HURON — Drivers and fans gathered to celebrate some of the accomplishments during the 2017 racing season at Dakota State Fair Speedway on Saturday at the Huron Event Center.
The annual racing banquet also capped a 22-year run as the DSFS track promoter by Orville Chenoweth. He was honored by several groups, including the Huron Lions Club and his employees during the event.
The night’s festivities, included a 50/50 raffle, awarding trophies to the top five drivers in the final point standings in all five divisions, announcement of the Rookie of the Year winners in all five classes, a $2,000 chasis drawing and the announcement of the $5,000 Dirty Dozen winner.
Blayne Baloun of St. Lawrence was the 2017 track champion in the WISSOTA street stock division, while Michael Bogh of Huron was second, followed by Scott Borstad of Volga, Broc Stout of Winner and Cole Phillips of Winner.
Baloun finished 12th in the WISSOTA street stock national standings while AndyRossow of Florence was 19th.
Lorin Johnson of Miller was the 2017 track champion in the WISSOTA Midwest modified division. Brock Hess of Sioux Falls was second, followed by Kyle Knouse of Huron, Scott Hansen of Garden City and James Reiner of Wessington Springs.
Johnson also made a push for the WISSOTA national title in the Midwest modified division, finishing second by a mere 13 points. Hansen was eighth, while Mike Nichols of Watertown was 10th and Tony Konold of Clear Lake was 19th.
Tyler McDonald of Huron won the 2017 WISSOTA modified title at DSFS. Nick Grehl of Hitchcock was second, followed by Dale Ames of Huron, Chad Olsen of Hendricks, Minn., and David Carlson of Huron.

McDonald finished third in the WISSOTA modified standings, while Kent Arment of Aberdeen was eighth, Alex Guthmiller of Huron was 15th, Trevor Anderson of Watertown was 18th and Jayson Good of Watertown was 19th.
Kelly Duffy of Winner was the 2017 track champion in the super stock division at DSFS. Jeremy North of Huron was second, followed by Cole Searing of Huron, Corey Elward of Mitchell and Kip Myers of Ethan.
Searing made a run at the WISSOTA national title in the super stock division, finishing third just 12 points shy of the winning total posted by Tim Johnson of Brainerd, Minn. Trevor Nelson of Warner was ninth in the national standings, while Myers and North claimed spots No. 14 and 15, respectively.
Chad Becker of Aberdeen was the 2017 track champion in the late model division at DSFS. David McDonald of Huron was second, followed by Gary Brown Jr. of Brandon, Jordan Heiman of Sioux Falls and Kelly Duffy of Winner.
Becker missed claiming the WISSOTA national late model title by just two points. Scott Ward of Watertown was fourth, Mcdonald was fifth, Kent Arment of Aberdeen was seventh, Curt Gelling of Aberdeen was 10th, Olsen, who was running his rookie season in the division, was 11th and Dustin Arthur of St. Lawrence was 20th.
Borstad was the winner of the $2,000 chasis from Dirt Track Supply of Watertown, which was drawn from a list of drivers who had perfect attendance in 2017 at DSFS.
Capping the night was the awarding of the $5,000 Dirty Dozen check.
The top 12 drivers in the point standings from each division at DSFS were eligible to win the prize. The field was narrowed down to one driver from each class and the final drawing was held to determine the winner.
Olsen selected the winning envelope to earn the prize.
A much awaited announcement as to who would take over as the promoter at DSFS next season was not made during the banquet. However, Chenoweth said he is continuing to work with South Dakota State Fair manager Peggy Besch in an attempt to find his successor.

Photos:

Chad Olsen, right, of Hendricks, Minn., receives the $5,000 Dirty Dozen check from Dakota State Fair Speedway track promoter Orville Chenoweth during the annual awards banquet, which was held Saturday at the Huron Event Center.

Next, Scott Borstad of Volga, right, receives a $2,000 check for a brand new chasis from Ron Anderson of Dirt Track Supply during Saturday’s celebration.

Photos by Mike Carroll of the Plainsman