What won the race: Making an outside move exiting turn four on the 18th lap, hometown driver Ryan Mikkelson overtook Shane Sabraski at Viking Speedway for his first career Structural Buildings WISSOTA Challenge Series victory. The eighth-starting Mikkelson earned $4,013 in the Jeff Hinkemeyer Memorial, taking the checkers 2.394 seconds ahead of Sabraski, who led laps 4-17 in the 30-lapper at the half-mile oval.

Quotable: "I feel more at home actually on top here in Alec, and this is my top-three favorite racetrack, and I'm very lucky to call this my hometown," Mikkelson said, "and I just love racing in front of Alec and I love the speed.”

Key notes: Ryan Mikkelson's previous victory at Viking Speedway came July 15, 2023, in a regular-season event. ... Mikkelson has three top-five points finishes in WISSOTA Challenge action but never a victory until Saturday. ... Cole Searing, who led the first three laps from the pole, was shuffled out of contention on the lap-14 restart. ... Two cautions slowed the action, the first on the second lap for a spinning Sammy Mars between turns three and four (he collected Matt Gilbertson). ... On the 14th lap, an unidentified competitor spun inside turn three. ... Fifteen drivers completed 30 laps. ... The 22-minute race concluded at 9:29 p.m. ... The race honored the late Jeff Hinkemeyer, a multitime champion Late Model racer with more than 300 victories best known for driving the No. 4 and No. 13 cars, explaining the $4,013 top prize. … Shane Sabraski earned an extra $413 apiece for leading laps 4 and 13. ... Fans held their hands with four fingers in the air in honor of Hinkemeyer on the fourth lap. ... Pace laps were also done in missing man formation for the opener of Viking's 61st season of competition.

On the move: Winner Ryan Mikkelson of Alexandria, Minn., started eighth; Travis Saurer of Elizabeth, Minn., started 18th and finished fourth.

Winner's sponsors: Mikkelson's SSR Race Car is sponsored by Leffort Painting, Upper Deck Construction, All Day Trucking, Gorsuch Performance, Blue Frog Realty and Villard Implement.

Points chase: After Viking: 1. Kevin Burdick (112); T2. Tyler Peterson (105); T2. Shane Sabraski (105); 4. Cole Searing (102); 5. Kevin Eder (101).

Current weather: Scattered Clouds Haze, 57°F

Car count: 32

Fast qualifier: Cole Searing

Time: 18.886 seconds

Polesitter: Cole Searing

Heat race winners: Cole Searing, Kevin Burdick, Dave Mass, Chris Mensen

Consolation race winners: Kevin Eder

Provisional starters: Taylor Madrinich, Lee Grosz, Joel Collins

Next series race: June 5, Fiesta City Speedway (Montevideo, MN) $3,000