The energetic atmosphere at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds marked the first large-scale sporting event in Minot since the Region 6 boys basketball tournament concluded at the Minot State Dome on March 12.

The 67th season at Nodak Speedway started with Trevor Haas going from last-to-first in the opening heat race and finished with Travis Hagen outdueling Drew Christianson in the IMCA Modifieds main feature.

A recap of all five classes can be found below.

IMCA Modifieds

Alex Eisen/MDN Minot's Brock Beeter (48) makes a pass for the lead to eventually win an IMCA Hobby Stocks heat race in Minot.

Jason Wolla, a former track and national champion, ran out of room on the high side and went off the track on the first corner of the modifieds main feature. The fight was on to get back to the front.

Wolla was up to third with nine laps remaining and then caught a break when Mike Tomlinson stopped on the track — unable to make it to the pits, which brought out a much-needed caution.

Bizarrely, leader Robert Hellebust pulled off the track before the ensuing restart for unknown reasons, and Wolla was up to second place behind Christianson.

But, it was the consistent driving of Hagen that made the difference in the end. Hagen got around Christianson on the backstretch with four laps left, while Wolla ran out of steam and slotted into third after a disastrous start.

IMCA Sport Mods

Isaac Sondrol gave up the coveted lead to Brady Bjella five laps into the main feature. Robby Rosselli, who started a spot behind Bjella in seventh, followed Bjella up to the front.

The two started next to each other after Makenzie Hagen and Logan Schmitz tangled to bring out a caution with 12 laps remaining.

The trio of Bjella, Rosselli and Darren Schatz then pulled away from the field. Schatz got under Rosselli for second place with seven laps left.

While the three leaders went at each other with Bjella blocking Schatz low and Roselli looking to pass high, Hagen spun to bring out another caution with six laps left.

Moments later, Sondrol went around with Chad Strachen to bring out another yellow flag. Strachen regained his spot and passed Schatz for second place.

Debris reset the field again with four laps left. A strong restart had Rosselli in contention for the win.

He passed Bjella twice on the backstretch with three and then two laps to go. However, sliding up the track going into turn No. 1 on the final lap proved costly.

Bjella took the lead back and narrowly held off Rosselli coming off the final corner. Strachen took third.

IMCA Hobby Stocks

Kyler Satran brought out the first caution three laps into the main feature with a spin in the middle of turn No. 3. Then, with 10 laps left, Satran went around at the other end of the track to end his night.

Pole-sitter Brandon Honrud had his hands full with Heat 2 winner Caden Appelt. The two aforementioned cautions also allowed Andrew Bertsch and Brock Beeter to move up through the field quickly.

Appelt passed Honrud for the lead with six laps left. Honrud, despite being held up by a lap car, got to the inside of Appelt on the final lap.

Appelt drove it hard into the final corner and battled Honrud all the way to the line. Appelt won the dramatic drag race to the checkered flag by the hood of his hobby stock. Beeter bested Bertsch for third.

IMCA Stock Cars

Three of the top 4 drivers in the 2019 point standings weren’t in attendance on Sunday: the Williston father-son duo of Joe and Dalton Flory, along with Canadian Austin Daae due to travel restrictions of going across the border.

Last season’s track champion Mike Hagen took advantage. He easily won his heat race and worked his way up from fifth to the lead in a 10-car main feature event.

Hagen passed Joren Boyce on the inside for the top spot coming to 13 laps to go. And that’s how the running order stayed coming to the finish.

Jake Nelson, who had his front bumper dangling throughout the race because Hagen cut in front of him at the drop of the first green flag, settled for third place.

IMCA Sport Compacts

The son-father duo of Christopher Zenz and Greg Zenz sat on the front row for the main feature. But, it was lone heat winner James Gilbert who shot up between the two Zenz’s on the wave of the green flag.

Larry King went for a wild ride after taking the lead briefly and then giving it back up with nine laps left. Sailing into the first corner too hot trying to reel back Gilbert again, King found himself on his roof momentarily before landing back on his wheels. He was able to walk away from the accident.

With King out of the running, Gilbert powered away in the remaining laps to pick up the feature win ahead of Greg Zenz and Corey Helgeson.

Weekly Magic City Dirt Series racing hits the track again at 7 p.m. next Sunday. The modifieds are scheduled to be off, but the four other classes will be in attendance at Nodak Speedway.

Alex Eisen covers Minot State athletics, the Minot Minotauros and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @AEisen13.