Memorial Day is for remembering our fellow countrymen and countrywomen for the sacrifices they made for our freedoms. It's also a time to gather with family and friends to remember days gone by.

This past Memorial Day weekend, it was a time to relive racing of yesteryear with the Good Ol' Time Racing Association (GOTRA) making their first appearance to the track, presented by Wagner Building and Supply. Friday night, the Fort Randall Casino Weekly Racing Series made their fourth appearance at Wagner Speedway and a photo finish highlighted the night's activities.

Following the heat races, which was the only heat present on a chilly May evening, the main events got underway with the Roth Custom Farming IMCA Hobby Stocks, but a red flag would halt this one early. Dennis Powers (Avon, SD) and Derik Rolston (Wagner, SD) got together with multiple other cars, causing the melee. The Powers car ended up facing the opposite direction on the track, on the inside berm and laying on the driver's side while the Rolston car came to a stop with major damage to the front of his machine. While Rolston's #77 was being towed to the pits, finished for the night, crews pushed the Powers #1 car back onto its wheels. Officials gave a thorough inspection of the car and deemed it safe to return and Powers was cleared to restart the event.

For the second week in a row, the feature was shortened on the time limit because of multiple caution stops. Once the green flag flew for the final time, it would be a two-lap dash to the finish. Toby Ives (Verdige, NE) led the first lap of the two and all but 6 inches of the final lap, being edged out by Jordan Vosika (Gregory, SD). According to the electronic timing and scoring, the margin of victory was .02 seconds. A dejected Ives would have to settle for second, followed by Mike Hanson (Meckling, SD) in third, Tony Fetterman (Elk Point, SD) fourth and Lowell Janssen (Yankton, SD) rounding out the top five. Heat races were won by Kaylb Brunssen (LeMars, IA), Dennis Powers and Joel McGee (Palm Beach Gardens, FL).

The Ponca Valley Seeds IMCA Sport Mods took to the track next and a driver that has had terrible luck to open the season looked strong early. Raymond Bigge (Armour, SD) showed the way, until finally succumbing to eventual winner Josh Pfeifer (St. Paul, NE). The second-generation driver used his second row starting spot to easily outdistance four other drivers who were putting on quite a show for positions two through five. Luke Jackson (Sioux City, IA) would win that battle to finish second, followed by Dudley Schroeder, Jr (Armour, SD). Two guests from the Black Hills area would settle for the final top five positions. With ties to Wagner, family and friends witnessed Shawn Pudwill (Piedmont, SD) and his nephew Brett Pudwill (Black Hawk, SD) finished fourth and fifth respectfully. Heat races were won by Raymond Bigge and Josh Pfeifer.

The Brown brothers returned to their dominant ways in the Payer Livestock IMCA Sport Compact division. Defending champion Conner Brown (Yankton, SD) advanced six positions to claim the victory, followed by his brother Taylor Brown (Yankton, SD). Auston Honeycutt (Sioux City, IA) settled for third, while Lowell Janssen (Yankton, SD) finished fourth. Heats were won by Conner Brown and Auston Honeycutt.

The Mark's Machinery IMCA Stock Cars found a familiar face in victory lane. For the third time in four races, Greg Taylor (Sioux City, IA) would take care of business in capturing the checkers. Taylor distanced himself from Brady Wenzlaff (Yankton, SD) who came across in the runner-up spot. Last week's feature winner Todd Gereau (Sioux City, IA) finished third with Tyler Steckelberg (Pierce, NE) and Darwin Iedema (Geddes, SD) completing the top five. Heat races were won by Jeremy Hoskinson (Norfolk, NE) and Brady Wenzlaff.

The final event of the evening would be the GOTRA series, reliving the history of dirt track racing from the 50's, 60's and 70's in their coupes and super-modifieds that barnstormed the plains in their day. The feature event was won by Jeff Triggs, followed by Bob Werkmeister, Johnny Orlowski, Darrell Doerr and John Orlowski, Jr. The GOTRA will make their second appearance of the season on Friday, July 2nd.

For a complete list of drivers and their starting and finishing positions, see wagnerspeedway. com and click on "Results".

That sets up the biggest event of the season this Friday night at Wagner Speedway, as The Fort Randall Casino Weekly Racing Series will host the Property Solutions of America MSTS 360 Sprint Cars, making their only stop at the track this season. Joining them will be the DK Flooring and Custom IMCA Racesaver Sprint Cars, the Mark's Machinery IMCA Stock Cars, the Ponca Valley Seeds IMCA Sport Mods, the Roth Custom Farming IMCA Hobby Stocks and the Payer Livestock IMCA Sport Compacts. All the action is presented by Tracy's Paint and Body of Parkston, Valley Pump and Casino and Ultimate Shine Car Wash, both of Wagner. Wagner, SD will be the Sprint Car Capital of South Dakota this Friday night, you don't want to miss this one.