MANDAN, N.D. — Make no mistake, the money was nice.
But Brandon Beckendorf is enjoying the prestige of getting his career 200th Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature win at Dacotah Speedway’s Iron Man 100 even more.
The hotshoe took the lead following the mandatory pit stop at halfway and led to the finish of the 100-lapper Friday night.
“Everything just lined up perfectly,” said Beckendorf, the 32-year-old who is already in his 17th season in the class. “Right now, this is our biggest win. It wasn’t a local night of racing, it was $5,000 to win and it was 100 laps, which is very rare. Racing against these guys and winning is really cool.”
“Getting my 200th win at the Iron Man was the best thing that could happen. Everything lined up. You couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Beckendorf is the 20th IMCA driver and the eighth IMCA Modified driver to reach the 200 career win mark.
His first win in the division came in 2008. Beckendorf had a single-season best 27 feature wins during his 2018 Razor Chassis North Central Region championship campaign. He also won 24 times in 2020, finishing third in the national points race both of those years.
“In the scheme of things, I haven’t raced that long,” said Beckendorf, who ran a go-kart from ages 5 to 15 before getting into his first modified. “Now, getting my 200th win is kind of surreal. You look at the names of the other drivers who have done it and I’m glad to be a part of that group.”
A 14-time track and five-time Minnesota State champion, Beckendorf is also the defending Rage Chassis Race of Champions winner.
He had run the Iron Man one time previously two years ago and finished third.
“We were pretty sure we would get our 200th win this year, we just wanted it to be at the right time. There was more pressure trying to race 100 laps Friday night versus getting the 200th win,” Beckendorf said, admitting to late-race concerns for his right rear tire. “There were five laps and I told myself if I just kept the car straight we should be able to win.”
“I like the long races like 40 laps or more. I think they’re really fun. They’re more challenging in trying to make the car make it that long,” he continued. “The way they do the track at Mandan is perfect and everyone races good. We went 94 laps without a yellow and that doesn’t happen very often.”
While the milestone win and yes, the money, were good, having family watching from the pits and joining him later in victory lane were even better.
“It was huge to have family there,” Beckendorf said. “It would mean nothing in reality if they weren’t. It was a pretty big deal.”
Hunter Domagala won the 40-lapper for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars.
Beckendorf’s 200th win and the entire Iron Man 100 program was broadcast by SPEED SPORT.TV affiliate DacotahSpeedway.TV.