & BOARD MEMBER

Claude’s name was synonymous with the race club for the first 15 years. The charter member shared the first track championship in 1953, and then on to win the titles in 1962 and 1965 also. His success on the track continued on a state level, as he won the North Dakota State Association titles in 1958 and again in 1965. While Hanson was practically dominating the Super Modified class at Nodak, he also found time to serve as club president in 1954, and was a six time board member as well, serving from 1955 to 1957, and 1963 to 1965. Claude’s success on the tack and his leadership on the board of the race club was very instrumental for the growth of the club. The number 52 car remains legendary in the minds of all the race club old timers.

LEHRE EVENSON 
PRESIDENT, CHARTER MEMBER & DRIVER
March 11, 1933 – October 11, 202

Lehre was the first elected President of the Nodak Race Club, and he was also a charter member as well. He helped guide the club to leave its roots of racing in a field located by which is now the Nash Finch warehouse, and helped them with the move to the North Hill Track. Lehre also was the first driver in the club to have a second generation driver on the track, when his son Tim began racing.

LOREN REDDING –
CHARTER MEMBER, DRIVER, BOARD MEMBER & PIT MAN
November 27, 1929 – May 7, 2010

Loren was a charter member of the race club in 1953. In that first season of competition, Redding tied Claude Hanson in points for the inaugural season championship on the track. He also served on the club’s board in 1954, but was best known as the head wrench for many years for the race teams of Hanson, Jim Bergo, and Lawrence Pfau. The long time Weslties Motors mechanic spent a lot of time keeping the “highway cars of 2. 52. And 83 on the track.

RICK FERKEL 
DRIVER

Rick only appeared at Nodak race club one time on invitation, but he made it worthwhile. The “Ohio Traveler” was invited up for the 1976 North Dakota State Fair championships, and he ended up winning the event. Two years later in 1978, he helped Ted Johnson and Steve Kinser start up what we know today as the World of Outlaws. His brief association with the Nodak race club sent a message that the track could attract large race car names to its events.

JIM BERGO
CHARTER MEMBER, DRIVER, BOARD MEMBER & PRESIDENT
October 5, 1929

Jim competed in the early years of the club, and he was a charter member in the opening year of 1953. He was probably the most successful driver of his era, winning two track championships in 1957 and 1959, but also seemed to have the upper hand whenever the club hosted the increased purse special races. He also served on the Board for 4 years in the late 50’s and was club president in 1961. Jim also assisted the club for years with sponsorships, as he was the owner of Minot Plumbing and Heating.

DAVE HAMMER 
CHARTER MEMBER & RACE OFFICIAL

Dave was one of the 11 charter members of the club, and was best known as one of the longest tenured flagman in the club. Hammer flagged for a total of 18 seasons, which to this day is believed to be the longest time of service as the head flagman of the race club. Dave was invited back in 2002 to be the honorary starter for the races on the night of the 50th Anniversary celebration, as he got to throw the green flag one more time.

ANDY NIKITENKO 
DRIVER & BOARD MEMBER
November 9, 1934

Andy is arguably the most popular driver in the history of the race club. “Choo-Choo” was a charter member of the club, and by the end of his career in 1971 he had amassed a huge fan base. He won track Championships in 1956 and 1957 in the Class B division, and grabbed Super Sprint titles in 1969 and 1970. He seemed to rise to the occasion whenever the club hosted a special race event, like the International race that the use to host. He served on the Board of Directors six times through the years as well. He will probably always be best known for his race against Cessna Airplane at the Minot International Airport in 1964. The race didn’t turn out to good for Nikitenko, as he lost control at the end of the run way at 150 miles an hour, causing the car to flip 9 times before coming to rest.

AL HOCHSPRUNG 
CHARTER MEMBER, DRIVER & BOARD MEMBER
August 18, 1926 – July 16, 2020

Al was a charter member of the club, and made the Flying 8 Ball car one of the most popular of its time in the early years. He won the Class C championship in 1956, and served on the board in 1962, 1969, and 1970. He was known in the racing circle as “Mr. Lead Foot,” and he was always there to help his fellow drivers at his automotive business for parts and advice for many years.

IRENE MILLER
BOARD MEMBER & CAR OWNER
December 1, 1928 – October 13, 2014

Plain and simple, Irene Miller will be best known for keeping records and history of the race club from its beginnings in 1953 until the completion of the 1972 season. For nearly 20 years, Irene served on and off the board of directors, and also on the Nodak Race Club Auxiliary. Her preservation of the race club’s history through new clippings and photos is second to none. She was always at her husband’s Ken’s side to help out wherever she could, as they were car owners and owners of Miller’s Sheet Metal as well. Without the watchful eye of Irene, the club’s history that we now have preserved might not have ever been retained.

KEN MILLER 
CAR OWNER & BOARD MEMBER
April 15, 1927 – August 19, 2002

Ken was a longtime supporter of the club, and was a longtime car owner and board of director’s member as well. Miller was credited with being the first car owner to put disc brakes on one of his cars, and the first owner in this area to put a wing on the roof of his super modified car. Ken and his wife Irene were in charge of the club’s finances for years, and have even been referred to as the club’s historians as well. Through the years he owned cars driven by Andy Nikitenko, Oscar Corum, and Billy Reum, and Miller always seemed to have room at his business, Miller’s Sheet Metal, if any driver needed a place to wrench on their car.

LAWRENCE PFAU 
DRIVER, BOARD MEMBER & VICE-PRESIDENT
July 24, 1928 – October 27, 2014

Lawrence earned the nickname “Speedy,” as he was the first 6 time Champion of the Nodak Speedway. Pfau won titles in 1955, 1957,1958,1961,1963, and 1964. He also added 5 straight North Dakota State Racing Association titles to his resume. All of those titles came during a 13 year career, making him one of the most successful drivers in the history of the club. He also served on the board three times, and was also the Vice President in 1965, 1966, and 1971. In his later years in the club he was the car owner for the famous number 6 driven by Nikitenko.

JOE VITKO 
RACE FAN

Joe is the only one in the 57 year history of the club to be enshrined in the hall of fame because of being a fan. He never drove a race car, or did pit work for any other driver, but he was said to have never missed a race, and was put in the Hall for being a Super Fan. Vitko’s support for the club from the stands turned him into a folk hero legend with most of the drivers.

OSCAR CORUM
DRIVER & RACE OFFICIAL
April 8, 1934 – October 17, 2012

Oscar drove at the Speedway from 1956 until 1971, driving the famous RU 18 and 88 cars in the early years, and finishing his career in the familiar number 5 car in the later years. Oscar did trade the steering wheel in for a set of flags in 1963 as he served as the head flagman for one year before returning to the driver’s seat. “The Traffic General” won the Class A division in 1960, and also garnered the 1966 North Dakota State Racing Association’s title.

WALLY HOECHST 
DRIVER
November 10, 1926 – September 8, 1955

Wally grabbed the track championship in 1954, and was also leading the points Labor Day in 1955 when he was involved in a bad accident on the track. Hoescht survived the accident that day, but passed away two days later because of a punctured lung that was suffered in the crash. To this day, Hoescht is the only driver in the history of the club to pass away because of an accident on the track.

JOHN ZENZ 
DRIVER
May 26, 1931 – March 15, 1999

John earned a track championship in 1962 in a Class B car, and also captured North Dakota Racing Association titles in 1960 and 1961. Zenz was a solid competitor for many years in the race club, as he would tow his car up from his home in Max to take on the local drivers.

DOUG GROVES 
DRIVER & BOARD MEMBER

While Claude Hanson and Lawrence Pfau were probably the top of the drivers list in the 50’s and early 60’s, Groves has to be one of the best that competed at the speedway in the 60’s and 70’s. Groves grabbed three straight championships in 1966, 1967, and 1968, and followed with two straight in 1973 and 1974. Doug finished as the runner up in the final year of the Sprint cars at the speedway in 1976. Groves was well known all over the area, and also had track championships in Grand Forks, and was a regular visitor to the Knoxville Raceway in Iowa. He also served as the club President in 1970, and served on the board of directors in 1974.

TED HOCHSPRUNG 
DRIVER, BOARD MEMBER & DONATOR
March 28, 1928 – September 15, 2013

Ted and his brother Al are still the only set of brothers to be members of the Nodak Hall of Fame. They both began racing at the Fairgrounds in the early 50’s, and were very well accepted in the racing community. Ted served on the board of directors in 1959 and 1960, and his construction company out of Turtle Lake was very instrumental in constructing the race track in Underwood, which is still in business today. As of 2008, Ted was still competing in the Hobby Stock division, making him the oldest man at that time to still hold an IMCA driving license.

BOB LILLEGARD 
CHARTER MEMBER,  DRIVER & PIT MAN
October 23, 1933 – November 20, 2007

Bob was one of the 11 charter members of the club, and raced for 16 years before a tragic accident in 1969 forced him to retire from racing. He had to have his right arm amputated after his sprint car accident, but stayed active in the club as a pit man and fan for many years to come. His misfortune on the track inspired fellow driver Andy Nikitenko to invent arm straps that to this day help keep the driver’s arm stay in the car during accidents. Lillegard spent most of his career driving the familiar number 11 car, and finished behind the wheel of the 94 car.

DOUG AMUNDSON 
CHARTER MEMBER & VOLUNTEER
December 22, 1936 – February 3, 2016

Doug was a charter member of the club, and spent many years involved with the operation of the race club. His face was one of the most familiar ones in the pits for many years, and still attends the races to this day. Doug was always there to help with whatever the club needed help getting done.

LARRY ROGERS 
BOARD MEMBER & PIT MAN

Larry served six years as the secretary-treasurer of the club, and also spent many years in the pits helping out the Flying Deuce of Jim Bergo, and the 83 machine Lawrence Pfau. Larry was a staple of his time on the board of directors.

ED SOLTIS 
PRESIDENT, BOARD MEMBER & DONATOR

Ed was very active in the club in the early years. He served as club president in 1956 and 1957, and also served on the board of directors in 1958. His leadership in the late 50’s set the table for the club’s golden years of the 1960’s. As a local businessman, he not only supported the club physically, but financially as well. He was awarded the nickname of “The Gateman,” as he guarded the pit gate entrance for several years.

BENNY BECHTOLD
DONATOR & VOLUNTEER
January 31, 1931 – August 10, 1993

Benny was instrumental in helping the club re-locate from North Hill to the State Fairgrounds in 1954. Benny was the owner of Bechtold Excavating, and he donated a lot of hours of man power and heavy equipment to help turn the horse racing track at the fairgrounds into a suitable surface for auto racing. The club’s fan base had already out grown the North Hill track, and the club needed to move to the fairgrounds where a grandstand for the crowds already existed. Bechtold’s help with the track through the years helped the club build up to where it is today.

HAROLD “HARRY” KITLER 
DRIVER, CAR OWNER & SPONSOR
September 13, 1942 – December 29, 2001

Harry began racing in the club in 1963 in the Hobby Stocks, earning the runner up spot for the season in that class. He then moved in the Super Modified/Sprints division in 1965. The service station owner from Turtle Lake competed in the Sprint class until 1973. In that season, Harry was involved in a horrific 8 barrel rollover down the front straightaway that basically ended his driving career. He went on to become a car owner for Mike Tomlinson at first, and then later on for his son Troy. His local business, Harry’s Auto Service, was always very active in sponsorship’s for other drivers and the club as well.

