HURON Challenge Cup XXIII is the final of three events slated at Dakota State Fair Speedway this season. After having the first two events wiped out by rain, officials are hoping to get in the last event, which is slated for 7 p.m. today and is part of the Wheel Jam festivities on the South Dakota State Fairgrounds.
Tonights event will feature the Tri-State late models, along with the WISSOTA Midwest modifieds.
The feature race for the late models will pay $5,000 to win, which attract a good field of drivers according to Mike Gross, who is the Tri-State Late Model Series directory.
Theres gonna be a lot of cars. I mean, we had we had 32 or 33 cars at Rock Rapids when we rained out a week ago, he said. Then you know, that, along with all of those cars, you know youre going to get the ones that are running up in Brown County weekly. We should have a strong field with some of the best late models in the tri-state area.
Chad Becker of Aberdeen is the defending Challenge Cup champion at DSFS.
Another Aberdeen driver looking to add his name to the list of Challenge Cup champions is Mike Stearns, who was just getting his feet wet in the late model division at this time a year ago, after making a name for himself in the WISSOTA modified ranks.
Id like to thank Warner Holt (car owner) for the opportunity to chase a dream of mine. Also thanks to Brian Diede for suggesting Warner put me in the car, Stearns said of getting a chance to race in the late model division. Brian has also been a huge asset as far as our learning curve goes. I appreciate all the help.
Also thanks to all my crew, my wife and my awesome sponsors and fans, he said.
Stearns started driving a late model on July 12, 2024, and was able to get a few laps in at the Huron track during an event on Aug. 17, 2024.
I was running in the top 5 towards the end of the race and clipped the barrel off turn 4 and ended up with a DNF, he said.
While still being the dominant driver he has become in the modified division, Stearns is relishing the opportunity build a successful venture in the late model ranks.
I love the modified class, but Im thoroughly enjoying learning to drive the late model, he said.
Stearns secured his first feature win in a late model just over a week ago at Brown County Speedway in Aberdeen.
Winning our first feature last week at Brown County Speedway was an amazing experience, Stearns said. It was the most excited Ive been for a feature win in quite a few years.
A stout field of cars will be on hand for tonights event
Blair Northdurft of Renner is the defending Tri-State Late Model Series champion, while Scott
Ward of Watertown was third, Trevor Anderson of Watertown was fourth and Cody Martin of Mitchell was fifth.
Also planning to race tonight is 2023 Tri-State Late Model Series champion, Cole Searing of Huron. He is returning to the track for the first time since having surgery to remove his appendix just a week ago.
To win a big race at Dakota State Fair Speedway in the late model would mean the world to me, said. Stearns. Im still learning a lot in the big tire division, our goal is to move forward each night.
Wins are an awesome bonus though, he said. The late model division is very competitive!
Complete results from Saturdays races will be run in Mondays paper.
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