HURON — After making its first stop at Dakota State Fair Speedway last season, the RepairableVehicle.com Tri-State Late Model Series will be returning to the Huron oval in 2023.

“It’s great to return to Dakota State Fair Speedway in 2023,” said Mike Gross, who is the series director for the Tri-State Late Models. “We had some new drivers last year make their first appearance who are excited to return. We also have some new drivers who will make their first appearance, too.”

The series will be included in all four events this season at DSFS, with participants from those events being eligible for Orv’s $5,000 Pot-of-Gold to be awarded during the final event.

“We’re assuming we can get more late models than we’ve had before, because WISSOTA is running their Challenge Series races all in Minnesota this year, with the exception of one supposedly in Watertown,” DSFS track promoter Orville Chenoweth said. “We should have WISSOTA cars, along with the Tri-State cars from Nebraska and Sioux Falls.

“With only having four events that $5,000 Pot-of-Gold looks better and then I’ll probably pay more money than any race track around,” he said.

The first of the four events at the Huron track is the Summer Shakes presented by West-Way Trailers and Under the Sun Rental on May 13. The event will also include the WISSOTA street stocks, Midwest modifieds and super stocks.

The May 13 show is the first of 18 on the 2023 RepairableVehicle.com Tri-State Late Model Series schedule.

The next two events are June 1 and 3, set to be held in conjunction with the Wheel Jam festivities on the South Dakota State Fair grounds.

“Orv has always done an outstanding job with promoting big shows. This year’s Wheel Jam weekend should be a very exciting event,” Gross said. “We start the week on  Thursday with a $3,000-to-win show, then we added Friday at Brown County Speedway in Aberdeen, a $2,000-to-win show, with Saturday’s finale paying $7,300-to-win.

“With the opportunity of making $12,300 on the line in three days, we should attract a big field of cars,” he said.

The June 1 event will be Wheel Jam and Wild Race Car Night presented by Dakotaland Federal Credit Union. It will include the Tri-State late models, along with the WISSOTA street stcok and Midwest modifieds.

Challenge Cup XXI, presend by Prostrollo GM, is set for held June 3, with the WISSOTA Midwest modifieds and late models competing.

Rounding out the 2023 season at DSFS will be the Bauman Agency Harvest of Champions event on Aug. 19. Joining the late models will be the WISSOTA street stocks, Midwest modifieds and super stocks.

“Orv will be doing his Pot-of-Gold give away on Saturday, Aug. 19,” Gross said. “I just would like to thank all the fans and drivers who show up and support these big events.”

The last race at DSFS will be the second to last event for the series and will follow a stop at Miller Central Speedway on Aug. 18.

Trevor Anderson of Watertown is the defending Tri-State Late Model Series champion. He had three wins in 16 events last season.

Rounding out the top five in the series standings were Nate Beyenhof of Rock Rapids, Iowa; Shane DeMey of Denison, Iowa; Brad Vogt of Pierce, Neb.; and Jared Jelsma of Springfield.

Several area WISSOTA drivers participated in the Tri-State Late Model Series events last season, including Cole Searing of Huron, who had a pair of victories. A change to the tire rule this season could attract even more of the WISSOTA late models this season.

“Now the Tri State Late Model Series is using the same tire as the WISSOTA late models, so this should be real popular with the drivers,” Gross said.