DON MACK 
DRIVER
July 6, 1939

The “flying dirt Farmer” from East Grand Forks, Minnesota always caught the eye of the local drivers when he rolled into town with the red number 54 car on the trailer. Mack traveled extensively during his career, winning many track championships along the way, including the Minnesota State Fair Championship in 1975, along with winning the mid-season and season title at Nodak Speedway that year also in Doug Howell’s number 4 sprint. Mack still serves as one of the supporters of the River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, and was one of several promoters responsible for getting World of Outlaws to start coming to the state for a three day race in West Fargo in the 80’s.

BILL SCHRIOCK 
DRIVER, DONATOR & SPONSOR
January 27, 1935 – April 2, 2021

Bill and his brother raced in the club in the 50’s, but Billy is best known for his generous contributions to the race club. Schriock’s construction company had a lot to do with the reshaping of the race track in 1978 from the one half and a quarter mile tracks that the club had at the time to the new state of the art 3/8 mile track, which was promptly names the fastest 3/8 mile track in the nation. To this day his donations to the track continue, as he still donates materials and equipment from his business to help the club, and also donated the new lap and standing board to the track several years ago.

NEIL LEIGH 
DRIVER & BOARD MEMBER
May 25, 1935 – August 18, 2006

Neil was a driver in the club for many years in both the Hobby Stocks and Super Sprints, and also served as club president in 1975 and 1976. He also served on the board in 1977.

ROBERT “ROSIE” ROSSELLI  
DRIVER, RACE OFFICIAL & VOLUNTEER
August 22, 1945 – March 5, 2019

Rosie competed in the Sprint car division for many years, and also was a Sprint car owner as well. He has volunteered many hours of time to help the club out as a flagman, fuel delivery service, weigh scale operator, and whatever other jobs that the club needed him to do through the years. Bob also serves as a flagman to this day in Williston and Rugby, and is also the promoter of the McClean County Speedway in Underwood.

DANNY SCHATZ 
DRIVER & SPONSOR
November 30, 1947 – June 27, 2022

Danny nabbed the 1974 midseason runner up honors in the Super Sprint class, and ended up competing at Nodak for several years. To this day, Schatz is known as a huge supporter of the Nodak Speedway, and his local business Schatz Crossroads Truck Stop has been one of the only advanced ticket sales locations for the club. He also started the Schatz race team that ended up winning the World of Outlaws championship 3 times, in 2006, 2007 and 2008, with his son Donny at the wheel. Danny no longer owns the race team, but Donny did grab a fourth straight title in 2009 for car owner Tony Stewart. Beginning in the spring of 2010, Schatz has now leased and taken control of the Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, and continues to support racing in the state.

LARRY SCHIMMELPFENNIG
DRIVER, VICE-PRESIDENT & PRESIDENT

Larry competed in the Super Modified and Super Sprint classes in the 1960’s, and also served as club Vice President in 1985 and President for five years from 1986 to 1990. Larry grabbed the 1961 Class B track championship also. Larry was the President when Nodak went through its transition from Late Models to the Modified era.

C. MORRIS ANDERSON 
DONATOR
April 16, 1929 – July 10, 2009

Anderson was a long time Minot business man, and he owned the land on North Hill that the club raced on in its initial season of 1953. Anderson donated some land just west of what is now North Hill Bowl for the club to use, making it possible for the charter members of the club to accomplish their longtime dream of having organized car races in Minot. Morris also served on the board of directors in 1954.

LOREN “BUTCH” BOYCE 
DRIVER & PITMAN

Butch began driving at the Speedway in a Hobby Class car in 1965, and switched to the Super Modified in 1967. He continued running the Sprint cars until the class stopped running on a regular basis at the Speedway in 1976. He won the tack Championship in 1971, and he is now the main wrench for his son Joren Boyce’s car in the Modified class. Up through the 2008 season, Butch was still racing Joren’s backup car at several tracks in the state.

JIM “HOSS” HAUGE 
DRIVER, VICE-PRESIDENT & PRESIDENT

Jim started racing in the Hobby class division in 1964, and it didn’t take very long for him to catch on. Hauge won the track championship as a rookie in 64, and then repeated the effort in 1965 as well. After 8 years in a Hobby car, he jumped up to the Super Sprint division in 1972. “Hoss” also got involved in the management of the club, as he served in the Vice President’s chair in 1967, 1968, and 1970. He also served one year as club President in 1971. Jim will always be remembered for his 10 gallon cowboy hat that reminded the fans of the television star Dan Blocker, who played the character Hoss Cartwright on the Bonanza western show.

JERRY “TORQUE” LAWSON
RACE OFFICIAL, DRIVER, BOARD MEMBER, VICE-PRESIDENT & PRESIDENT
May 28, 1936

Jerry started out as one of the first flagman of the club, serving in that position from 1954 to 1956. He then began his driving career in 1957 and competed until the Sprint cars left the regular program in the mid 70’s. Through the years, Jerry has served on every position on the board of directors. He was a board member in 1964, 1965 and 1969. He served as Secretary/Treasurer in 1962, Vice President in 1981, and served as club President in 1968 and 1983. Jerry is also known as the patriarch of the first 3 generation family at Nodak, as son Kevin and grandson Dusty currently both compete in the NOSA Sprint car division.

DARRELL MARKLE 
PITMAN, DONATOR & VOLUNTEER
August 1, 1935 – July 11, 2009

Darrell probably was best known for being a pitman on both race teams of Lawrence Pfau and Andy Nikitenko during the club’s golden years, but also was an important cog for the club in its initial season. Markle and his father Lloyd used their own construction equipment to keep the track on North Hill up and going. They would spend countless hours working on the track, and would also leave their equipment on location when they could so the club could also put it use in their absence.

AL PIETSCH 
PITMAN, DONATOR & SPONSOR
June 23, 1925 – August 18, 1995

Pietsch drove a race car in the early years, but ended up feeling right at home in the pits helping out various race trams through the years, Al was also a huge financial supporter of the club, sponsoring many race cars and the club with his flying business, Pietsch Flying Service. Al was known on occasion to land his plane on the back straightaway of the track to race if he had flown in from out of town and didn’t have enough time to land and drive to the fairgrounds by car.

BILLY REUM 
DRIVER
June 16, 1937 – September 28, 2016

Bill joined the race club in its very first year of existence, and ended up still racing in the late 70’s for Ken Miller in the famous 88 car. Bill was the mid-season 1956 Class A Champion and was competitive for many years. Bill was a resident of Plaza for most of his racing years.

DAVE SKARI 
DRIVER
March 21, 1938 – June 22, 1974

Dave appeared on the Nodak Race Club scene in the mid 60’s in the red number 96 car, and then moved on to the blue number 2 in his later years, under the name of the “Flying Deuce.” From the time the East Grand Forks driver hit the track, he earned the respect of all drivers of the club immediately. Skari grabbed many titles in his time, including track championships in Grand Forks, West Fargo, Sioux Falls, along with Thunder Bay, Ontario and Superior, Wisconsin. The hard charging Skari lost his life in an accident at the Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo in 1974.

JACK BLOTSKY 
DRIVER & PRESIDENT
August 22, 1940
INDUCTED: 2014

Jack Blotsky first started racing at Nodak Speedway in 1965 in the Hobby Stock division and ran in that division up until 1969. Blotsky raced his way to the Mid-Season runner up and Season Champion in 1966, and Season Runner up in 1967. Jack moved up to the Sprint class in 1968, driving for Bill DeLong and Lowell Sem from 1968 to 1970. In 1971 he built and raced his own Sprint car and grabbed the 1972 and 1974 Sprint Mid-Season Runner up. Jack also served as Nodak Speedway’s President from 1973 to 1974. Blotsky’s job took him away from Minot in the mid 70’s, but he traveled to race in 1975 and 1976, running a Sprint car owned by Bill DeLong in Grand Forks and Fargo, and also ran a Super Stock in Great Falls, Montana in 1977. In 1980 Blotsky moved to Williston to run his own welding shop. He raced a Super Stock in 1981 at the Williston Basin Speedway, and also served as the President that same year. He held the Presidential position for the Williston Basin Speedway on and off for 20+ years, and stepped down from the position for the last time in 2010. Jack is Williston’s longest running President.

ROD CONWAY 
DRIVER & CAR OWNER
February 4, 1946
INDUCTED: 2014

Rodney’s driving career was very short, but successful. He started his dirt track racing career in 1973 driving a Street Stock he shared with his brother – and former Nodak President, Vance Conway. The following year in his only full season at Nodak he piloted the #243 to a track championship. He then went on to drive a ‘64 Plymouth Super Stock the following year. That season was scarred by four blown engines all while out front of the pack. Rod made a return visit to the track for one season in 1979 in an under-funded Late Model that ended his full time driving career. His time behind the wheel included many wins, a super-aggressive driving style that matched his personality, a large fan base from Westhope, and a Big Block Mopar under the hood. Rod’s involvement in dirt track racing had only begun when his driving days ended. Throughout the 80’s and early 90’s, he could be found in the stands any given Sunday with family until his two sons, Robbie and Randy, started racing in the early 90’s and then again from 2009 until present. This year his family will have three cars at the track including his grandson, Chase, driving an IMCA Sport Mod. Throughout his sons’ years of racing, Rod has been the lead mechanic working to get the cars to the track and wrenching in the pits to help put the cars back together. Throughout their years of racing; Rod has helped guide them to many feature wins and a Nodak Championship. In addition to helping his sons, Rod has regularly helped provide financial assistance and mechanical knowledge to racers needing help to get their cars to the track. Some seasons providing assistance to as many as seven different drivers. Rod has always loved being around dirt track racing and the people that participate in the sport. He has always been the first guy to get his wallet out to help drivers in need for a racing charitable cause. He was a regular contributor to the annual charity Calcutta event in which he often purchased multiple teams and always gave any winnings to the drivers to help fund their effort. Although he has mellowed-out over the years, his passion for the sport has been known to surface occasionally. On race day, you will most likely find him in his race trailer laughing with his grand kids or tuning on an engine/carburetor for the many guys that look to him for help.

JOE COX
DRIVER & VOLUNTEER
INDUCTED: 2014

Joe raced in the Hobby class, built his own cars and engines and also helped other people as well. He started racing in the 60’s through the mid 70’s, he loved racing at Nodak Speedway and at other race tracks also. The fair races were his favorite because at times they would race on the 1/2 mile instead of the 1/4 mile track. Cox also liked racing against different racers at the fair races. Joe won the 1968 &1969 season Championships in the Hobby class with the famous #189 that people still remember today. Cox was always a tough competitor, and had the drive to win. He always said that second is the first loser. At times he was the intimidator at the speedway, a very hard charger; he didn’t mind starting in back of the pack in the features because he said it gave the other racers a more fair chance to get a feature win. Of course Joe liked it better when his #189 Hobby car won and a lot it did. Joe worked for the city of Minot for many years, and would do things like helping pump the water out of track in the spring with the City of Minot pump trucks. He enjoyed visiting with drivers and people at the race track. Joe Cox had racing in his blood, and a lot of his best times were in that #189 Hobby race car.

TOM HENDERSON 
CAR OWNER, PRESIDENT & VOLUNTEER
July 7, 1955
INDUCTED: 2014

Tom Henderson has been one of Nodak Speedway’s top contributors. Tom joined the Nodak Race Club in 1974. He has served 20 years on the Board of Directors holding every position, 8 years of that being the President. Henderson has also held every position in the pits; flagman, back flagman, and pit steward. Tom was also involved and in charge of the track prep crew for over 20 years and, did his part as the blade operator. On a week night you could always find Henderson down at the track putting in numerous hours preparing for Sunday’s races. Tom has also owned numerous cars in his many years of involvement. As a car owner his son Kelly has brought him 4 Championships in the Thunder Trucks and Stock Car divisions. Henderson continues to stay involved the Noadk Race Club to this day.

