5/8/2025
WISSOTA
2025 Challenge Series Season Kicks Off This Weekend
The 27th season of the Structural Buildings WISSOTA Late Model Challenge Series powered by Momentum Truck Group, Freightliner, Western Star fires off this weekend with a Minnesota Tripleheader on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 9th, 10th & 11th featuring a $3,000-to-win lid lifter at the I-94 emr Speedway in Fergus Falls, MN on Friday, May 9th followed by a $3,000 top prize awaiting the victor on Saturday night, May 10th at the Viking Speedway in Alexandria, MN and will be capped off by another $3,000 to win event on Mother’s Day at the Granite City Motor Park in Sauk Rapids, MN on Sunday, May 11th in what should be a very popular opening weekend for the WISSOTA-sanctioned series.
Not only will there be big money on the line, but the chase for the 2025 series title begins this weekend as well with a series record $12,000 championship check awaiting the series winner at season’s end.
Starting with Friday night, fans should remember that ten previous series events have been held at the I-94 facility with only multi-time series champion Pat Doar racing to more than one series victory over the first ten visits to the Western Minnesota facility. Doar’s wins came in back-to-back years in 2022 and 2023. Cole Searing and Shane Sabraski split I-94 victories a year ago, with Bryce Sward nabbing his only career series triumph in 2023. Other series winners at I-94 include Jake Redetzke (2016), Steve Laursen and Don Shaw (both in 2017), John Kaanta (2018) and Jimmy Mars (2021) WISSOTA Modifieds, Midwest Modifieds, Street Stocks and Hornets will also be in competition on Friday night.
Viking has hosted a hefty twenty series events dating back to the series inaugural season in 1999 and has seen five drivers win multiple times in series action, including five-time winner Pat Doar (2001, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009), Dave Zimmerman (1999, 2001); John Kaanta (twice in 2005), Jeff Wildung (1999, 2004) and Don Shaw (2017, 2018), plus Mitch Johnson (2000), Joel Cryderman (2000), Duane Mahder (2004), Terry Casey (2006), Adam Hensel (2007), Ricky Weiss (2018) and Cole Searing (2024) are also on the series win list at the High Flyin’ Half Mile. Other classes that will be in competition will include WISSOTA Modifieds, Super Stocks, Midwest Modifieds, Street Stocks and Hornets.
Granite City has hosted the series a total of 6 times throughout history with Tyler Peterson and Shane Sabraski splitting 2024 series victories at the Sauk Rapids, MN track. Jeff Massingill is the only multi-time winner at Granite City with his pair of wins coming in 2021 and 2023. Jesse Glenz (2021) and Don Shaw (2015) also won Challenge Series wins at GCMP. Midwest Modifieds, Super Stocks and Hornets will also be in action to round out the third show of the weekend.
Racing is scheduled to begin at 7pm on Friday night, at 6pm on Saturday and Sunday nights and all three events will be livestreamed on WISSOTA.tv for those unable to be at the track in person to enjoy the action.
Defending Series Champion Cole Searing is expected to headline a stout field of cars at all three events as he starts his title defense, chasing his third series championship and the $12,000 check that goes with it.
For more information, visit www.WISSOTAChallengeSeries.com.
Submitted By: Jacy Norgaard