Six drivers secured feature wins at Casino Speedway's 72nd season opener on May 10, 2026. The event included competitive races among Midwest modified and late model drivers.
Key points
Six drivers won features at Casino Speedway's season opener
Event took place on May 10, 2026
Midwest modified and late model races were featured
Darren Engesser and Tom Neitzel were among the winners
Casino Speedway is located in Watertown, South Dakota
Midwest modified drivers Darren Engesser of Gary (11S), Tom Neitzel of Watertown (2DR), Taylor Schmidt of Aberdeen (15) and Scott Hansen of Garden City (31) battle in a heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
Watertown late model drivers Curt Kranz (87) and Ryan Engels (1) race side-by-side during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
Parker Gilbertson of Watson, MN (23JR), Ryan Nelson of Castlewood (73) and Tony Croninger of Watertown (8T) hit the pedal in a Gen X late models heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
Matthew Moes of Watertown (0) and Dylan Tirrel of White (7) are pictured in a hornets heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
Q&A
Who were the feature winners at Casino Speedway's 72nd season opener?
The feature winners included Darren Engesser, Tom Neitzel, Taylor Schmidt, Scott Hansen, Curt Kranz, and Ryan Engels.
What types of races were held during the Mother Day's racing program at Casino Speedway?
The Mother Day's racing program featured Midwest modified and late model races.
When did Casino Speedway's 72nd season officially start?
Casino Speedway's 72nd season officially started on May 10, 2026.
Where is Casino Speedway located?
Casino Speedway is located in Watertown, South Dakota.
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Coltyn Schuler of Montevideo, MN (16J), Al Schmidt of Watertown (12) and Adam Dehne of Medina, ND (77D) compete in a street stock heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
Watertown late model drivers Trevor Anderson (20) and Chad Williamson (57) hit the pedal during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
A group of Gen X late model drivers, including Bodie Croninger of Watertown (811), Curt Kranz of Watertown (87), Tyler McFarland of Goodwin (19), Blake Swenson of Watertown (10X) and Trevor Walsh of Watertown (15), are bunched together during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
Tony Miller of Browns Valley, MN (80) leads Chris Serr of Aberdeen (01) in a street stock heat during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
Hornets drivers Paxton Tjaden of Boyd, MN (87TJR), Adam VanDerostyne of Canby, MN (3) and Jeff Rohner of Willmar, MN (08) battle for position during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
Tommy Nichols of Watertown won the Midwest modified feature during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
Jake Wranek of Sioux Falls takes the checkered flag in a Midwest modified heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
Tyler Peterson of Hickson, ND won a late model heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
Todd Stark of Watertown (33) holds a slim lead of Terry Reilly of Watertown in a Midwest modified heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
Maria Broksieck of Goodwin leads Jason Marko of Watertown in a street stock heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown. Broksieck won this heat but Marko later won the feature.
Thomas Weisgram of Northville (16) held off Charlie Olsen of Henricks, MN (10CO) to win the first heat of late models during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
Alex Tschakert of Kent, MN (01) and Ryan Nelson of Castlewood (73) turn a corner in a Gen X late models heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
Tony Konold of Clear Lake (15) leads Andy Brooker of Tulare (8) and Nate Heinrich of Bellingham, MN (10H) in a modifed heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown. Konold won the heat and later also won the feature.
Hornets drivers Jesse Lindner of Watertown (11), Bradley Rossow of Florence (555), Brandon Downs of Milbank (21), Skylar Burgher of Watertown (front left) and Matthew Moes of Watertown get the green flag at the start of a hornets heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
Late model drivers Chad Becker of Aberdeen (12) and Laela Eisenschenk of Fargo, ND head down the backstretch during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
Jeff Rohner of Willmar, MN (08) leads Nathan Smith of Watertown in a hornets heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown. Rohner later won the hornets feature.
Andy Brooker of Tulare (8) and Mike Stearns of Aberdeen (24S) turn a corner in a modified heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
Mike Stearns of Aberdeen (24S) leads Trevor Walsh of Watertown (20) in a late model heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown. Stearns went on to win the late model feature later in the evening.