TONY MARSH  
DRIVER
January 24, 1953
INDUCTED: 2014

One of the most successful drivers in the history of the Nodak Race Club, Tony’s career was full of victories, championships, and sometimes controversy. 1976 would be the first championship for Tony Marsh, as he shared the Street Stock title with co-driver Tom Whitfield, followed by two more titles in the Street Stock class in 1980 and 1981, and also won the season championship in a second class, the Dakota Modified division, in 1986. Tony Marsh grabbed the headlines in many a Minot Daily News Sport page in the 80’s, seemingly winning feature races almost on a weekly basis. Marsh drove the familiar white number 80 machine out of Velva through the early 90’s, when he went into retirement and returned briefly in the early 2000’s to race at the Geographical Speedway and a few other venues until finally retiring for good. Marsh came from an era where track records and results were not saved permanently like they are today, or his win total would probably be overwhelming. Marsh was known as a hard competitor that would drive as hard as he needed to get to victory lane, which caused a lot of drivers and fans to either like him, or develop a strong dislike to him. Yet to this day, Tony Marsh with four championships under his belt is one of the most successful and winningest driver of all times at the Nodak Speedway. To this day, Marsh remains one of the only drivers in history that had an active fan club that would post up banners in the grandstands, and hold up signs every week as well cheering him on.

JUDY MOCK  
VOLUNTEER
January 29, 1943
INDUCTED: 2014

Judy Mock has been a fan and member of the Nodak Race Club for 25 years, and has been attending the races since the early 70’s. Mock has been a Nodak volunteer since 1997 and volunteered all the way up until 2013 helping out at the pit gate window. Her duties were registering drivers, pit men, memberships, cashier, draws for positions and others. She said it was 16 years of fun and excitement, with so many changes over the years, and working with great people and friends. She enjoyed meeting new drivers and pit men. Judy was a very faithful volunteer to the Nodak Race Club. Working all the summer Holidays and helped out with the World of Outlaws. She always came early on race day to clean and be prepared for opening time. Mock enjoyed her many years at the Nodak Race Club and will miss all the great people involved.

BOB MOODY 
DRIVER
INDUCTED: 2014

Bob appeared on the Nodak Race Club scene in the mid 70’s. He was one of the top drivers in the 70’s. Moody nabbed two straight championships in 1978 and 1979 in his Late Model. Bob was a well-known driver around the area, and a well-respected one in the Late Model division.

DICK SCHULZ 
DRIVER
December 22, 1943 – May 25, 2015
INDUCTED: 2014

Dick Schulz of Harvey, ND, nicknamed “Grandpa Dick,” raced for 35+ years. Dick stated, “Nothing is worth doing if you don’t love it and have fun at it.” Schulz won 6 Championships at Nodak Speedway; 1970, 1971, 1972, 1996, 1997, and 1998. Dick was also the Champion at Dacotah Speedway in Bismarck in 1996 and 1997, and 1997 in Rugby at the Geographical Center Speedway. Schulz won the Governor’s Cup in 1996 and 1997, and also grabbed the #2 spot in National Wissota points in 1996 and 1997. Dick was also a runner up Champion several times. Hundreds of trophies were won by Dick over the years; he liked giving them away to the kids to see the big smile on the young recipients face. Schulz says some races were more exciting than others and many remain memories that still are talked about today. He still works in his Schulz Engine & Machine shop in Harvey and over the years has built many competitive engines for other drivers. He has seen many changes in the racing world, and has been grateful for the support of sponsors, pit men and women, fans, friends, and mostly his family over all these years. Nodak Speedway is home to Dick and he still enjoys the races every Sunday. Schulz says, “It is in the blood,” and always will be even if his driver’s seat is now in the grandstands!”

LOWELL SEM
DRIVER
June 27, 1934 – May 4, 1996
INDUCTED: 2014

Lowell Sem was a long-time member of the Nodak Race Club. During his years in the club he was involved with driving, building, maintaining and/or owning a car. In the late 50’s, he participated as a driver winning several races. In 1959, he and his car #10 earned the season championship. He drove for a couple more years, to then give it up in the early 60’s. It was off the track where Lowell would be most remembered. Over the years, Lowell served on pit crews for several drivers not inclusive of but including Bob Lillegard, Al Lizotte and Ralph Johnson. Although he may have been on one driver’s crew, he would use his expertise to help everyone in the pits keep their cars on the track. Lowell was a machinist by trade. It was his ability to “build” pretty much anything that would make him popular amongst his racing peers. According to Ralph Johnson, if you needed a gear or even a rear end, he could make for you. Nearly every week, someone would break down and Lowell would run to Northern Machinery, make the needed part, return to the track, install the part and get the car and driver back out on the track. In the early 70’s, Pius Volk’s car started on fire while he was racing. Pius was unable to unbuckle himself and soon he was on fire as well. Lowell managed to quickly locate an extinguisher, run out on the track, and put the fire out. Pius was severely injured, but recovered and raced again. Lowell ended his involvement in racing around 1975. By this time, he was employed as a machinist for the United States government. He was responsible for creating or “building” replacement parts for the engines responsible for firing the nuclear missiles all across the country. One of his proudest possessions would be a letter he received from President Reagan recognizing his contribution to his country. This is ironic as he was drafted at the age of 18 during the Korean War. He did not pass the physical. At the time, he was recovering from a collapsed lung. Lowell would pass away on May 4, 1996 at the age of 62 from lung cancer. The US military honored him at his funeral by draping his casket with the US flag and presenting it to his family. Ralph Johnson spoke of Lowell saying, “No one deserves more to be elected in to the Hall of Fame. He was a great crew guy. He would help anybody.” Lowell is survived by a daughter, Kelli Edwardsen, Winnipeg, MB Canada and a son, Dan Sem, Minot, ND and their respective families.

PIUS VOLK 
DRIVER
September 3, 1941
INDUCTED: 2014

Pius Volk started racing in 1962 at various tracks around the state of North Dakota. In 1963
he came to Minot to race at the Nodak Speedway, and soon after joined the club. He raced mostly in the Hobby Stock division. Volk won the 1968 Mid-Season Championship at Nodak and also won a State Fair Championship on the ½ mile track with his brother’s #108 Chevy. Pius won many features and trophy dashes, so his motor was always getting torn down after the races. Thus he decided to move up to the Sprint division, driving the #0 Sprint car owned by Bill DeLong. Volk was involved in a horrible track accident in 1971 involving a fire; he spent 3 months in the hospital recovering from his injuries. He came back the next year with a new #1 Sprint car, racing all over from Winnipeg, Canada to Fargo. Pius also won many features and trophy dashes in the Sprint division, but never managed to grab another Championship. Volk was one of the men who first started the race track in Rugby, now known as the Geographical Center Speedway. Pius also helped the Nodak Race Club build the 3/8 mile track we race on to this day, and he was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone if they needed it.

HANK ALBERS
DRIVER
February 28, 1943
INDUCTED: 2015

Hank Albers started his racing career in 1964 as the number 77 Super Sprint. He also raced a Midget in Mo., as the number 20. Albers wasn’t a point’s racer; he said he just loved to win whatever race he was in. He didn’t keep track of all the championships he may won, but thinks he did win a few. At the Nodak Speedway he did manage to grab the 1969 Super Modified Mid-Season and Season Championship, 1970 Super Modified Mid-season Championship, and the 1976 Super Sprint Mid-season Championship, and also a Championship at the Northstar Speedway in Minneapolis. Two of his favorite career highlights were winning 16 out of 18 features at the West Fargo ½ mile track when Don Mack was still racing, and winning the heat, dash, and feature in the Midget in Kansas City against tough competition including Ken Schrader. One racing memory he said he will never forget or understand why the flagman Dave Hammer, gave him the black flag for “overly aggressive driving” while driving Doug Howell’s number 4, Don Mack’s ride. Hank said “I had not touched a soul, just came from 22nd to 3rd in two laps. What a great ride that car was. Drove it six times and won five out of the six with it, the black flag was the only loss.” Albers admits he was a poor loser, and always wanted to win. He loved the big ½ mile tracks, met many great people, and always liked to put on a good show for the fans. Hank has a special thanks to Doug Groves and Irene and Ken Miller for all their help and support when he started racing.

HAROLD (BUD) EVERSON 
DRIVER
December 17, 1942 – August 28, 2020
INDUCTED: 2015

Harold Everson became a member of the Nodak Race Club in 1963 at the age of twenty as a pit man for Jerry Lawson. In 1963 he started racing around mid-season owning and driving his 1951 Ford numbered 292. Everson drove this car through the 1964 season and accomplished the Hobby Stock Season Runner-up for that year. The following year he switched cars, owning and racing a 1956 Chevy numbered 192. Bud raced this car though the 1966 season grabbing the 1966 Hobby Class Mid-Season Champion and Season Runner-up. For the 1967 and 1968 season he drove a Chevy powered Sprint Car numbered 92. Amongst the busy race seasons Bud married his wife Gloria in 1964 and started a family, now having three kids, and six grand kids. He took a short two-year break to come back in 1971 with a 1955 Chevy that he raced in Minot and Williston. Everson said he had good help in his racing days with good friends and pit men, Dale Flory, Warren Stebeleton, and Bill Burke. Harold accomplished a Season Championship in 1971 at the Williston race track. He broke the record for fast time at the Tioga track in 1972 and also won the trophy dash that day, but had to miss other events to leave early to make it back to Minot to race that evening. In 1973 Bud stepped in and drove Richard Hanson’s number 15 car. He won the Trophy Dash on that ½ mile track competing against cars from all over the state for the two-day event.

JACK MCDONALD 
DRIVER
INDUCTED: 2015

By the late 1970’s, everyone that followed North Dakota dirt track racing had heard the name of Jack McDonald. McDonald had raced for years before that out of Eldridge, North Dakota, but really came into his own as the decade of the 70’s rolled on. From his louder than most orange Country Kitchen sponsored Late Model, to the familiar red, white and blue 100 machine with the Purina Chow checkerboard roof, no one took McDonald for granted at the big shows. McDonald won many feature races at his home track of Jamestown, and also did very well on a continuous basis at the Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo. As the states late model drivers came together to run a points competition at numerous tracks, McDonald was one of the front runners whenever the All-star list of drivers got together in a group labeled the Tri-Can Racing Association. McDonald was a weekly competitor for several years in Minot until the Tri-Can Association disbanded. Jack was one of the front runners of the late model division for several years, including championships at the Nodak Race Clubs premier annual event, the Harvest 100, in 1979 and 1981. The Harvest 100 changed into Motor Mania and now Motor Magic over the years. Jack eventually retired from driving and helped his son Jay McDonald get a start in the sport after that, and also helped with the operation of the Jamestown Speedway long after his retirement from driving. Even though his laurels in Minot only included the two Harvest 100 championships, he raised the bar in the late model division at the Nodak Speedway and made a lot of other drivers work to reach his level, which of course helped the quality of racing at the Playground of Power.

GLENN SCHUMAIER
BOARD MEMBER & VOLUNTEER
November 5, 1952
INDUCTED: 2015

Glenn Schumaier put in many years with the Nodak Race Club. He started going to the races in 1967 and fell in love. Schumaier spent seven years on the Board as a Board member, four years doing track prep for the fans and drivers and then what people might remember him most at is the flag man. Schumaier started flagging in 1985 and flagged for 24 years, retiring in 2010. Glenn stated, “because I was a flag man you can’t and shouldn’t have any favorites.” A time he remembers most was being ran over in 1996 by a race car. He was overwhelmed with cards and well wishes that he keeps close to this day. Glenn misses being around the drivers and being around all that racing has to offer. He has many good memories from the years that he was involved with the Nodak Race Club, and still thoroughly enjoys going to the races to this day.

