June 30
River Cities Speedway,
Grand Forks, ND
Sanction: World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series (River Cities Showdown) - $12,000
Information provided by: Kyle McFadden, series and track reports (last updated July 1, 11:20 am)
Gustin gains redemption with River Cities victory
River Cities Showdown
- Ryan Gustin
- Kyle Bronson
- Mike Marlar
- Cade Dillard
- Chris Madden
- Shane Clanton
- Dennis Erb Jr.
- Brandon Sheppard
- Blair Nothdurft
- Brian Shirley
- Bobby Pierce
- Brent Larson
- Nick Hoffman
- Gordy Gundaker
- Tanner English
- Cole Schill
- Dustin Sorensen
- Todd Cooney
- Dustin Walker
- Johnny Scott
- Shane Edginton
- Chad Mahder
- Brad Seng
- A.J. Diemel
Ryan Gustin keeps Kyle Bronson behind him to win Friday's feature at River Cities.
What won the race: A night after suffering a flat tire while leading, seventh-starting Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, gained redemption Friday by winning the $12,000 World of Outlaws Case Late Models River Cities Showdown. Gustin overtook race-long leader Kyle Bronson on lap 12 and traded sliders with him again on lap 32, holding on to pace the final 29 circuits and for his third WoO victory of the season and fifth of his career.
Quotable: “I knew (the line) was going to move to the top, I just didn’t know when. We got to them lapped cars and I knew we just had to give her hell up top and that’s what we did,” Gustin said. “Hats off to Kyle (Bronson) for driving me clean, I don’t know how close anyone else was, I couldn’t see my stick guy. I was just going for broke every lap and it worked out.”
Key notes: Third-starting Bronson, of Brandon, Fla., led the first 11 laps and pressured Gustin late, settling for second place, 0.536 of a second back. ... Thursday's $10,000 series winner at Red River Valley, Mike Marlar nearly made it three-wide for the lead on lap 35 before finishing third. ... Polesitter Cade Dillard failed to lead a lap and finished fourth. ... Chris Madden ran as high as third in the early laps, settling for fifth. ... Shane Clanton and Brandon Sheppard each advanced three positions, finishing sixth and eighth. ... Series points leader Bobby Pierce lost three positions from the start and finished 11th. ... A night after retiring on the first lap, Nick Hoffman gained two spots and finished 13th. ... Friday's feature was completed without incident and lasted just nine minutes, with 14 competitors completing all 40 laps.
On the move: Winner Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, started seventh.
Winner's sponsors: Gustin’s Rocket Chassis is sponsored by Tri Star Engines and Transmissions, Mahle, Fast Shafts, FK Rod Ends, ML Performance, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Performance Bodies & Parts, Swift Springs, VP Racing Fuels, Penske Racing Shocks, Mel Hambelton Ford, Ramirez Motorsports and NightOwl Design.
Points chase: After River Cities: 1. Bobby Pierce (2,996); 2. Chris Madden (2,956); 3. Ryan Gustin (2,950); 4. Nick Hoffman (2,944); 5. Kyle Bronson (2,934); 6. Brandon Sheppard (2,900); 7. Brian Shirley (2,894); 8. Tanner English (2,838); 9. Dennis Erb Jr. (2,800); 10. Shane Clanton (2,782).
Current weather: Few Clouds, 75°F
Car count: 33
Fast qualifier: Shane Clanton
Time: 12.384 seconds
Polesitter: Cade Dillard
Heat race winners: Kyle Bronson, Mike Marlar, Cade Dillard, Chris Madden
Consolation race winners: Shane Edginton, Dustin Sorensen
Provisional starters: Todd Cooney, Dustin Walker
Next series race: July 1, I-94 EMR Speedway (Fergus Falls, MN) $15,000
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.