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Dustin Holtquist (Cody Papke Photo)
Holtquist finishes 2025 strong & is rewarded with the Mod Four National Championship
By Meghan Diemel, Editor
ST. CLOUD, MN - WISSOTA Mod Four National Champion Dustin Holtquist broke through a rough start to the season — and what he said was his own bad attitude — to grab his second title in the class during the 2025 season.
The 41-year-old St. Cloud, Minnesota racer ran 45 features this past year, notching 17 victories, 38 top-fives, and 41 top-10 finishes. He also went on an absolute tear when it came to special events. He won the Ron Johnson Memorial at North Central Speedway, the second night of the Mod Nationals at Ogilvie Raceway, the Mod Four Black Jack Special at Gillette Thunder Speedway, the first and second nights at the Half Mile Nationals at Black Hills Speedway, the first and third nights for the East West Clash at Gillette Thunder Speedway, the first and second nights for the Piston Cup at Granite City Motor Park, and the first and second nights at the Fall Classic at Sheridan Speedway.
Holtquist is a heavy tow truck dispatcher when he’s not behind the wheel of his Mod Four, and enjoys support from his family, including significant other Kaitlyn, daughter Ella, his dad and fellow Mod Four wheelman Bob, his mom Brenda, his brother and sister-in-law Jeremy and Angie, and his sister and brother-in-law Shannen and Doug.
All The Dirt! Racing News: What was your favorite racing-related memory from the 2025 season?
Dustin Holtquist: My favorite has to be winning both nights of the Piston Cup; not only to receive the really cool trophies that Rodger makes, but it also put us in a good points lead for the National Championship.
ATD: What was the low light, racing related, of the 2025 season?
Holtquist: I would have to say the low was the beginning of the year trying out new things and getting into my head and just having a bad attitude towards racing.
I had to sit back and re-evaluate my attitude and some things on the race car and then things all started working together to make a great last half of the season
ATD: From a wider perspective, what are a few of your favorite moments from your career to this point?
Holtquist: One of my favorite things will always be getting to race with my dad every week. [This in turn] leads to my favorite moment out in Sheridan, WY, when I got a clean sweep the first night, which locked up the national points and [I had the chance] to give my dad a big hug and say, ‘We did it.’
ATD: You’ve had a lot of success in the Mod Fours over the years. What do you love about the class, and how is this championship different from seasons in the past?
Holtquist: I really enjoy the affordability and being able to be successful in building my own chassis. The guys are a great group to race with every week. The championship this year is a very special one for not just me, but the whole Holtquist racing team as we lost my grandmother just over halfway through the year. She is the one who brought me to my first race at Madison Speedway when I was around 10, and I have been hooked ever since. So I have dedicated this championship to her and her memory.
ATD: What can be the hardest or most trying part of racing season for you, and why?
Holtquist: I would say the hardest part is when you have a good year the year before, so you set yourself at that standard to do that well all the time. So, when that doesn’t happen, it is very trying to stay positive...
ATD: What is your favorite event of the year and why?
Holtquist: I always look forward to the East-West Clash at Gillette Thunder Speedway. I love that it’s three nights at the same track and that place is always consistently the same type of racing surface. The people we race with out there are super nice and a lot of fun to race with. Our family has made some great friends out there.
ATD: Is there a race or race track you have never raced in/at, and why do you want to race there?
Holtquist: Even though they don't have our class, I would love to race down at Central Arizona Speedway for the Wild West Shootout in January; it would be awesome to race during the winter and a great little vacation with the family.
ATD: What will be your favorite part of the offseason, as we head toward late 2025 and early 2026, for you?
Holtquist: Spending time with my family and building race cars is always my favorite part of the offseason.
ATD: What are your racing plans for 2026?
Holtquist: My racing plans are the same as always — try and go out and win the specials and to try and have as much fun as I can.
ATD: Who are your sponsors you’d like to thank?
Holtquist: My car owners Dallas and Sally Bucholz; Collins Brothers Towing and my boss James for allowing me the space to work on and build my race cars; Wollak Construction; Pikes Grain Bin Repair; Double L Ranch; Technicolor Screen Printing; Ringdahl Architects; The Pump 2.0; Wagamon Bros; Dirt Slayer Chassis; and Fox Shocks by Dan Ebert.