WAYNE SCHUMAIER
DRIVER, VOLUNTEER & CAR OWNER
August 18, 1959
INDUCTED: 2015

Wayne Schumaier has been a Driver, Board Member, Official and Car Owner which has culminated into 30 years of fully active involvement within the Nodak Speedway and Nodak Race Club. Wayne’s racing career began with an occasional invite into the pits with his Max High School classmate Ron Huettl in 1979. Wayne then wanted to take a more active part in racing and in 1980 he and Mark Pearson became co-owners of Mark’s car for a partial season. The following year Wayne began racing his own car in the Street stock class. Wayne progressed into the Super Stock, Late Model, Wissota Modified, Dakota Modified, and IMCA Modified. Wayne’s favorite car number was his lucky 13, even though his 1983 Super Stock Season Championship came while he drove number 11. This season championship was the first year that Nodak Speedway ran the Super Stock class. Wayne took a bigger step by becoming a Board member on an unfinished term starting in 1983. He was an elected Board member for several years starting in 1988. After that he focused his energy and became more involved with his race team and ownership of his racecar. His list of accomplishments are winning the 1983 Heat, Trophy Dash and Feature in Super Stock class at the Bismarck Fast-track and the 1993 Second Annual North Dakota Governor’s Cup Dakota Modified Class at the Missouri Valley Speedway in Bismarck. He continued to race for many years until 1998. He supported the Nodak Speedway by joining the fans in bleachers every Sunday that there was a race. His attendance was noted by the Nodak Race Club members and they invited Wayne to become a weekly Nodak Speedway on-track official for several years after which elevated his involvement by becoming elected candidate for the board once again. Wayne was instrumental in the advancement of racetrack communication by being the first user of the racecar “race-ceivers” by which he would be able to communicate directly with each driver as a whole via one-way radios, conveying important track status and car order information. Many drivers have come up to him off the track and repeated Wayne’s famous phrase of “yellow, yellow, yellow!”

ED TURNBULL
DRIVER
July, 18 1959
INDUCTED: 2015

Ed Turnbull has been involved in racing since 1975, starting his racing career in motocross and moving into dirt track racing in 1978 after getting hurt and deciding motocross wasn’t for him. Turnbull has been a fan favorite at various tracks in North Dakota and Canada; he is always bringing excitement to the fans while he is racing. Ed was the Estevan Motor Speedway track Champion in 1980, 1981, 1983, 2001, and 2002, the Nodak Speedway Wissota Modified Champion in 1994 and 1995, and the Williston Basin Speedway Modified Champion in 1998. He also has numerous wins from race specials under his belt including; the Harvest 100 Super Stock Champion in 1984, the 1994 and 1995 Wissota Western 100 Race of Champions winner, 1996 Wissota Western 100 Modifed Champion, 1996 Nodak Speedway Motor Magic Champion, the 2002 Dakota Classic Modifed Tour Champion, and in 2002 he was voted top 3 Modifed driver of all time during Nodak Speedways 50th Anniversary. Ed’s most memorable career highlights were winning all 3 nights of Motor Magic in 1996, watching both of his sons win their first feature wins, and helping Aaron win the 2013 Dakota Modified Tour, and being the only driver to win the back of the pack challenge at Nodak Speedway, twice! Turnbull doesn’t plan on calling it quits anytime soon, he plans on continuing to competitively race and have fun doing it and help his grandson(s) get started in racing when the time comes. Words of advice from Ed Turnbull, “Race to have fun and if you win it’s a bonus, if you have to win to have fun, you could be in the wrong sport.”

MIKE HAGEN
DRIVER
October 20, 1964
INDUCTED: 2016

Mike Hagen nicknamed Mad Mike Hagen, a Williston native started racing in 1985 in the Hobby Stock division as the #427x. Mike was involved in a crash his first year and one of his friends wrote, “Mad Mike” on his car. The race announcer picked up on it and it stuck, he’s been called Mad Mike Hagen ever since. He grabbed rookie of the year his first year of racing at the Williston Basin Speedway and was soon a force to reckon with. In 1987 Hagen was the Mid-season Champion and Season runner up in the Hobby division, nabbing ten feature wins that year at the Nodak Speedway. Mike moved up to his #27x Modified in 1988 and received another rookie of the year at the Nodak Speedway. In 1987 through 1989 he received the People’s Choice Award. Hagen has raced for many Championships in his racing career including; 1991 Dakota Modified Season runner up at Nodak Speedway, 1992 Mid-season and Season Champion at Nodak Speedway, 1995 Season runner up at the Nodak Speedway, 2005 Season Champion at Estevan Motor Speedway, 2011 Wolf runner up at Wolf Creek and 2012 Season runner up at Estevan Motor Speedway. Mike also pulled off many wins during race specials; he was the 1992 runner up at the Stampede in Jamestown, the 1992 Mandan Fall Nationals Winner, and in 1994 he won the Wissota Harvest 100. Mike also had 15 feature wins and was the Fast Shaft Qualifier in 2004, and finished 5th in points for the Dakota Classic Modified Tour in 2005. Hagen was also recognized as one of the Top 10 Modified drivers during Nodak Speedways 50th Anniversary. There’s no doubt that Mad Mike Hagen was a fan favorite at many tracks in North Dakota and Canada. He’s served on the Board of Directors at the Williston Basin Speedway and has had a lot of sponsors throughout the years to help support him, including his long time sponsor Hagen Seed Cleaning. Mad Mike has raced against many great drivers over his 29 years of racing from Paul Schulz, John Gaule to Aaron Turnbull and Steven Pfeifer. Hagen has now found himself to be considered one of the Greats.

RON HUETTL 
BOARD MEMBER, CAR OWNER & DRIVER
October 27, 1959
INDUCTED: 2016

Ron has raced at almost all the tacks in the region; Nodak Speedway, Red River Valley Speedway, Jamestown Speedway, Dacotah Speedway, and the Red River Co-Op Speedway. Ron’s older brother Jim Huettl raced in the 1960’s, and his younger brother Tony Huettl raced during the 1980’s as well. In 1976 Ron built a Super Stock but was too young to race so Curtis Wenger drove the car. Ron started racing in the Super Stock division in 1977 and continued until 1979. Huettl was the 1979 Minot Merchants Harvest 100 Super Stock champion, the same weekend he won a big race in Mandan at the Dacotah Speedway. Ron was not a stranger to the winner’s circle winning the Player 100 in Winnipeg, Canada, the Fargo Jamboree; Min Kota Spectacular, and his first Late Model feature win in 1980 on the 4th of July. He also was the 1981 Tri Can Late Model runner up in the Tri Can Association series, racing Fargo on Fridays, Winnipeg on Saturdays and Minot on Sundays. In 1981 Huettl was involved in a bad wreck that put him in the hospital for five days. He moved to Seattle in 1983, only to return and start racing again in 1995. Buying a Modified from Frank Klein and co-owning it with Alan Huettl. In 1996 he raced a Modified for Kraft and 1997 for Bobby Sagan. Huettl finished in the top five in the Dakota Modified Tour form 1998-2001. In 2002 Ron changed from racer to car owner, Nathan Burke drove his Modified from 2002-2005. Nathan won the Track Championship in rugby in 2002. Ron is currently serving as Nodak Speedway’s Treasurer, and is the main wrench for his son Jordan Huettl.

ADDIE NELSON
VOLUNTEER & BOARD MEMBER
August 5, 1960
INDUCTED: 2016

Addie had no clue what a dirt track looked like let alone understood why everyone was so crazy about dirt track racing at the Nodak Speedway. Well, in September of 1994, her first date was going to the races with a special guy she really liked. She didn’t care where the date was. Today that special guy is her husband Rick. Rick showed and explained to Addie what was going on and from the moment she could feel the rush and excitement that he had described to her. That is when here career started at the race track. Her first job was learning how to lap count. She loved it and as time went on she had many opportunities to help out at Mandan, Williston and Underwood tracks as a backup lap counter. At that time, she definitely had racing in her blood. The other positions she worked during her time at the race track was: pit window, registering pitmen, drivers, memberships, line ups, draws for positions, back gate, pick rocks, and guard rail work. She has also worked special events such as World of Outlaws and Wild About Wheels volunteering at the door and enjoying making people smile and laugh. It didn’t take long to be a part of the racing family. Addie said she enjoyed meeting the pitmen, drivers, co-workers, sponsors, etc. She felt so important when she would come to the tack and people knew her, aka, Ms. Addie. The reason people folks called her Ms. Addie is because she arranged to have many of her Burdick Job Corps students come down and help with picking rock, setting up events and that is how her students addressed her. Nelson loves all the people that she has come into contact with and most of all the special on-going friendships she has made. There are two special moments at Nodak that she says she will always remember and treasure, being recognized as the “Volunteer of the Year” Award and later being elected as a Board Member on the Nodak Board of Directors. While serving on the Board she was diagnosed with Breast cancer and decided not to run again. Addie now sits in the grandstands, holler, eat and still lap counts in her head. Nelson is sure glad she went on that first date otherwise look what she might have missed out on! She is proud to have been involved at the race track, she said it was so easy to give time when you belong to such a caring family!

RICK RODMAN
VOLUNTEER
December 6, 1950
INDUCTED: 2016

Rick volunteered at the Nodak Race Club from 1973 to 1986 volunteering as a firefighter. He took a break and soon returned in 1990 to continue volunteering for the club. He’s helped sell merchandise and regularly volunteers his time to help Nodak Speedway in any way. The past eight years his face usually can be seen at the pit gate. He makes sure everyone signs in and gets a wrist band before they enter the pits. No one gets by him without a wrist band. In 1968 to 1971 Rick was also a pit man for Joe Schmidt. Rodman has been involved with the Nodak Race Club for many years and has been a great asset to the club.

PAUL SCHULZ 
DRIVER
INDUCTED: 2016

Paul Schulz started racing the summer of 1968 at the age of 19. His first race car was a Ford with the number 3, and he successfully won his first feature during the first race at the McLean County Speedway in Underwood, ND. Paul raced at many race tracks over the years also including going out of state to South Dakota tracks. In 1972 Schulz won his first Championship at Central States Race track in the Modified Stock class with a Ford, number 3. In 1970 his number was changed to 103 and he started racing Chevrolet race cars. In 1971 Paul was the Mid-Season Champion at the Nodak Speedway. In 1973 he decided to try a different class and drove a Sprint race car with the number 33. In 1974 Schulz decided that he would go back to racing a full bodied racecar, a Chevelle with the number 103. In 1975 the number was changed back to 3, and raced a Camaro in the Late Model class. In 1975 and 1976 he was the ND State Fair Champion in the late Model class. In 1977 Schulz tried out a Mini-Sprint, number 3 and raced in Bottineau, Minot Indoors, and in Aberdeen, South Dakota. In 1978 Paul was back to Late Model racing and won the Minot Merchants Harvest 100, and the Tri-Can Special winner at the Grand Forks Speedway, he also received the Sportsman of the year award with the Nodak Race Club. In 1979 Schulz grabbed the Tri-Can Association Champion, and Late Model Mid-Season Champion at Nodak Speedway and the Upper Missouri Valley Fair Late Model Champion at the Williston Basin Speedway. Schulz’s Pit Crew received the best appearing Pit Crew award in the Late Model class in 1980. In 1986 and 1987 Paul drove in the Late Model class with the number 2 for Harry Kittler from Turtle Lake, ND. He received the Nodak Pioneer Award for the Wissota Modified class in 1989. Adding onto his belt of wins Paul was the 1991 25th Annual Stock Stampede Wissota Modified winner, and the Mid-Season and Season Champion at the Dacotah Speedway in Mandan, ND. During the next five years Paul was busy with farming and didn’t make it to all the races. He had open heart surgery in 1995, so his racing was slowed down a bit, as soon as his health was better he was back to racing. In 1996, he drove a Late Model and traveled to the Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, ND, and won the Budweiser Nationals. He has since been racing IMCA Modifieds with the number 3 and in 2014 changed it to 333. In 2009 he started the Strateline Engineering racing business, selling and building Modifieds. In 2011, he built a Hobby class racecar for his grandson, Aaron Aaseth, number 86. In 2013 a second one was built and Aaron went on to win the Southwest Speedway Championship in the 2015 season. Paul also built a SportMod for Aaron, so the racing goes on in the family. Schulz says he has no plans of quitting racing anytime soon, and he will continue to sponsor and work with his grandson. He has been very motivated to race throughout the years, has raced with many and has also made many friends. Racing is a family hobby and continues to be so.

