Jamestown drivers dominate Don Gumke Racers’ Memorial at Speedway

The 7th Annual Don Gumke Racers’ Memorial turned Jamestown Speedway into a familiar Saturday-night meeting place, with local names scattered through the results and families, crews and fans drawn back for one of the biggest motorsport weekends in Jamestown. The June 6 program began at 7 p.m. and carried the kind of all-classes energy that keeps the speedway central to Stutsman County’s weekend rhythm.

The event honored Don Gumke, who died Jan. 14, 2020, in Gold Canyon, Arizona, while working on his race car. Jamestown Speedway and IMCA have both described the memorial as a tribute to one of the most influential figures in the track’s history, and the night reflected that role with a full card of regular classes, special event money and a qualifier berth on the line. Wilhelm Chevrolet Buick GMC, North Star Buick & GMC Dealers and I-29 Trailer Sales presented the race, and the IMCA Modified feature carried an increased $2,222 top prize as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier.

The strongest Jamestown presence came in Bombers/Hobby Stocks, where Cade Gentzkow of LaMoure won ahead of Travis Edinger, Joe Jacobson, Brent Wilkinson and Bradley Stoppleworth. Jamestown’s depth showed again in the same feature, where four of the top five finishers came from the community that fills the grandstands week after week.

Other classes gave the crowd plenty to follow. Kyle Anderson won the Gerdau Recycling WISSOTA Midwest Mods, with Matthew Duchscherer, Jarod Klein, Phil Christlieb and Jaren Wibstad completing the top five. Jaxon Carow took the JR. Slingshots feature in front of Aubrie Edinger, Jarrett Gentzkow, Collin Veil and Kali Roemmich. Austin Wiest led the Wright Insurance Agency INEX Legends, followed by Bryce Barnhardt, Colton Miller, Ryan Erdahl and Joshua Wiest.

The headline races belonged to the bigger cars. Cole Greseth won the WISSOTA Street Stock feature, and Travis Hagen of McGregor, North Dakota, captured the Shocker Hitch IMCA Modified main event. Hagen reportedly moved up four positions in 25 laps to claim the $2,222 first prize, while Quentin Kinzley, John Corell, Marcus Tomlinson and John Nord rounded out the top five.

For Jamestown, the memorial has become more than a race. It works as a reunion of local drivers, longtime supporters and racing families, with Gumke’s name still tying the night together and giving the Speedway a reason to matter well beyond the checkered flag.