JAMESTOWN, N.D. — Cole Czarneski denied Tom Berry Jr. a perfect Dakota Classic Modified Tour powered by Industrial Electric, leading all 30 laps Friday night at Jamestown Speedway to earn his first Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified tour victory.
While Berry settled for second after winning the previous four rounds, the Marshalltown, Iowa, driver wrapped up his third career Dakota Tour championship after another dominant week.
The 2024 Wisconsin State champion from Denmark, Wisconsin, jumped to the lead at the drop of the green and immediately established himself as the driver to beat.
A caution on lap six erased his early advantage, but Czarneski quickly rebuilt his lead after the restart.
Berry, the two-time Dakota Tour champion and 2020 IMCA Modified national champion, climbed into second on lap eight and spent the remainder of the race trying to reel in the leader. Although Berry stayed within striking distance, Czarneski remained composed, slicing through lapped traffic before another caution on lap 21 erased his comfortable margin.
Berry stayed close over the final nine laps in the Mike Wedelstadt-provided No. 11X, but the Wisconsin standout never gave him an opening.
Czarneski crossed the stripe for his first career Dakota Tour Modified victory, just two nights after collecting his first Dakota Tour win in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars at Dacotah Speedway.
The victory was Czarneski’s fifth Razor Chassis North Central Region win of the season and his first outside the state of Wisconsin this year.
Berry finished second, while 2024 IMCA Super Nationals runner-up Tanner Black completed the podium.
Colton See, the 2024 Wisconsin IMCA Northern SportMod state champion, earned hard charger honors by advancing from 18th to fourth, while three-time Southwest Speedway Modified champion Zach Frederick rounded out the top five.
Berry’s runner-up finish was more than enough to secure his third Dakota Tour championship, capping a remarkable week in which he won four consecutive features before finishing second in the finale.
Brendon La Batte made a daring last-lap pass to score the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car victory Friday night at Jamestown Speedway, while Jonny Carter’s remarkable charge through the field secured his first Dakota Classic Tour championship.
Three-time IMCA Super Nationals Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod champion and reigning Boone Speedway Stock Car champion Johnathon Logue jumped into the early lead and set the pace in the 25-lap finale.
Fourteen-time Arlington Raceway and Minnesota state champion Dan Mackenthun mounted an early challenge on lap three before slipping off the racing surface, bringing out the race’s first caution.
On the restart, Andrew Jochim repeatedly pressured Logue for the top spot, but the Iowa driver held firm through another caution on lap 10.
A late caution on lap 21 collected Cole Czarneski while he battled near the front, and another yellow with two laps remaining set up a dramatic green-white-checkered finish.
Logue led the field back to green, but 2024 Sheyenne Speedway champion Jonny Carter, who had started 19th, stormed into contention as Weyburn, Saskatchewan’s Brendon La Batte found momentum on the inside. Racing three-wide for the lead on the final lap, La Batte completed a thrilling pass to score his second career Dakota Tour victory, his first since winning at Dacotah Speedway on July 13, 2023.
The victory was La Batte’s first EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region triumph of the season.
Logue settled for second, while Mackenthun recovered from his early-race setback to finish third.
Carter completed his impressive drive from 19th to fourth to capture his first Dakota Classic Tour championship.
Connor Hanson, the 2024 Estevan Motor Speedway Hobby Stock champion, rounded out the top five.
The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV.