MARLYN SEIDLER 
DRIVER
September 9, 1952
INDUCTED: 2016

Marlyn’s racing career started in 1974. Since then he has accumulated 16 Championships and 9 Runner-ups. 11 of the Championships being won in the last 10 seasons. He won 2 Championships in a Tri-Can Late Model, 3 in a Wissota Modified and 11 driving an IMCA Modified. The Championship Runner-ups were 2 in a Tri-Can Late Model, 1 in a Wissota Modifed and 6 in an IMCA Modified. He won 7 Championships at Nodak Speedway, 4 Championships at Dacotah Speedway and 1 at Jamestown Speedway and 1 at Bismarck Speedway. Other notable races he has won are the ND State Fair, Stutsman County Fair, Upper Missouri Valley Fair, Player’s 100 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Fall Roundup, Harvest Shootout, Nodak Speedway 100 Lap Feature winner, Desert Classic Race of States, Kings Speedway Hanford, CA, IMCA Modified Champion Speedweeks on Dirt-Florida, Dakota Modified Tour Champion, Stock car Stampede Wissota Modified Champion, 3 Governor’s Cup Championships, Dacotah Speedway and the final IMCA Modified race on the ½ mile track at the famous Manzanita Speedway, Phoenix AZ. Marlyn has received awards for Sportsman of the Year, Most Improved Driver, Driver of the Year and was honored when he was the first driver to win 7 Championships at Nodak Speedway, all of which were won in the premiere class at that time. Marlyn has served as Vice-President and Treasurer at Nodak Speedway. Marlyn has won 77 verifiable IMCA Modified races, in 1980 he won 26 Tri-Can Late Model races. Unfortunately, there are no records from the early days and Wissota did not keep any records of wins. Between the Dakota Mod, Wissota Mod, IMCA Mod and Late Model classes he feels justified in believing he has won in excess of 350- 450 features in his career. There are a few interesting things about Marlyn that may have been forgotten over the years. Marlyn didn’t race from 1981 to 1987, as his family grew he needed to make a commitment to make farming work, during that time he started a custom harvesting business as well as a trucking business. Upon his return to racing there were nights he missed races due to the fact that it was spring planting or harvest. There were many times in the fall he was leading points and lost the championship due to the demands of the farm. In later years support from his wife and son allowed him to leave during the spring and fall seasons to continue to attend the races and therefore was able to win several Championships. His first race was with the #218, 1955 Chevy Street Stock which he purchased for $25. The first night he raced, during the heat race, he lost control of the car and slid into a light pole in the infield and knocked the lights out. Some still say it was all of SE Minot, but Marlyn doesn’t remember it that way. That was forever after known as his first “pole position”. With the racecar destroyed, that was the end of his Street Stock career. After such a stellar performance in the Street Stock, he made the calculated decision to move up to a Late Model and purchased a car from veteran car owner Kenny Miller. The first race he won was in 1976 at a Late Model Tri-Can race at Jamestown Speedway. Marlyn was a chassis builder, he built Late Model race cars the winters of 1979/1980 and 1980/1981. He sold cars to Marv Gillig, Ron Huettl, Paul Schulz and John Gaule, all of which went on to win numerous races in those cars. Hank Berry purchased his first racecar from Marlyn. “I’ve got a love for racing like some people have a love for fine wine!” 41 years later Marlyn is still behind the wheel winning races.

MARLYN KORSLIEN 
DRIVER & FAN
January 25, 1943
INDUCTED: 2017

Marlyn started racing in 1963 and raced until 1978. He started in the Hobby Class and then later moved to the Late Model Division. He raced full time at Nodak Speedway, Underwood and Williston and special races at other tracks. His car number at first was 666 and later became 166.
Marlyn grew up on a farm Southwest of Minot, South Prairie, and graduated from Minot High School in 1961. He got married to Virginia Mikkelson, a neighbor girl, on June 21, 1964. They have two children. Melanie Graham, who lives in Estevan and Larissa Mosser who lives next door to them. They have four granddaughters. The whole family are race fans, including granddaughters and they all attend on a regular basis. In fact, Melanie met her husband at the races.
Marlyn’s first car was a 1941 Ford with a 312 cu. Inch motor. Marlyn built all of his own race cars and did all of the work from building his own motors to welding his own roll bars. He was also noted for having many spare parts along and there were always drivers coming over to borrow parts. The first year he raced, they would occasionally race on the flat ½ mile Nodak track and he won every race he was in. He was clocked at over 90 miles per hour. Marlyn always said there is nothing better than coming around the corner waiting for the green flag to fly.
Marlyn was one of the few Ford racers and he still drives all Ford’s today. Besides winning the ½ mile championship he was a runner- up champion and was always in the top 5 and 10 points every year. There was plenty of completion as there was always 30 cars or more. He was a very popular driver and had many followers, especially the South Prairie area. He also won championships in Underwood. In 1964 when Marlyn got married the fire department hauled Marlyn and Virginia around the track on the back of the fire truck. Harry Kittler and his wife also rode along as both couples were married the same month.
When Marlyn started racing very few drivers had trailers so they pulled their cars to the track with a tow bar and hoped the bumper didn’t get banged up so they could tow it home again. He raced on Sunday afternoons in Underwood and Nodak on Sunday night. One Sunday Marlyn had problems in Underwood with his transmission not staying in gear. He took off for Minot and stopped at the shop and welded the transmission into second gear. He then took the drive shaft off and pulled it to Nodak. That night they had a make-up feature from the week before. Marlyn won both features that night with a transmission that was welded in gear.
After the Hobby Class was dropped he moved into the Late Model division and his final race car was a 1968 Ford Mustang. After Marlyn quit racing he still attends the races every Sunday. He arrives early and waits in line for the doors to open and sits in the same seat every week. It took a while to figure out a seat in the new grandstand but mission accomplished. He hasn’t missed but a handful of races since he quit racing 38 years ago. Even all of the family members are hooked on the sport, and his granddaughter Teagan even bugs about being a race car driver. Now each Sunday Marlyn saves seats for the whole family, as going to the races is Korslien event.

DALE & BETTY NORDSTROM
DALE NORDSTROM
VOLUNTEER
April 1, 1944 – March 6, 2021
INDUCTED: 2017

Dale Nordstrom bought his first membership from the Nodak Race Club in 1968 when he was a pitman for Kermit Kundo. He attended the races off and on through the years until becoming a weekly regular in the mid-80s. Dale pitted for Ralph Modin in the Dakota Modified in the 1980s, where Ralph took runner-up one year. Nordstrom also helped run the car races at the Burke County Fairgrounds in Flaxton for several years. Dale has worn many hats around the Race Club including holding the Secretary position in 1994, and Board of Director positions in 2013, 2017 and 2018. Dale also has helped with car line ups, lap counting, track official, track prep in 2011, corner judging, assistant flagman, and has also flagged enduros and demolition derbies. Dale definitely is devoted to help the Nodak Race Club in any way possible!

BETTY NORDSTROM
TRACK PHOTOGRAPHER & VOLUNTEER
April 27, 1948
INDUCTED: 2017

Betty Nordstrom has spent pretty much her whole life at the race track. Her love of racing took roots at the Mouse River Speedway in Mohall, ND when she was just 10 years old. In 1961, after attending the Mouse River Speedway for 3 years, Betty, her parents and 4 siblings began attending the races at the Nodak Speedway every Sunday night, which continued until 1976 when she moved to Alaska. It wasn’t long before she came across a dirt track there. For the next 7 years, she attended the races at the North Pole Speedway and the Greater Fairbanks Racing Association. Betty and her family moved back to North Dakota in 1983 and she found her way back to Nodak Speedway. It has now been 49 years that she has been going to the Nodak Race Club races and she has only missed 3 nights’ total. In her time with Nodak Speedway she has took on many different jobs. Most notably she is known as the track photographer. In the years prior to becoming the track photographer Betty started lining up trophy girls in the early 90’s and continued to do so until they were retired 20 years later. Along with lining up trophy girls Betty took victory lane photos, so each girl would have photos of their experience as a trophy girl. She also took many action shots from the grandstands, and this lead her to becoming the official track photographer. Nordstrom has also worked closely with the Nodak Race Club’s business managers and helped prepare the annual yearbook that are sold every season. She also prepares a slideshow for the banquet of all the race season highlights. Betty loves her racing family and lives for nights at the track!

LARRY MCFALL 
VOLUNTEER & ANNOUNCER
June 7, 1958
INDUCTED: 2017

Larry has been an avid fan of the Nodak Race Club since 1965, when he found out that his parents had taken an ad out in the yearbook to advertise their TV repair business on the page of his future hero, Super Modified car number 6 driver, Andy Nikitenko. From his first view of the track coming up the grandstand entry steps, he was hooked.
He made a set of flags out of a bed sheet with color crayons that put him in a little trouble with his mom, so he could be like Dave Hammer. He also created a small circle track at his rural Minot home, so that he could race against the invisible drivers on his old banana bike.
Through the years when the family could not make a Sunday afternoon show, he would ride his new three speed bike all the way from rural Northwest Minot to the Fairgrounds on his own to take in the races, armed with the 8-mm movie camera to catch some footage.
Larry has served the club as an article writer for the Nodak Racing News, Assistant and Head Flagman, and for the last 19 years as one of the track announcers. His love for the sport finally hooked him up with the race club as the writer for the Nodak Racing Newspaper while he was the Sports Editor for the Minot State College Red and Green paper in 1983. Larry would write a small brief on every race each night, and the paper would be available the next week at the entrance of the grandstands. McFall also wrote most of the hall of fame bios and the history of the race club that appears in the season programs now every year.
In 1987, he became the assistant flagman to head flagman Dave Forthun, and then took over the head flag job in 1989. McFall also flagged in 1990, and parts of 1993 and 1995.
In 1998 Robert Ferguson, aka Charlie Foxx, asked Larry to join him in the booth as a co- announcer. The two had worked together for a few years already doing high school hockey on the radio, so Larry jumped at the chance. And the rest of the announcing saga is history. Larry worked with Foxx for 6 seasons until 2003, before being joined for the next 10 years by Lindsay Lawson. The duo was then asked to announce the Dakota Classic Modified tour in 2012, an event that they still do together today. Lawson stepped away from full-time announcing after the 2013 season, so Larry was joined by Chad Hoff for two years, and now announces with Nick Hulberg at the Playground of Power.
This coming season in Minot will be McFall’s 20th season as the voice of Nodak, and he is fresh off announcing the opening three days of the inaugural Arizona Modified Tour at the Cocopah Speedway this past February.

