By 
Aberdeen’s Shelby Arment hangs out with young racing fans during Kids Night Friday, July 31 at Brown County Speedway. Courtesy photo.
It was one of the largest crowds of the season Friday, July 31 at Brown County Speedway as the Yelduz Shrine sponsored its annual Kids Night.
Track promoter/official Shelby Arment has been organizing Kids Night for the past four years.
Molly Stevens sits under the grandstand at the Brown County Speedway Friday, July 31 as she gets her face painted by Jada Volk. The face-painting was one of several extra activities during Kids Night. Aberdeen Insider photo by Elisa Sand.
“I saw other tracks had been doing events like Kids Night and giving away more prizes and had more things for the kids to do, and we were kind of doing the bare minimum meet-and-greet type of stuff,'” she said. “I just figured I’d try to do it myself and posted on social media for potential sponsors and donations, and it’s kind of grown from there.”
MORE: Northern State sixth in NSIC football poll; Kraft, Adams named preseason players of the year
Some 80 drivers lined the front straightaway a little more than an hour before heat races began, allowing kids to check out their cars. Admission for kids under 12 was free. There were prizes handed out between heat and feature races, and 605 Scoops gave away free frozen treats.
“I just thought free stuff, like 605 Scoops, face-painting that we had and the giveaway prizes that got a little crazy with the amount of things we had was a good way to bring kids to the track,” she said.
One potential obstacle was the attitude of racers considering the previous weekend’s two nights of racing were mostly washed out by rain.
“Tensions were high,” is how Arment put it.
But that didn’t prevent drivers from understanding what Kids Night is about.
“I never heard any complaints from any of the drivers, even when it’s 95 degrees in the hottest point of the day, they all took their time, handed out stuff to the kids. They understand what this night means, and, like they always have, the racers do a great job with Kids Night,” she said.
Arment said that as much as she pours into Kids Night, she could not do it alone and credited others who pitched in.
Aberdeen’s Kent Arment hits the back straight away in the Late Model feature during Kids Night on Friday, July 31 at Brown County Speedway. Arment won the race. Aberdeen Insider photo by Robb Garofalo.
Her dad and track promoter/racer Kent Arment said Shelby “did another fantastic job of making this night fun for the kids.”
He said Sheby raised nearly $6,000 in donations for toys, prizes and giveaways. Her work has helped make Kids Knight a huge event at Brown County Speedway, he said.
On the track, Kent Arment made a move to the bottom line with a few laps to go and held off Josh Scorczewski and the rest of the field to win the Late Model feature for the second time this season.
Hitting a barrel along the bottom of the track didn’t phase him.
MORE: Groton Post 39 falls to Dakota Valley, eliminated from Class B Legion tournament
“Yeah, we just ended up clipping one right there around turn No. 2, and I guess I needed to put ’em just a little lower, but the track was really hooking near the bottom,” he said. “The track was gripping pretty good on the low side, and you know (the barrels are) there, but luckily it didn’t do too much to change how we ran.”
Arment said the key to his victory was a strong restart after a caution flag that sent then-race leader Chad Becker to the back of the field after he collided with Scorczewski.
Aberdeen’s Mike Stearns approaches turn three during the Modified feature on Kids Night Friday, July 31 at Brown County Speedway. Stearns placed first in the race. Aberdeen Insider photo by Robb Garofalo.
Mike Stearns of Aberdeen finished third in the Late Model feature, but had little issue in the Modified feature race. He took command early and led 16 of 20 laps to take the checkered flag.
Before the feature, he talked about how important Kids Night is in encouraging the next generation of racers and fans.
“It’s a huge part of the sport, getting younger kids involved, and we know that,” Stearns said. “There was a time when parents brought their kids to the races, their kids grew up and then brought their own kids to the races, but we hit a point where kids kind of stopped coming to the races, and that’s a scary deal. We know nights like Kids Night (are) important to keep kids coming and keep the grandstands full.”
Dusty Mund of Lisbon, N.D., heads down the back straightaway in the INEX Legends feature race during Kids Night Friday, July 31 at Brown County Speedway. Mund claimed his third checkered flag of the season in Aberdeen. Aberdeen Insider photo by Robb Garofalo.
He said there were some new faces at the track Friday.
“It’s pretty cool they get a pretty big turnout for it, so that helps even more. My wife’s a nurse and she had talked to more than a few people who said there were people coming to the races that had never been to a race before and bringing their kids so that’s really awesome,” Stearns said.
Dusty Mund of Lisbon, N.D., was victorious in the Legends feature race. He took the lead and was able to maintain it while driving on the top side of the track.
MORE: Mitchell golfers take men’s and women’s match play state titles at Moccasin Creek Country Club
“Tonight the top side was really good for me. I did see a little moisture up there, and it takes some guts to do it with these smaller cars, but it was just on a rail up there and reminded me of way back when I used to race WISSOTA Street Stocks here when the high side was fun here, and it still is,” Mund said.
He said some younger racers in their first full season have been showing up since May.
“They’ve improved week after week for sure,” Mund said. “The first week was a little hairy because they couldn’t hold their line, and you’re going so much faster and only have a split second to decide to go high or low, and if you make the wrong decision, it could be really bad. I just love how they’re out here learning, and it’s up to us, the more experienced drivers, to encourage them and keep them coming out.”
July 31 feature race winners
- Street Stocks: Jodie Michaelsohn, Aberdeen.
- Midwest Modifieds: Todd Stark, Watertown.
- Super Stocks: Bryson North, Huron.
- Late Models: Kent Arment.
- Modifieds: Stearns.
- INEX Legends: Mund.
