11/8/2025
WISSOTA
Mass masters Challenge Series for first title
When the 2025 Structural Buildings WISSOTA Late Model Challenge Series scheduled became available last December, East Bethel, Minnesota racer Dave Mass signed up to be a ServPro Star of the Series and planned on running the first seven events or so to see how it went and then planned on evaluating his schedule moving forward.
Well, after finishes of second twice, third three times and a pair of sixth place finishes for his efforts, he found himself with a decision to make. Chase the remainder of the series and go after the record $12,000 payday at season’s end, or go back to his typical pick and choose schedule and try to win the Late Model track championship at his regular Friday night track, the I-94 emr Speedway in Fergus Falls, MN.
The choice was difficult, but easy at the same time. The Challenge Series is WISSOTA’s premier touring series and having a chance to add his name to the prestigious list of prior series champions was something he just couldn’t pass up.
At season’s start, Dave had a goal of working toward winning his first ever Challenge Series feature race, which he was able to accomplish during the running of the Twin Ports Twin 25’s event at the Gondik Law Speedway in Superior, Wisconsin. The event which was rained out in July was rescheduled to kick off the long Labor Day holiday weekend. Mass went on to be the top qualifier in his group, win his heat race and go on to win the feature from the second row for his first ever series victory.
Not only did he win his first ever series race, but he backed that up two nights later by winning the WISSOTA Classic at the Grand Rapids Speedway in Grand Rapids, MN for his second series triumph.
With his solid Labor Day weekend performances, he found himself leading the point standings heading into the final weekend of the year, which for the first time ever was a doubleheader at the Speedway Motors WISSOTA 100. The scenario was clear – if Mass stayed ahead of second place points runner Shane Sabraski in both events, he would clinch his first ever series title.
Tuesday night saw Mass run fourth in the feature, while Sabraski ran 16th, which didn’t mathematically secure the championship for Mass, but it made his path a bit easier as he just had to finish inside the top twenty of Wednesday night, no matter how Sabraski did. Sabraski ended up running third and Mass fifth, which was more than enough for him to become a Structural Buildings WISSOTA Late Model Challenge Series powered by Momentum Truck Group, Freightliner, Western Star and driven by Minnesota Truck Headquarters champion for the first time in his career.
The series set out to run 21 events across three states with the most lucrative end of season point fund available to an expanded top twelve finishers in the final rundown. When all was said and done, eighteen of the twenty one events were completed, with three being rain outs. A total of 140 drivers entered at least one event throughout the season with an impressive twelve different drivers racing to a series event during the 18 events held.
To put into words what it means to win a Challenge Series Championship, Dave said ‘it’s a long road to a championship, but when you’ve got the right people behind you and the drive to push through every up and down, it makes it all worth it.’
Every great driver needs a great team, and this one is no exception. Dave has great support from his crew chief Mike Ward, Nate House, Danny Edenloff, along with Charlie and Cade Jensen. These guys were the horsepower behind the horsepower, wrenching late into the night, making calls in the heat of battle, and always pushing for perfection.
Not only does Dave have great on-track support, his foundation at home is equally as strong with unconditional support from his wife Sami and kids Brody and Max. Behind every lap turned was a cheer from the stands and a hug in victory lane – racing truly is a family affair.
Mass went on to say ‘I can’t even put it into words – this is a dream come true! I’ve always wanted to win a Challenge Series race, but to take home the championship is unbelievable! I’m beyond excited. This means the world to me!’
Dave has come a long way since starting his racing career 31 years ago. The journey has been nothing short of incredible. Over the decades, Dave has raced Pure Stocks, Street Stocks, B-Mods, Super Stocks, Modifieds, Sprint Cars, and for the past five years, Late Models.
Mass, who turned 50 years old this year, entered 51 events over the course of the 2025 season, winning five times, including the two Challenge Series races we’ve highlighted. Along with those pair of series wins, he also picked up the King of Dirt Late Model Championship at the I-94 emr Speedway, as well as a feature win during the Piston Cup at the Granite City Motor Park and a regular race night win at I-94 to start his season back in May. Along with those five wins, he raced to finishes inside the top ten during 42 of his 51 starts and ended the season with 27 top five finishes for his efforts as well.