ROBBIE CONWAY 
DRIVER & SPONSOR
January 12, 1967 – July 31, 2017
INDUCTED: 2018 

Robbie loved racing; every kind of racing.  Everything from a foot race, go carts, to dirt track racing. It didn’t matter if he was racing against twenty (20) race cars or one go-cart. He loved it, he was always really fast and could be heard laughing the whole time. He loved everything about dirt track racing; especially that it was a place that three generations could work together.

Robbie’s first real race car, a Wissota Street, was a hand-me-down that was really rough. But, it didn’t take him long to figure out how to be fast. In the early days, he was on a tight budget and stretched every dollar.  That approach and his love of the sport earned him the mutual respect and lifetime friendship of Dick Schulz (Nodak HOF Member). They became fast friends and the best competitors.  It was those early days Rob learned that to be fast, he first had to follow.  He and Dick became great friends and the competition was always fierce, but pure fun. Robbie’s persistence and dedication got him the 1997 Motor Mania Championship in his second year of racing.

Even though he had great success early, Rob’s first run at racing lasted only three years. Ending in 1998 as the Nodak Speedway Runner-Up in the Wissota Street Stock. Then he spent the next 14 years raising his family and watching from the stands with his dad (Rod), brother (Randy), and his growing children (Kylee and Chase).  He understood the commitment that racing took and he wasn’t willing to spend the time away from Lori and the kids. He always knew he would have the opportunity to race again when they were older.  He was a true fan and contributed to several drivers as a quiet sponsor just to be involved.

Then in 2009, Robbie and Randy purchased an IMCA Stock Car to get back into racing. Robbie took on the role as Crew Chief and Randy drove. Robbie’s commitment to understanding the details of set-up and his willingness to ask everyone questions was a huge benefit to the race team.  His knowledge and willingness to dig for answers contributed to their championship in the stock car class (2010) and runner up the following season (2011).

In 2012, Rob purchased his first IMCA Sport Mod. The learning curve was very steep, but his work ethic and competitive nature quickly led to success at the track. Robbie went on to win the Nodak Speedway Championship in 2015 and the 2016 Motor Magic Championship and participated in some of the biggest races around the country including The Duel in the Dessert (4th place finish), Hayes Kansas (2nd place finish), Desert Series (2 wins and 2^nd), had good showings at the Frost Buster and Harris Clash, and he was constantly looking forward to the next road trip.

Robbie was around Nodak Speedway most of his life. In the 70’s and 80’s with his dad, Rodney (HOF Member and ‘74 Champion), racing in the mid-late 90’s, in the stands/pits throughout the 2000’s and on the track from 2012-2017.  Nodak Speedway was his favorite place to race and was his home track. Robbie was everyone’s friend.  He was happiest when he was interacting with kids and teasing competitors in his own special way.  Robbie was the type of racer who was respected by many but never let a good race pass him by. He never let anyone win intentionally, but he was at his best when he lost; always first to congratulate a winner on their achievement. No one enjoyed racing more, Robbie loved everything about being at the race track. If one were to drive by the Conway trailer on any given race night, it was obvious what meant most to Robbie. It wasn’t about winning races, it was about the quality time he spent with his family and close friends.

Robbie was more than a driver. He helped many people whether it was giving advice, monetary support, and also a friend to many at the tracks he competed at. He sponsored a number of drivers who you can see racing weekly at Nodak Speedway.  Robbie ended his racing career as Honorary Track Champion at Thunder Mountain Speedway.  The championship was awarded as a sign of respect and appreciation from his fellow competitors.  Robbie’s positive outlook and love for the sport will live on through all of those whom he has impacted.  2STRONG.  

KENT HANSON 
FAN
February 28, 1943
INDUCTED: 2018

Kent will be 73 years old this year. He was born on February 28, 1943. Raised on a farm south of Des Lacs, he farmed and ranched throughout his life. Racing and fast cars has been a passion for him since he was very young.
Kent Hanson has been attending the races at Nodak Speedway for 43+ years, when he began racing in 1973 in the Hobby Stock class. He excelled quickly in his class. In 1974, he won Mid-Season Championship at Nodak Speedway and went on to win the Season Runner-up as well. Kent moved up to a Late Model in 1975, which was a very competitive and fun class. Kent raced his Fords (the only type of car he ran) throughout North Dakota, including Mandan, Grand Forks, and Jamestown. In 1974, he won the Northern Racing Circuit Mid-Season Championship, as well as the Season Runner-up.
Kent went on to race enduros throughout North Dakota in the 80’s and 90′. After his racing career, he helped out at the track and also pitted for many racers. He loved helping and pitting for many drivers throughout the years, including Danny Schatz, his son, Jade Hanson, nephew, Phillip Brandvold, son-in-law, Kelly Henderson, good friend, as well as favorite driver, Marlyn Seidler, and many others.
Kent’s favorite memories from Nodak Speedway include his years of racing – of course, the great competition, pitting for his son Jade, watching all of his daughters as they were Trophy Girls, and the 50th Anniversary of the club, when he got to race Ivan Sailer’s Legend car in the “Legends Race”, where he took second place. Kent has many wonderful stories from throughout the years of racing and attending Nodak Speedway and he is always willing to share those fun stories.
The love for the sport keeps Kent coming back to the track year after year. He has been a great support and a super fan for the Nodak Speedway. It is loyal fans, like Kent, that keep Nodak and other racetracks throughout North Dakota thriving.

RICHARD BENSON
PITMAN & PIONEER 
NOVEMBER 9, 1931 – April 1, 2021
INDUCTED: 2019

Richard got involved with Nodak Speedway in 1955, but a few life events lead him to that point in his life. In July of 1949 Richard became employed by the Bee Line Service Co. in Minot, ND as a frame and front-end alignment man. On October 3rd, 1952 Richard enlisted into the United States Navy. He volunteered for the Construction Battalion and was recommended to strike for mechanics ratings.

Richard was deployed to South Korea with the Naval Construction Battalion, better known as The Sea Bees. His service included the building of Military Compounds, Bridges, Under Water Demolition, and Under Water Welding. Richard was Honorably discharged March 18th, 1955.
Richard returned to Minot in 1955 after his service and continued his employment at Bee Line service in Minot under Roy Mattson’s ownership. Richard soon became involved with the Nodak Speedway through the frame straightening and front-end alignment repair work he performed on race cars.

Reid Gordon approached Richard while working on his car and asked him to join his team as a pitman for the number 12 car that Reid Gordon drove, Richard proudly accepted. While pitman for Reid, Richard worked on several techniques to improve the steering and handling performance on Reid’s car. Reid Gordon said his car handled like a kiddy car in the corners. With his knowledge Richard is now known as a pioneer in the advancement of racing in Minot.

A quote from Doug Groves, “Richard designed and perfected the front-end alignment for dirt track racing while pitting for Reid Gordon.” After Reid Gordon’s 1959 Championship, Richard shared his work and design with many of the drivers at the track. Andy Nikitenko shared that Richard was the go to guy for expertise in frame and front-end alignment. When double header weekends rolled around racers both local and out of town that would wreck knew Richard would work on their cars into the early morning so they could race the next day.

MILTON KORSLIEN
FAN
OCTOBER 10, 1948
INDUCTED: 2019

Milt has been going to the Nodak races since 1963. He started off as a pitman for his brother Marlyn Korslien. Marlyn raced for 16 years, and hung up his helmet in 1978. Milt has been a fan in the grandstands ever since, with the only races that were missed were when he was in the service. Milt was a Sargant in the Army National Guard from 1967 to 1973. His unit moved back to Minot in 1968, making it so that Milt only missed one full season at Nodak Speedway.

Milt is one of Nodak Speedway’s most loyal fans, and can be found smiling away in the same spot every Sunday with his entire family. Along with being a die-hard race fan Milt has volunteered his time for the Nodak Speedway. He was the auctioneer for the annual Calcutta races that were held up until 2008. The Calcutta races helped raise money for local families in need. Milt also auctioneers the live auction at the Annual Nodak Speedway Awards banquet.

He has dedicated his entire life to volunteering and announcing for various organizations including; the Minot State Gala Auction, Minot State Basketball, ND Highschool Association announcing basketball tournaments, announcing for Minot High School, North Dakota State fair running livestock shows, Norsk Hostfest cooking and managing the stage, organizes an annual auction through the Minot Board of Realtors for the Salvation Army, organizes an auction for the Minot FFA Alumni, and has volunteered his time in some any other places.

When asked what about volunteering made you dedicate your whole life to it, he replied, “I just wanted to help other people and by volunteering was a way that I could do that. Lost of people give money to donate, but I decided to use my talent and donate hours to make our community a better place.” The 2019 season will be the 56th season that Milt has attended!

JIM CLIFFORD
VOLUNTEER & PRESIDENT
AUGUST 30, 1953
INDUCTED: 2020

Jim Clifford grew up around racing. He first attended the races with his mother at the Fairmont Speedway in Fairmont, Minnesota and the Jackson VFW Speedway in Jackson, MN. Jim joined the Air Force in 1972 and was stationed in Minot, ND. He first came to Nodak Speedway as a firefighter during the summer of 1972. He provided Fire Emergency Services under Fire Chief Kenneth O. Gillespie, and in 1973 and 1974 Clifford took over as Nodak Speedway’s Fire Chief.

As he was just beginning his fire career at the Nodak Speedway, Clifford was given orders to Taiwan. He didn’t stay away too long though, as he was back in 1976 providing Nodak Speedway with Fire Emergency Services again. Jim moved back home to Minnesota in 1979 and helped provide Fire Services to the Fairmont Speedway and Jackson VFW Speedway, but then shortly moved back to Minot in 1982. Clifford then took over the Fire Crew as the Fire Chief again from 1982 to retiring in 1996. Clifford had been retired from providing Nodak Speedway with Fire Emergency Services for 13 years, and was called in 2009 to come out of retirement and organize a Fire Crew once again.

Clifford has since been Nodak Speedway’s Fire Chief, with his son Jed now by his side. Jim has now provided over 25 years as a firefighter at the Nodak speedway. During the 80’s and 90’s Jim was a jack of all trades at the Speedway he provided track maintenance, ground flagging, and provided his pick-up for anything that needed to be done at the track. Clifford was also Nodak Speedway’s President in 1985. Clifford proved to be a successful leader by being involved with paying off a $20,000 loan and purchasing a water truck and the first road grader for the club.

He was also involved on the Board of Directors when the IMCA Modifieds were introduced at the Nodak Speedway in 1997 Jim continues to be a great friend and fan of the Nodak Speedway.

‘SMOKIN’ HANK BERRY
DRIVER

INDUCTED: 2021

Hank was first exposed to dirt track racing at a very young age. His parents took him to Great Falls, MT to watch his uncle Dave race his Sprint car. He was totally in awe of everything about the whole experience. When he got older and into cars there was a drag strip in Glendive, MT, 55 miles away from home, so he decided he would try drag racing. Hank first raced a 900 Kawasaki street bike and eventually ended up racing a few Big block Chevy Chevelle’s and Camaro’s. During the late 70’s, the drag strip closed, so Hank decided it was time to go dirt racing. Hank went to Williston Basin Speedway one evening to watch the Late Models and was immediately drawn to one car in particular because it had a Big block Chevy engine and it just so happened to be for sale. Hank visited with Kurt Stebleton from Minot about the car and they came up with a plan to come to Minot and hot lap the car to see if he really wanted to go the Late Model route. It was about the mid-season of 1980, and the weekend Hank traveled to Minot, happened to be a double header. During intermission he got the opportunity to take the car onto the track and make a couple laps. Hank said it was quite an experience, he remembers thinking the car super noisy and it pulled to the left like nothing he’s ever driven. The combination of tear offs on the helmet, a very dark heavy race track, with lighting that wasn’t the greatest made it difficult to see. With that Hank told Kurt he would think about it over night and let him know the next day.

