BY MIKE CARROLL
OF THE PLAINSMAN
HURON –– For the fourth year in a row, the RepairableVehicles.com Tri-State Late Model Series will be part of the Wheel Jam festivities on the South Dakota State Fairgrounds.
The annual trek to Dakota State Fair Speedway for a pair of shows has become a highlight for the series and one that is looked forward to, according to Tri-State Late Model Series promoter Mike Gross.
“Yeah, it’s always a series favorite to come up here for the Wheel Jam weekend,” Gross said they like a lot of activities going on here on at the fairgrounds for Wheel Jam and there’s always good food.”
Helping to kick off the Wheel Jam festivities on Thursday will be $3,000-to-win show for the Tri-State late models. After heading to Brown County Speedway in Aberdeen on Friday for a $3,000-to-win show on Friday, the series will return to DSFS for a $4,000-to-win show on Saturday Racing will begin at 7 p.m., for both nights at the Huron oval, with the WISSOTA street stocks and Midwest modifieds joining the late models for both events. Long-time DSFS track promoter Orville Chenoweth invited the Tri-State Late Model Series to participate the Wheel Jam festivities and current track promoters Josh and Jordan Sterrett are continuing the tradition. “The entire RepairableVehicles.com, Tri-State Late Model Series, would like to thank Orv for all of his years. of supporting us and wish him enjoyment on his retirement,” Gross said. “We also want to give, a shout out to Josh and Jordan for stepping up and allowing Orv to officially retire, taking the the track over, keeping everything going and even adding a few more races for the local community.”
Trevor Anderson of Watertown is the current points leader after 7 of the 26 events on the Tri-State Late Model Series schedule this season. He leads series newcomer Cory Dumpert of Newman Grove, Neb. By 30 points heading into the first of two events at DSFS.
“Corey Dumpert is an 8-time national IMCA late model champion, who is racing with us full time this year,” Gross said. “We have Justin Zeitner racing with us when he can. He’s busy with work and everything, but he’s coming up this weekend.”
Zietner of Malvern, Iowa, is the lone driver to ink multiple wins this season with Tri-State Late Model Series. He won the season opener at Park Jefferson Speedway on May 1 and at 1-90 Speedway in Hartford on May 16. Anderson recorded a win at Rapid Speedway in Rock Rapids, Iowa, on May 15. Also claiming wins on the series this season are Tad Pospisel of Norfolk, Neb. (May 2 at Off Road Speedway in Norfolk, Neb.); Blair Nothdurft of Renner (May 29 at Park Jefferson Speedway); and Dylan Schmer of Aurora, Neb. (May 30 at Worthington Speedway in Worthington, Minn.).
Gross said the regulars on the Tri-State Late Model Series look forward to facing the strong competition they face from the regulars at DSFS, Brown County Speedway and Casino Speedway in Watertown. Huron, Watertown and Aberdeen all have a strong field of late models and everyone looks forward to the stiff competition with what we bring and what you have locally.,” Gross said. “Cole Searing, Chad Becker, Kent Arment and Josh Skorczewski, I mean the list goes on and on. “Mike Stearns is new to the late models, but he won one of the races last year when we were at the Rumble in Aberdeen,” he said. “It just adds to the stiff competition that you have in that area.”
Becker of Aberdeen has won three of the Tri-State Late Model Series events held the Huron oval, while Searing, who won a Tri-State Late Model Series championship in 2023 has a pair of victories at his hometown track. Also recording a win each at the Huron oval were Skorczewski of Aberdeen and Chad Olsen of Hendricks, Minn.
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