The championship stretch is officially here for the USRA Kevko Racing Northern Lights Modified Series presented by Real Wheels, with a Minnesota-Iowa doubleheader awaiting competitors this weekend and just four races remaining on the 2026 schedule.

The weekend opens Friday, August 14, with the series’ second-ever visit to Fairmont Raceway in Fairmont, Minnesota, before heading south for a return engagement Saturday night at Winneshiek Raceway in Decorah, Iowa.

With only the September 11-12 North Star Nationals at Mississippi Thunder Speedway remaining after this weekend, opportunities to gain ground in the championship standings are quickly disappearing.

Dais Returns to Fairmont With Unfinished Business

Friday night’s stop at Fairmont brings the Northern Lights Modified Series back to the southern Minnesota oval for the first time since its inaugural visit in 2025 — and Harley Dais may have more reason than anyone to have this date circled on the calendar.

Last season, Josh Angst appeared to have the victory in hand, but Dais mounted a furious late-race charge that came down to the final corner. Dais made one last bid for the lead, but Angst was able to hold him off at the checkered flag to secure the victory.

One year later, Dais returns to Fairmont sitting second in the championship standings and looking to finish the job that came just short a season ago.

The Winona, Minnesota, driver enters the weekend with 750 points, trailing championship leader Joe Chisholm by 149. With four races remaining, the margin is significant, but there is still enough racing left to keep the title chase alive.

Behind Dais, the battle is even tighter.

Rodney Sanders sits third with 733 points, just 17 behind Dais, while Alex Williamson is only one point behind Sanders with 732. Parker Hale rounds out the top five at 714, leaving second through fifth separated by only 36 points entering Friday night.

Familiar Ground Awaits Saturday in Decorah

Saturday’s trip to Winneshiek Raceway will mark the third Northern Lights Modified Series event at the Decorah, Iowa, facility and the second this season.

Brandon Davis captured the series’ first Winneshiek appearance in 2025 on his way to becoming the inaugural Northern Lights Modified Series champion.

When the tour returned to Decorah earlier this season, Jake Timm made his Northern Lights debut one to remember.

Timm swept the evening, setting Quick Time, winning his heat race and eventually finding himself locked into a heated battle with Joe Chisholm for the A-Feature victory. The two traded sliders before late-race contact brought an end to the fight for the lead, with Timm ultimately completing the sweep and collecting the victory.

Saturday’s return provides another opportunity at a Winneshiek Raceway that has already produced plenty of drama in just two Northern Lights appearances.

Chisholm Controls the Championship Race

While several drivers remain mathematically within striking distance, Joe Chisholm has built himself a sizable advantage heading into the final two weekends of the season.

Chisholm enters Fairmont with 899 points and a 149-point advantage over Dais. Sanders sits 166 points behind the leader, Williamson is 167 back and Hale trails by 185.

With only Fairmont, Winneshiek and the two-night North Star Nationals remaining, every position becomes increasingly important as Chisholm attempts to protect his advantage while those behind him look for an opportunity to close the gap.

The championship may belong to Chisholm to control, but the battle behind him remains wide open.

Dais, Sanders, Williamson and Hale are separated by just 36 points from second through fifth, while Zach Brom remains within range at 692 points. With four races still available, a strong weekend — or one difficult night — could dramatically reshape the order entering the season finale.

Four Races. Two Weekends. One Championship.

The Northern Lights Modified Series has reached the point of the season where there is little room left for recovery.

Friday at Fairmont offers Dais another shot at the victory that slipped away in the final corner one year ago. Saturday at Winneshiek brings the tour back to a track that has produced two different winners in two previous appearances.

Then, after the checkered flag falls Saturday night in Decorah, only the North Star Nationals remain.

Mississippi Thunder Speedway will host the final two races of the 2026 Northern Lights Modified Series season September 11-12, where the second series champion will ultimately be crowned.

Before then, there are two important nights of racing ahead — and plenty still left to be decided.

For updated schedules, championship standings, event details, and breaking series news, visit NorthernLightsModifiedSeries.com. Fans unable to attend in person can catch every remaining race of the 2026 season live and on demand exclusively on RacinDirt.tv

Current USRA Kevko Racing Northern Lights Modified Series presented by Real Wheels Point Standings:

1. Joe Chisholm – 899 points

2. Harley Dais (R) – 750 points (-149)

3. Rodney Sanders – 733 points (-166)

4. Alex Williamson – 732 points (-167)

5. Parker Hale – 714 points (-185)

6. Zach Brom – 692 points (-207)

7. Darwin Karau – 567 points (-332)

8. Joe Horgdal – 540 points (-359)

9. Kyle Brown – 431 points (-468)

10. Joe Ludemann – 418 points (-481)

The Kevko Racing USRA Northern Lights Modified Series presented by Real Racing Wheels would like to recognize and thank our 2026 season long partners. Please thank them, with your patronage for their support.

Gold Partners – Central Spray Foam & Cement Lifting, Day Motor Sports, Deatherage Opticians, Dirt Track Specialist, Dylan Scott Entertainment, Hochatown Saloon, Kevko Racing, Midwest Sheet Metal, Mel Hambelton Ford Racing, Pannell Chipping, RacinDirt.com, Real Racing Wheels, Rick Beebe Heating and Air Conditioning, Smith Equipment Company, Swift Springs, VP Racing Fuels Heartland, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products

Silver Partners – American Racer Tires, Buck Monson Photos, Bulletproof Tees and Racewear, Duvall Electric, Integra Shocks, JRT Trucking, Keyser Manufacturing, Midwest Automation, Photos By Boyd, Scotty Dogg’s Hideout

Bronze Partners – Bryke Racing, Fast Shafts, Freight Logistics Inc., KS Engineering, Maxima Racing Oil, Milburn Acreages by Tillison Enterprises, PEM Racing, Premier Lubricants, Schoenfeld Headers, Service Plumbing of Wichita, Transmissions Unlimited, Wagdog Spices, Wilwood Disc Brakes, Yeoman Race Engines

2026 Point Funds (ARMS, HMT, NLMS)
1. $7,500
2. $4,500
3. $3,500
4. $3,000
5. $2,500
6. $2,400
7. $2,300
8. $2,200
9. $2,100
10. $2,000
*80 Percent attendance required to remain point fund eligible

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