The next day Hank went over to Kurt’s house and wrote him a check for $7,600 for the Late Model, trailer and extra tires and wheels. Hank hooked up to the trailer with his El Camino and headed to the racetrack! He chose to start in the back of the heat race, so he wouldn’t get into any trouble trying to learn. Hank said his goal was to keep up, but a few laps in he dislocated his shoulder and spun the car out. Hank was able to get his shoulder popped back in, but pulled into the pits in pain. Feature time rolled around, and the same thing happened again, so he pulled into the pits in severe pain. Kurt asked him if he wanted him to hop in and finish the race for him. Hank told him sure. Kurt started in the back and started passing cars on the outside of the track when the green came out. He made it through corner 1 and 2 and passes more cars down the back stretch. Kurt gets to the middle of 3 and 4 and Ron Huettl shoots up the track and collects Hank’s car and, both cars go tumbling off the track. Hank’s car was mangled up, the carburetor is completely torn off the engine, and he said he was thinking what did I just get myself into? Hank left everything with Kurt and went back to Sidney. Kurt said he would give him his money back, but about a week later Kurt called Hank and said he could fix the car up again if he still wanted it. Hank still isn’t sure what made him say yes that day. Needless to say, Hank had quite the start to a long love affair with dirt track racing. Hank battled his dislocated shoulders for several years before getting them fixed.

1981 was Hank’s first full year of racing. He ended up in the points race, even with skipping an event to race in Montana. Hank didn’t win any races that year, or win the Championship, but he was a consistent top 5. In 1982 Hank purchased a Tri-City Buggy Late Model chassis and a different engine, and got his first win that year. After his first win, winning came easier and Hank won numerous races and Championship at the Nodak Speedway and Williston Basin Speedway. Hank considered Nodak Speedway his home track for the first 20 years of racing, but the drive home every Sunday night seemed to get longer and the time to sleep before going to work got shorter. Hank had to scale back from going to Minot every Sunday and actually scaled back racing in general. Racing is still a passion of his, but it does take a lot of time and energy to keep up with everything that goes on with owning and driving a race car. He said if he hadn’t scaled back, it would have been too much like a job that he didn’t like to continue at a full pace.

Hank never kept track of his wins and Championships. He said that never really mattered to him, as long as he was having fun. At Nodak Speedway Hank has won 5 Runner-up season Championships in 1984, 1986, 1991, 1993, and 1996. And 5 season Championships in 1985, 1987, 1988, 1993 and 1997. Winning 4 Harvest 100 races in 1986, 1987, 1990, and 1991. And also winning numerous fair races at Nodak. Winning at Nodak Speedway wasn’t the only place Hank has made a mark. His most memorable wins being the weekend he won the Jamestown Speedway Stampede race with his Late Model and Modified, making that 5 Stampedes wins for his belt, has won numerous ND Governor’s Cup races at the Dacotah Speedway in Mandan, and has proudly won 4 Dakota Modified tour Championships, with multiple Runner-ups. Hank currently runs both a Wissota Late Model and a IMCA Modified. He said his favorite car will always be the Late Model though.

Hank thinks of himself as an aggressive, but clean driver. He never really made enemies on the race track, and tries to race his competitors the way he would like to be raced. Hank isn’t sure how he got his nickname ‘Smokin’ Hank Berry. It was given to him by Ralph Lockwood, an announcer at the Williston Basin Speedway. Hank said it could have been from smoking cigarettes or the car smoking, but what he would like to think it came from was him smoking the competition.

OLE OLSON
PRESIDENT, DONATOR, & VOLUNTEER
January 17, 1952
INDUCTED: 2021

Ole began his enthusiasm for the Nodak Speedway at the early age of eight years old attending races at the track. Ole began his employment at Bee Line Service and Ward Standard Service & Wrecker in Minot. These events led Ole to become involved with the above-mentioned titles for his devoted time and wrecker service at his hometown track in Minot for over 50 years.

In 1970, he began Olson’s Towing with a single truck. In 1977, Ole purchased Bryce Aga’s Owl Wrecker (Never Home) Service, and combined the two into Olson’s Owl Wrecker. He then further expanded, building his respectable fleet and business to become Ole Olson’s Towing & Recovery. At an early age in business, Ole committed himself at Nodak Speedway to provide essential quick response wrecker service. Always ready for a push start to cars stalled out on the track, a wreck or a multi-car pile-up, clearing debris, and an eye for track conditions. A service vital to the Nodak Speedway operations. A one-of-a-kind behind the scenes man. As the business and race track grew, going to the track directing his operations and ensuring every week that the equipment was meticulously ready to roll and perform.

Ole’s leadership, with a keen eye and awareness, he implemented directives to promote safety with his crew and all involved at the track. Notably the orange high visible clothing that the wrecker crew wore. Especially in the early years the pits we’re located at the infield of the track. A tight space in those years.

Ole also was a pitman to hometown legends Hoss Hauge, Danny Schatz, Doug Groves, and Wyatt Olson. Throughout the years Ole has donated trucks and equipment still in use today at the track.

His son, Wyatt Olson following Ole’s passion, began racing in 2000 for 12 seasons at his hometown track Nodak Speedway driving car #57; Wyatt also raced in Rugby, Estevan, Mandan, Dickinson, and Williston. Wyatt’s impressive career highlights many feature wins and several track championships. Wyatt was runner-up in the stock car class at the Super Nationals in Boone, IA. Wyatt is recognized as 1 of 6 drivers in the nation to win 3 track championships in a single season in 2004.

Ole served 14 years on the Board at Nodak Speedway.

Board Member – 1981, 1997, 2008, and 2009.

Secretary – 1990 and 1998.

Vice President – 1991, 1992, and 1993.

President – 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014.

Ole was respectfully inducted in the International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame in 2009.

Ole Olson’s Towing & Recovery continues today providing 24/7 service throughout the Midwest and Canada with wife Claudia, sons Wyatt and Dusty, daughter Rusti, and entire staff.

RICK NELSON
VOLUNTEER
July 16, 1958
INDUCTED: 2021

Rick Nelson’s love for racing began when he was a child. The only cars that he would play with were race cars. Up to the age of 9, he was still collecting only race cars. Turning 9 was a big point in his life, his dream finally came true. His grandfather took him to his first race. In 1978, his pitmen career began. Rick pitted for Tommy Whitfield, Jim Hill’s Tech Auto, Darwin Strand, Drew Christensen and Henderson Motor Sports. His love of racing continued, and he had the opportunity to work in all facets at the Nodak Race Club other than being a pitman. He held numerous positions through his involvement such as: a long-time general member, a Board member, pit steward, ground flagmen, front gate attendant, lining up cars, corner judge, and even received the Volunteer of the Year Award in 19??. Rick lived and breathed racing and has been a longtime supporter. Beyond the positions he held in his involvement he also put countless hours throughout the week preparing the track for Sunday racing and special races by watering and farming. Rick also spent many hours picking MANY rocks and helped install a new guard rail in the infield in 19??. His goal was always to make sure that the drivers left the track satisfied with the results of the race track each night they raced. Hoping they would spread the word to others about how awesome the track was to race on, and that Nodak was the best place to race. Rick was always available to help with whatever the club needed to get done. He never knew how to say “No”. That was a hard word for him. He believed that if you are a member of the track, your job is to support the Nodak Speedway and help wherever help was needed, no matter what the job consisted of. No matter what position Rick held, he always had a smile on his face and provided a welcoming atmosphere for the drivers, and everyone he came into contact within the pits, whether new or the regulars. He believes in giving respect to each other but the most important thing to him was providing excellent customer service by just saying, “glad you are here tonight, and good luck!” Rick has said many times, “it’s easy to give your time when you belong to such a close family at Nodak Speedway”.

JOHN GAULE
VOLUNTEER, PREDISENT & DRIVER
INDUCTED: 2022

Minot Air Force Base was John’s last stop after serving 4 ½ years in the United States Air Force. He met Jeri Blada while stationed in Minot. They were married and had three children, April, Heidi, and Billy. 1969 was the first year of John’s racing career, racing in the Modified Stock class. Within a few years he was tearing up race tracks with many wins during his career. Grabbing a Season Runner-up in 1971, and his first Season Championship in 1973 in the Modified Stock class. Gaule snagged his second Season Championship at the Nodak Speedway in the Late Model class in 1977. John also won numerous Championships at other surrounding tracks; the Williston Basin Speedway, and Dacotah Speedway. For John and his crew 1975 through the 1980’s were spent racing hot and heavy through North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, and Canada. Winning plentiful races and race specials along the way.

John first stepped into a Board of Director position in 1971, but he left his mark as the Nodak Speedway President for 10 years total, 1995 through 1996 and 2002 through 2009. He was the push being the race club, always, making improvements, and keeping the classes updated.  He was very instrumental in the creating the Dakota Modified Class running from 1989 through 1997, then bringing in Wissota Modifieds from 1989 through 1995, and the Wissota Streets from 1997 and 1998. Keeping up with the changes of the racing industry, Gaule with the help of other influential figures from Nodak Speedway brought in IMCA Sanctioning in 1997 for the Modifeds, Stock Cars in 2000, and Hobby Stocks in 2006. Nodak Race Club is still Sanctioned through IMCA and doing well. The first three IMCA Mods were built in John’s shop, Frontier Automotive. He has always loved the race club, and dedicated his life to its success.

The race club benefited greatly from his promotion of big races for the club, with big payouts. Nodak had every top dirt driver in the US and Canada at our specials.  The races were great. The club was receiving National recognition as the place to race. The yearly banquets generated thousands of dollars for the race club, and improvements were always going on under Johns leadership.

TOM CARSON
INDUCTED: 2023

Tom Carson was born and raised in the Carpio area, moving to the Minot area after Graduation. Tom was an outstanding mechanic and got to where he could fix anything. He was eventually hired at Campus Texaco as their mechanic. At this time in the late sixties Tom got into motorcycles and could be seen riding around town on his custom-made Chopper. In his free time, he began fixing and restoring classic cars, becoming one of the best in the area for vehicle restoration. It was Tom’s love for motorcycles and cars that drew him to the Nodak Speedway. Carson bought his own Service station on 3rd Street, giving him access to his station’s wrecker, he began bringing it to the Nodak Speedway. This was the start of his 20+ years of being a volunteer wrecker driver for the race club.

Tom barely missed a night in his red Exxon wrecker. Outside of being the only wrecker at the track, Tom was always browsing the pits and helping out anyone that needed it.

Carson also tried his hand at driving. He teamed up with his good friend Dave Forthun and built a mini stock in the mid-eighties. Tom took the wheel a few times, but then handed the wheel to Dave full-time. He was more in his comfort zone as the wrench turner.

Over his years of volunteering Tom also found himself serving on the Board of Directors. He also built two Last Chance cars that Nodak used to raise money for the club. The Last Chance cars were a fundraiser to offer a chance to the fans to try out driving, in hopes to increase the car counts.

