7/9/2024
Tom Berry Jr.
Berry Jr. victorious on Dakota Classic Modified Tour
Tom Berry Jr. traveled to North Dakota over the Independence Day holiday to be part of the Dakota Classic Modified Tour kickoff on the weekend. Thus far he has scored one win on the IMCA-sanctioned tour in his No. 11x machine, plus took a checkered flag before the schedule even began.
The 35th annual six-day event was slated to start at Jamestown (North Dakota) Speedway on Saturday. However, when that event was rained out, the following day’s stop – Nodak Speedway in Minot, North Dakota, decided to also race on Saturday evening. Forty-three Modifieds descended on the 3/8-mile oval for the night’s $2,500-to-win program.
Berry climbed from eighth to take the win in his heat race and began the 25-lap A-Main from the fourth spot. He took the lead on the 12th circuit and never looked back as he claimed the win with a .0409-second advantage over Ethan Braaksma, Cody Laney, Ricky Alvarado and Kollin Hibdon.
The next night, the Dakota Classic Modified Tour officially got underway at Nodak with 50 IMCA Modifieds in the pit area. Berry won his heat for the second night in a row, but this time he started seventh in the 30-lap, $2,000-to-win feature. He steered to a fourth-place finish, taking the checkered flag behind Hibdon, Braaksma and Alvarado. Travis Hagen rounded out the top five.
On Monday night, the tour headed north of the border for a 48-car show at the 3/8-mile Estevan (Saskatchewan) Motor Speedway. Berry turned in a ninth-to-fourth run in his heat, putting him second to start the 30-lap main event. He led every lap to score a $2,000 payday, besting Braaksma by 4.658 seconds. Justin O’Brien completed the podium, while Shawn Strand and Codey Laney, finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Tuesday saw the tour return to the United States and Williston, North Dakota, where 50 Modifieds took on Williston Basin Speedway. Berry found his first trouble of the week at the quarter-mile oval as he turned in a DNF and a 10th-place finish in his heat. He didn't start either his B-Feature or the 30-lap, $2,000-to-win A-Main.
Berry's two triumphs on the week represent his 10th and 11th victories this season.
Full results are at www.dakotamodtour.com.
Article Credit: Tyler Hagen Photography image
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