Brittany Swenson of Watertown (11X) and Brandon Fisher of Miller battle for position in a Gen X late models heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
Nate Heinrich of Bellingham, MN (10H) pushes past Mike Stearns of Aberdeen (24S) in a modified heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
1 / 24
Mother's Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Midwest modified drivers Darren Engesser of Gary (11S), Tom Neitzel of Watertown (2DR), Taylor Schmidt of Aberdeen (15) and Scott Hansen of Garden City (31) battle in a heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
1 / 24
Mother's Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Midwest modified drivers Darren Engesser of Gary (11S), Tom Neitzel of Watertown (2DR), Taylor Schmidt of Aberdeen (15) and Scott Hansen of Garden City (31) battle in a heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
2 / 24
Mother's Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Watertown late model drivers Curt Kranz (87) and Ryan Engels (1) race side-by-side during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
3 / 24
Mother's Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Parker Gilbertson of Watson, MN (23JR), Ryan Nelson of Castlewood (73) and Tony Croninger of Watertown (8T) hit the pedal in a Gen X late models heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
4 / 24
Mother's Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Matthew Moes of Watertown (0) and Dylan Tirrel of White (7) are pictured in a hornets heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
5 / 24
Mother's Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Coltyn Schuler of Montevideo, MN (16J), Al Schmidt of Watertown (12) and Adam Dehne of Medina, ND (77D) compete in a street stock heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
6 / 24
Mother's Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Watertown late model drivers Trevor Anderson (20) and Chad Williamson (57) hit the pedal during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
7 / 24
Mother's Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
A group of Gen X late model drivers, including Bodie Croninger of Watertown (811), Curt Kranz of Watertown (87), Tyler McFarland of Goodwin (19), Blake Swenson of Watertown (10X) and Trevor Walsh of Watertown (15), are bunched together during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
8 / 24
Mother's Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Tony Miller of Browns Valley, MN (80) leads Chris Serr of Aberdeen (01) in a street stock heat during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
9 / 24
Mother's Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Hornets drivers Paxton Tjaden of Boyd, MN (87TJR), Adam VanDerostyne of Canby, MN (3) and Jeff Rohner of Willmar, MN (08) battle for position during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
10 / 24
Mother's Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Tommy Nichols of Watertown won the Midwest modified feature during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
11 / 24
Mother's Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Jake Wranek of Sioux Falls takes the checkered flag in a Midwest modified heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
12 / 24
Mother's Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Tyler Peterson of Hickson, ND won a late model heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
13 / 24
Mother's Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Todd Stark of Watertown (33) holds a slim lead of Terry Reilly of Watertown in a Midwest modified heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
14 / 24
Mother's Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Maria Broksieck of Goodwin leads Jason Marko of Watertown in a street stock heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown. Broksieck won this heat but Marko later won the feature.
15 / 24
Mother's Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Thomas Weisgram of Northville (16) held off Charlie Olsen of Henricks, MN (10CO) to win the first heat of late models during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
16 / 24
Mother's Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Alex Tschakert of Kent, MN (01) and Ryan Nelson of Castlewood (73) turn a corner in a Gen X late models heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
17 / 24
Six drivers kick of Casino Speedway's 72nd season with feature wins
Tony Konold of Clear Lake (15) leads Andy Brooker of Tulare (8) and Nate Heinrich of Bellingham, MN (10H) in a modifed heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown. Konold won the heat and later also won the feature.
18 / 24
Mother's Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Hornets drivers Jesse Lindner of Watertown (11), Bradley Rossow of Florence (555), Brandon Downs of Milbank (21), Skylar Burgher of Watertown (front left) and Matthew Moes of Watertown get the green flag at the start of a hornets heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
19 / 24
Mother's Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Late model drivers Chad Becker of Aberdeen (12) and Laela Eisenschenk of Fargo, ND head down the backstretch during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
20 / 24
Mother's Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Jeff Rohner of Willmar, MN (08) leads Nathan Smith of Watertown in a hornets heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown. Rohner later won the hornets feature.