MIKE COUGHLIN
INDUCTED: 2023

Mike Coughlin started hanging around the Nodak Speedway in the early 70’s. He first tried driving in 1974 for several years, but realized that was not his strong suit. After a handful of years, Mike decided to shift roles and become a Car owner and put Steve Hammer in his car. With Steve driving they were off to the races. Steve had great success in the stock car, and modified classes. In 1983, Coughlin also owned a car in the late model class. John Hulse was his driver at the time.

Mike eventually got hooked up with John Gaule #114, as his mechanic. Mike and John had some really great and fun years. They traveled all over the states, and met a lot of good people. When John moved out of the race cars into the administrative post of Nodak, Mike went with him. John convinced Coughlin to become the tech inspector. Starting in 1995, Mike was the Tech Inspector for 14 consecutive years. Teching a total of 15 years during his Volunteering career before retiring in 2009. Mike has teched for numerous tracks throughout the state of North Dakota including; Minot, Jamestown, Bismarck, Mandan, Williston, Rugby, and Underwood, using both Wissota and IMCA Rules. Coughlin was one of the few techs that had an open invitation to tech at the Super Nationals in Boone, Iowa.  Which he did several times. Mike spent 40 years in total with the race club holding every position except President. He repaired the water trucks, tractors, and club races cars, as well as pickups. Spent many hours installing pumps underground between corners one and two. Known as Lake Nodak always flooded.

Coughlin reminisces, “I have made many friends, and some enemies, but I tried to be fair to everyone.  I seemed to have a great rapport with people that I got along with, and some of the ones I didn’t. I am proud to have been associated with the club, and hope for its continued success.”

JESSE & BONNIE KLUCK
INDUCTED: 2023

Jesse raced in Iowa before moving to North Dakota where he raced at the Nodak Speedway in the Street class in the late 70’s. Bonnie helped at the pit window in 1978 through 1980. After a year or two she managed the pit window all by herself unless Nodak hosted a special. Bonnie did that for about 26 years while Jesse continued to race and pit for others. Jess also acted as a Pit Steward and ran the main gate. Their son Dorian Anderson they believed to be the youngest to wear the officiants striped shirt at that time. Gaining respect was a challenge. Not all racers were happy to pack muddy tracks when a 12-year-old sent them there. The Kluck family were actively involved until it got too hard for Jesse to get around in his four-wheel cart, retiring in the late 90’s. Bonnie retired a few years later in 2002 and passed down the fun to younger gals.

JOREN BOYCE
INDUCTED: 2023

Stormin’ Joren Boyce, a second generation driver to his father and Hall of Fame member, Butch Boyce didn’t start out racing on 4 wheels. He ran motocross for a successful 8 years before transitioning to dirt track racing in 1984. His father’s #27 was already used on the track, so he chose the #67 as his signature number. Joren hit the track with grit and grabbed the Rookie of the year in the Late Model class that season. Boyce raced for 3 years in the Late Model class and decided to take a break after the 1986 season. 

In 1990 he decided to dive back into the dirt racing world, jumping into a Dakota Modified and grabbing his second Rookie of the year. He quickly saw success upon his return, winning at least one feature every year since returning in 1990. Joren raced the Dakota Mod through a good part of the 90’s all the way up until 1997. He  pulled double duty to the Dakota Mod in 1993-1997 racing a Wissota Modified as well. In those 7 seven years he grabbed 1 Nodak Speedway Championship in the Wissota Mod in 1996, 2 Nodak Speedway Track Championships in the Dakota Mod in 1996 and 1997 and 3 Runner-up Championships in 1993 and 1995 in the Dakota Mod and 1994 in the Wissota Mod. 

Closing out the 90’s decade for Joren, Nodak Speedway introduced a new Sanctioning body in 1997, IMCA. He continued to see great successes in his racing program grabbing 1 IMCA Modified Nodak Speedway Championship in 1998 and 2 Runner-up Championships in 2002 and 2004. Along with those Championships winning 9 total Harvest Shootouts, Motor Mania and Motor Magic Specials in his racing career. Achieving driver of the year in 2001 and Top Modified driver of the 1st 50 years of racing for the Nodak Race Club.

After another little break from racing, Joren returned to the racing scene in 2015 running a IMCA Stock Car. Fans were overjoyed to see that green hauler lined up to enter the pits each race night. Since returning Joren has grabbed a Runner-up Championship at Nodak Speedway and numerous feature wins. 

Stormin’ Joren Boyce’s nickname came from shop talk in the early 90’s. From the roll of the tongue Gulf War General Norman Schwarzkopf, Stormin Norman. Stormin’ Joren was born and has been a legendary nickname at the Nodak Speedway.

Joren’s favorite racing memory is driving the gold #50 IMCA Modified car to victory lane the first night of Nodak Speedway’s 50th Anniversary celebration. His dad, Butch also qualified for the feature in the #27 retro baby blue modified, which made the event extra special. Following that memory from 2002, Boyce also holds his 2006 win at the IMCA All Star Invitational at the Super Nationals in Boone, IA at the top of his all time favorites. He was and still is the first and only prestigious Eagle Trophy for North Dakota. 

On top of his very successful racing career, Joren has also earned numerous Sportsmanship of the year awards at multiple tracks. He enjoys helping fellow racers from beginners of the sport to the seasoned veterans with new ideas. Boyce is always willing to lend an ear or a helping hand.

Joren also served on the Nodak Speedway Board for 17 years. While on the Board, he was instrumental in many big events including the transition to full IMCA sanctioning, the Roughrider Classic, and creating a network of scheduling with all western ND racetracks. 

Nodak Speedway stats:

• 4 Track Championships
• • 1996 Wissota Mod
  • 1996 Dakota Mod
  • 1997 Dakota Mod
  • 1998 IMCA Mod
• 6 Track Runner-ups
• • 1993 Dakota Mod
  • 1995 Dakota Mod
  • 1994 Wissota Mod
  • 2002 IMCA Mod
  • 2004 IMCA Mod
  • 2018 IMCA Stock Car
• 9 Harvest Shootout-Motor Mania/Motor MAgic Championships
• • Dakota Mod – 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
  • MCA Mod – 2001
  • IMCA Stock Car – 2015, 2017
• 2 Rookie of the Year’s
• • Late Model – 1984
  • Dakota Mod – 1990
• Driver of the Year – 2001
• Top Modified Driver of the 1st 50 years – 2002

Career stats:

• 13 State Championships
• 45 Track Championships
• 355+ Feature wins
• • 116 IMCA Mod, 127 Dakota Mod, 70 Wissota Mod
• 33 IMCA Stock Car, and numerous unsanctioned events
• 3 Dakota Classic Modified Tour Champion – 1998, 1999, 2001
• 4 Jamestown Stampedes
• 8 Governor Cups in Mandan
• 3 Fall Round ups in Williston
• Estevan Motor Speedway Wall of Fame – 2022

NATHAN BURKE
INDUCTED: 2023

After attending the races throughout his childhood, Nathan Burke strapped into the driver seat of the number 97 Street Stock in 1993 with the help of his twin brother, Derrick and their girlfriends Lisa and Tanya. They started racing without much. Including a trailer. Burke and his crew would tow his car to the track on race nights with a tow strap to their pick-up. He exclaimed he wouldn’t change that for anything though, because it brought good memories to look back on. Burke told the story of one night on the way home the tow chain broke. Lisa was riding with him as his brother pulled them behind the pick-up. Nathan said he started the car up and raced his brother home.

Over the years Burke has raced a Street stock, IMCA Stock car, SportMod, and Modified. He drove the open wheeled cars for car owners, Ron Huettl, Dusty Siedler, and Tom Kemper. Nathan is known as one of Nodak Speedway’s top drivers, and most successful at that, holding the most track Championships in the race club’s history at 9 Championships to date, numerous Driver of the Year awards, and Most wins within a season awards. Burke boasts about his most memorable career highlight of winning the 50-lap Stock car and the 100-lap Modified race all in the same night. His accomplishments at Nodak Speedway are what most drivers dream of.

Nathan has always been a very smooth driver behind the wheel, making moves that always seemed to get him to the front. Patience has always been key in being a successful driver. Although he said sometimes patience ran thin, but priding himself and his crew on winning with class. Nathan and his crew; Derrick, Darin, and Dusty spent numerous evenings in the shop on week nights preparing for the weekend of racing, with the number of nights spent on the car dwindling as their kids grew and started in sports of their own. Kelly, Ben and Carter always lending a hand too. Championships are won just as much off the track as on, and Nathan had a dedicated crew to get him there.

Burke has been a noteworthy driver for the Stock car class at the Nodak Speedway. He stepped away from racing after winning the 2018 Stock car Championship to spend more time watching his 3-boy’s activities. He plans to make a return, although no set plans of when that will be.

Nodak Speedway Stats:
9 Stock car Track Championships in 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2018
1 Stock car Runner- up in 2010,
1 SportMod Track Championship in 2013

Career Stats:
14 Stock car Track Championships
1 SportMod Track Championship
97 IMCA Stock car wins
18 IMCA SportMod wins
3 Series Titles; 2008 Dakota Classic Stock car Tour Champion, 2009 Dakota Classic Stock car Tour Champion, and 2011 Dakota Classic Stock car Tour Champion
& Numerous non-sanction Street stock wins

WAYNE JOHNSON
INDUCTED: 2023

Wayne Johnson was born and raised in Minot, North Dakota. He gained an interest in mechanics and the racing way of life at a young age. Wayne’s father ran the wrecker at Nodak Speedway in the early 1970’s and Wayne rode with him. After his father’s passing in 1977, he had a chance encounter with John Gaule at a gas station. This encounter led Wayne to not only working for Gaule, but wrenching and pitting for him from 1978 to 1991.

Johnson began his racing career in 1984 in a Super Stock. He won the first heat race he entered and was eventually named Nodak Speedway’s Rookie of the Year. Wayne raced Super Stock for two years and then moved to a Dakota Modified and then to a Wissota Modified in 1990. Johnson won multiple features along the way in Minot, Rugby, Williston, Mandan, and Jamestown. With the changing on sanctioning in 1997, Wayne moved to the IMCA Modified and that is what he races to this day. Also winning his first IMCA Modified feature in 1997.

Johnson has earned nine Track Championships over the years of 2000, 2001, and 2008 at the Geographical Center Speedway in Rugby, 2001 and 2003 at Nodak Speedway, 206 at Estevan Motor Speedway in Estevan Saskatchewan, 2009 and 2013 at the Williston Basin Speedway, and 2017 at the McLean County Speedway in Underwood. Wayne also holds season Runn-up in 1994 and 1996 at the Dacotah Speedway in Mandan, 2005 and 2009 at the Geographical Center Speedway in Rugby, 2020, 2021 and 2022 at the Nodak Speedway and Williston Basin Speedway, and 2022 at the McLean County Speedway in Underwood. In addition to Track Championships, he was a Race of Champions qualifier at the Super Nationals in Boone in 2000.

Wayne served on the Board of Directors for the Nodak Speedway in 1989 and 1990. He has won many Best Engineered and Best Appearing race car awards at the Spring mall show and car shows. Johnson currently has seventy National-Regional IMCA Modified wins under his belt and is tied for 111^th for all time feature wins through IMCA. His career best was in 2006 when he won six features, and additionally, a State Champion in 2007.

Wayne decided after forty years behind the wheel of the 4J machine, that it is time to hang up his driving suite and kick back and relax.

Career Stats:
9 Track Championships
11 Runner-up Championships
Race of Champions Qualifier
70 IMCA Feature wins
1 State Championship
2 year Board Member