Kids fill Bemidji Speedway grandstand on Back to School Night (2024)

BEMIDJI – With the new school year approaching, Bemidji Speedway held Back to School Night at the track on Sunday.

All kids 12 and under received free admission. During the intermission, approximately 45 kids enjoyed running on the front straightaway in their homemade box races, which the packed grandstands enjoyed tremendously.

The track hosted junior speedway workers, with virtually all positions filled by kids learning and helping the track workers, including announcing and flagging. Many backpacks filled with school supplies were also provided for the kids by the drivers.

Next Sunday is Fan Appreciation Night. Fans can pick up tickets from their favorite driver and turn them in at the front gate for just $10 for admission. The driver who gives out the most tickets will receive a $400 gift card to Reds Racing Supply.

Courtesy / Lisa Rhen

A lesson on building a fan base was provided for all drivers in the Midwest Modified class on Sunday night. While sitting on the front straight waiting for a caution flag incident, driver Mike Blevins Sr. noticed a group of boys to his right in the grandstands giving him the thumbs-up signal and clapping for him. He responded back to them and they began interacting back and forth in a fun and positive way.

Blevins went on to win the race. Upon climbing from his B Mod in Victory Lane motioned for the boys to come down on the track and celebrate with him. The boys were excited about the opportunity, and with huge smiles joined Blevins for a photo.

The opening feature of the night was the Wissota Pure Stocks, with Ethan Elhardt on the pole and Billy Binkley to his right. Binkley powered up and into the lead with Elhardt, Austin Carlson, Justin Barsness and Caylyn Binkley in the top five. Quickly on the move from his third-row starting position was Kade Leeper, racing inside making passes up into fourth. Carlson passed Elhardt for second while Dustin Puffe raced his way up into the top five from his fifth-row starting spot.

Courtesy / Lisa Rhen

A caution flag waved for a crash in turn two sending some cars to the pits. The restart had Binkley, Carlson, Leeper, Elhardt and Puffe in the top five. With the green flag once again waving, Leeper was on the gas racing up side-by-side with Carlson for second. He stayed on the gas to take over the lead in turns one and two. Another caution waved sending Puffe tailback and returning Leeper to his third position with Binkley once again out front. Leeper quickly raced high around Carlson for second and then low in turn two into the lead. Leeper picked up his third win of the season. Carlson, Barsness, Binkley and Deryk Weleski followed.

The Wissota Hornets were next on track led by Mateja Dreyer and Ryker Larson in row one. Larson pulled ahead and the green flag with Dreyer, Jayme Gordon, Chad Reller and Russell Kiker Jr. in the top five. Several three-wide races developed, with Megan Vernlund charging up on the outside into fourth. Kiker was also on the top of the track moving up to second. A duel for the lead between Larson and Kiker developed, with Kiker taking the win. Larson, Vernlund, Reller and Dreyer made up the top five.

Courtesy / Lisa Rhen

Numerous spins and crashes marred the Mini Stock feature. Malichi Albrecht and Cody Bush led the field for the start, with Bush into the lead, followed by Nick McCann, Hayden Engen, Cory Nelson and Conrad Schwinn. A couple more spins and restarts slowed the action before Bush and McCann flip-flopped positions for the lead a couple of times. McCann finally took over the lead with Schwinn charging up into second. On the back straight, he made the pass for the lead. Schwinn went on to claim his fourth victory, with McCann, Nelson, Bush and Ashton Schwinn in the top five.

Courtesy / Lisa Rhen

Landon Gross and Mike Blevins led the pack of 14 Wissota Midwest Modifieds to the green flag, with Blevins taking the lead. Charging up into second was David Simpson, currently third in national points, while Gross was third. A crash coming out of turn two sent Tony Jacobson into the fence. Bemidji Fire Dept personnel were on scene and Jacobson was OK but out of the race in just his second week of racing. The restart had Blevins, Simpson, Gross, Sam Blevins and Doyle Erickson in the top five. A good duel between Simpson and Gross developed side-by-side before Simpson fought off the challenge. A couple of more cautions slowed the action and sent cars to the rear for restarts. Blevins fought off all challenges, winning by a comfortable margin. Simpson, Gross, Gary James Nelson and Erickson took the top five honors.

Courtesy / Lisa Rhen

The Modifieds were next on track, led by Jonathon Feda and Lance Schilling. Schilling grabbed control early with Feda, Davey Mills, Jeff Reed and Jeff Nelson trailing in the top five. Schilling, looking for his first win this year, quickly created space between himself and the field. Mills gained a bit of ground on the leader but Schilling pulled out to a near quarter-lap lead. In a flag-to-flag race, Schilling took the checkered flag, followed in second by Mills. Reed, Feda and Nelson finished in the top five.

Courtesy / Lisa Rhen

The Wissota Mod Fours were up next with Brooklyn Vernlund leading the way with Brooke Erickson to her right. Charging up from his second-row outside starting position, Ashton Schwinn grabbed the lead, with national point leader Dean Larson on his tail. Blake Erickson, Vernlund and Conrad Schwinn held top five spots. The track was black and super fast for the Mod Fours. Racing outside, Blake Erickson got around Larson for second as the laps ticked off in the 12-lap feature. Larson charged back creating a side-by-side duel for second with Erickson holding the spot. Erickson made one highside attempt for the lead but the speedway No. 18 of Ashton Schwinn would not be denied his first win of the season. Schwinn, Blake Erickson, Larson, Rowan Tramm and Conrad Schwinn made up the top five.

Courtesy / Lisa Rhen

Brandon Bahr was on the pole and Cameron Labelle was outside for the start of the Superstock feature. Lap one was a side-by-side duel all the way around the dirt oval. Bahr’s Super Stock went up in smoke and as he pulled into the infield. Labelle assumed the lead with Simpson, Nick Lewis, Dalton Carlson and Matt Sparby trailing. Simpson raced low in the corner and took over the lead. Labelle was the next to drop out into the infield with mechanical issues. Simpson continued out front but Lewis was finding his groove, gradually gaining on the leader. Lewis was impressive, racing up to the bumper of national point leader Simpson but could not get any closer. The Thunder Bay, Ontario, racer took the checkered flag victory. Lewis, Sparby, Carlson and Ron Reed filled the top five slots, ending a fantastic night of racing at Bemidji Speedway.

Courtesy / Lisa Rhen