Championships aren’t possible without incredible partners. Dave wanted to send out a huge thanks to the companies that helped make this season possible, including: Shaw Trucking, Blaine Brothers, North American Trailer, Hydraulic Specialties, Truckaline, Structural Buildings, Pallet Resource, Bud’s Auto Body, House Contracting, Jim’s Redwing Mobile Shoes, DK Designs, Dehn Oil and Sidump’r. Their continued support fuels everything the team does, from the shop to the track and everywhere in between.
Although this was Dave’s first series title, he is no stranger to winning. Throughout his career, he has won 5 WISSOTA National Championships, with the first coming in the Street Stock division in 1998, followed up by four more national titles, each in the Super Stock division, coming in 2009, 2010, 2014 and 2018, so winning is nothing new to Mass, but adding his name to the list of Challenge Series Champions will always be a special moment in his long and successful career.
The Challenge Series began in 1999 and Mass becomes the thirteenth racer to add his name to the impressive list of series champions.
Congrats to Dave and his team!
WISSOTA’s Late Model Challenge Series is proudly sponsored by Structural Buildings, Momentum Truck Group, Freightliner, Western Star, Minnesota Truck Headquarters, NAPA Auto Parts, Garage Tech X-treme, Raceceiver, AT21 Spoiler Factory, Velocita, BuyRaceShirts.com, Sunoco Race Fuels by Woodie’s Racing, Gorsuch Performance Solutions, Hiller Auction Inc., Shaw Trucking Inc., Collins Bros Towing of St. Cloud, ServPro, Olsen Custom Farms, Joe Provo Racewear, My Race Pass, Hoosier Racing Tire, White City Glass, Champ Pans, Victory Fuel, Power Lodge, Schweiter’s Ford, Deatherage Racing Opticians and MD3. WISSOTA’s Official Supporters include: Fast Threads, Manheim, Landwehr Construction, Carlson’s Service Center & Sales, Select Electric, Franklin Motor Company, K&A Auto Body, Engine Shop, Momentum Truck Group, Nyhus Family Sales, Town & Country Excavating and Dirt Race Central.
WISSOTA is proudly sponsored by their official marketing partners:
Hoosier Racing Tire, My Race Pass, NAPA Auto Parts, Dirt Race Central, Speedway Motors, Gondik Law and All The Dirt Racing News, along with their Platinum partner, Raceceiver, plus their Gold sponsors, which include EngineQuest and World Products.
WISSOTA is also sponsored by Silver partners AFCO and Willy’s Carburetor & Dyno Shop, plus Bronze sponsor Stakt Products.
WISSOTA also has a great group of contingency sponsors, including Brodix Cylinder Heads, BuyRaceShirts.com, Manley, Allstar Performance, AMI Graphics, Winning Edge Graphics, Velocita, RaceCals, RaceGear Designs, All Star Trophy & Awards, Minuteman Press, Performance Auto, UEM Pistons, Mahle Motorsports, Performance Auto, Freedom Race Lifts, Victory Fuel, Power Lodge, Deatherage Opticians and MD3.
For more information on WISSOTA, log on to www.WISSOTA.org.
The WISSOTA Promoters Association exists to benefit its member tracks to enhance safe, profitable and successful dirt track racing, through unified, cost-effective rules, policies and procedures enacted within a democratic environment.
The WISSOTA Promoters Association was founded in 1981 by eight track promoters in Wisconsin and Minnesota, with an intent to offer uniform rules for the promoters and drivers involved in the Late Model division. Soon, the group decided to do the same for the growing Modified division.
In 1984 a voluntary steering committee was formed to oversee the business aspects that developed and to guide the future of WISSOTA’s racing divisions. That steering committee evolved into a board of directors, and the non-profit racing organization became incorporated in 1986.
Submitted By: Jacy Norgaard
