Night No. 1 of the $5,000-to-win King of the High Banks for the IMCA Stock Cars is in the books after five years of trying. Weather outs and COVID-19 had not allowed even one night of the two-day show to run. On Thursday night, it finally happened. Ten Stock Cars locked themselves in for their big 50-lap feature on Friday night. The IMCA Modifieds, Northern SportMods and Hobby Stocks each ran a full show.

The IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMods ran 20 laps for their feature event, with a $500 payday. Tony Olson took command of the race on lap four, quickly moving to the top spot after starting ninth. Logan Anderson and Brayton Carter gave Olson a few challenges but to no avail. Olson sailed home to the checkers and the win. Anderson took the runner-up spot after starting 11th, and Carter came from 10th starting position to take third. Fourth went to Sam Wieben, and Jenae Gustin rounded out the top five.

The IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds were running for $1,000 as well as a Fast Shafts All-Star qualifier. Last week’s Frostbuster winner, Tim Ward, started third and had the lead after passing Dylan Thornton on lap two. He never looked back from there as he took home his second win in two weeks at the Speedway. Early leader Thornton took second over fifth-place starter Jake McBirnie. Todd Shute came from ninth to finish fourth, and Zack VanderBeek, piloting the Maguire DeJong hotrod, was fifth.

The IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks ran a 20-lap feature that paid $500. Luke Ramsey of Bedford was the early leader, but he soon had company. Eric Stanton started sixth and was knocking on his door quickly, taking over the lead at lap seven. Calvin Dhondt, meanwhile, had thrown his hat into the ring and was challenging, along with Eric Knutson. Knutson grabbed the lead away on lap 10, and then it was a thrilling three-way battle of Knutson, Stanton and Dhondt. Dhondt took to the top of the track and was able to make the momentum up top work on lap 16. He then held that top spot the rest of the way home, and score his second win at the track in as many weeks as well. Knutson finished as the runner-up, with Ramsey getting by Stanton in the closing laps as they went third and fourth respectively. Solomon Bennett rounded out the top five.

The headliner IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars — 57 in all — ran six heats and then six inverted start heats, scoring passing points. Top ten in passing points were locked in to Friday’s 50-lap King of the High Banks feature. Those 10 drivers are: Dallon Murty, Chelsea; Jim Horejsi, Marshall, Minn.; Troy Jerovetz, Iowa Falls; Tyler Wilson, Little Suamico, Wis.; Dylan Thornton, Orcutt, Calif.; Damon Murty, Chelsea; Jeffrey Abbey, Comanche, Texas; Buck Schafroth, Orient; Tom Berry, Jr., Des Moines; and Jeff Mueller, Albion. The Stock Cars will complete their qualifying tomorrow.

Friday is Night No. 2 of the King of the High Banks for the IMCA Stocks, and full shows for the IMCA Modifieds, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, Sport Compacts, and the Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks will also be running.