21 / 24
Mother's Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Andy Brooker of Tulare (8) and Mike Stearns of Aberdeen (24S) turn a corner in a modified heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
22 / 24
Six drivers kick of Casino Speedway's 72nd season with feature wins
Mike Stearns of Aberdeen (24S) leads Trevor Walsh of Watertown (20) in a late model heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown. Stearns went on to win the late model feature later in the evening.
23 / 24
Mother's Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Brittany Swenson of Watertown (11X) and Brandon Fisher of Miller battle for position in a Gen X late models heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
24 / 24
Mother's Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Nate Heinrich of Bellingham, MN (10H) pushes past Mike Stearns of Aberdeen (24S) in a modified heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
WATERTOWN — Jason Marko and Tommy Nichols of Watertown were among the six drivers to open the 72nd season of racing at Casino Speedway with feature wins on Mother's Day.
The season-opening program on Sunday, May 10, featured 73 cars including 17 hornets, 16 late models, 15 Gen X late models, 10 Midwest modifieds, nine street stocks and six modifieds.
Marko won the 15-lap street stock feature and Nichols the 20-lap Midwest modified feature.
Other feature winners included Parker Gilbertson of Watson, MN (Gen X late models), Tony Konold of Clear Lake (modifieds), Mike Stearns of Aberdeen (late models) and Jeff Rohner of Willmar, MN (hornets).
The late model feature went 25 laps, Gen X late model feature 20, modified 15 and hornets 12.
Midwest Modifieds — Jake Wranek, Sioux Falls, and Todd Stark, Watertown.
Gen X Late Models — Gilbertson and Bodie Croninger, Watertown.
Modifieds — Konold.
Late Models — Thomas Weisgram, Northville, and Tyler Peterson, Hickson, ND.
Hornets — Skylar Burgher, Watertown and Brett Moffenbier, Watertown.
Another weekly racing program is scheduled for Sunday, May 17 at 5 p.m. The program will feature late models, modifieds, Midwest modifeds, street stocks and hornets.
For complete results from Casino Speedway and all area racetracks, visit myracepass.com.
Tony Konold of Clear Lake (15) leads Andy Brooker of Tulare (8) and Nate Heinrich of Bellingham, MN (10H) in a modifed heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown. Konold won the heat and later also won the feature.
Tony Konold of Clear Lake (15) leads Andy Brooker of Tulare (8) and Nate Heinrich of Bellingham, MN (10H) in a modifed heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown. Konold won the heat and later also won the feature.
Brown County Speedway
ABERDEEN — Maria Broksieck of Goodwin (street stocks), Chad Becker of Aberdeen (late models) and Trevor Nelson of Warner (super stocks) each won feature races on Friday, May 8.
Nelson's win was his second in two weeks.
Other feature winners include Nick Perry of Huron, Midwest modifieds; Lucas Rodin of Marion (ND), modifieds; and Dusty Mund of Lisbon (ND), legends.
Area drivers who won heat races included Chase Gelling of Aberdeen, late models; Taylor Schmidt of Aberdeen and Dawson Zabel of Selby, Midwest modifieds; Zabel and Mike Stearns of Aberdeen, modifieds; Jodie Michaelsohn of Aberdeen, street stocks; and Kaden Kampa of Groton and Kyle Elsen of Bath, super stocks.
Another racing program is scheduled for Friday, May 15 at 7 p.m.
Fiesta City Speedway
MONTEVIDEO, MN — Morgan Grosz of Watertown won the late model feature on Friday, May 8.
Adam VanDerostyne of Canby (MN) won a hornets heat race.
The next racing event is set for Friday, May 15 at 7 p.m.
Mike Stearns of Aberdeen (24S) leads Trevor Walsh of Watertown (20) in a late model heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown. Stearns went on to win the late model feature later in the evening.
Mike Stearns of Aberdeen (24S) leads Trevor Walsh of Watertown (20) in a late model heat race during the season-opening Mother Day's racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown. Stearns went on to win the late model feature later in the evening.
I-94 Speedway
FERGUS FALLS, MN — Watertown drivers Bodie Croninger and Trevor Walsh each won Gen X late model heat races on Friday, May 8.
The Wissota Late Model Challenge Series will spearhead the racing program on Friday, May 15 at 7 p.m.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sportsor email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com
