August 3
Norman County Raceway,
Ada, MN
Sanction: Northern LateModel Racing Association - $1,100
Information provided by: Staff and series reports (last updated August 4, 6:23 pm)
Weiss turns back Schatz at Norman County
- Ricky Weiss
- Donny Schatz
- Ryan Mikkelson
- Brad Seng
- Don Shaw
- Mike Balcaen
- Travis Robertson
- Shawn Meyer
- Kevin Robertson
- Bill Mooney
- Shane Edginton
- Casey Meyer
- Greg Meyer
- Paul Mueller
- Dave Smith
- Steve Anderson
- Tom Corcoran
- Brody Troftgruben
- Jeff Hapala
- Adam Fischer
- Matt Gerlach-Smith
- Erik Robertson
- Terry Blacklance
- Dustin Strand
Ricky Weiss earned $1,100 for his second straight NLRA victory.
What won the race: Taking the lead from polesitter Ryan Mikkelson on the second of 25 laps, Rick Weiss of Headingley, Manitoba, led the rest of the way to pick up his second straight NLRA victory. Weiss held off a last-lap charge from Donny Schatz, turning back a challenge from the sprint car ace to win by .525 seconds. Mikkelson trailed the duo in third. Weiss collected $1,100.
Quotable: “I thought we were pretty comfortable (in traffic) and then I seen that (Dustin) Strand was pulling off and I knew that was my main competition. Then I look up with about five to go and I seen Schatz there and I’m like, well, I better keep going,” Weiss said. “I could hear someone coming and someone coming and he stuck his nose in at the top there, and I mean, he had a good run, but if you could get that traction off of turn four, it was hard to beat that.”
Key notes: It was the 19th career NLRA victory for Weiss and his third at Norman County. … Despite trailing the leader by 1.4 seconds with four laps remaining, runner-up Donny Schatz of Fargo, N.D., pulled to the leader’s quarterpanel on the final lap. … The race was slowed by two cautions, both before a complete lap was completed. … A spin by Terry Blacklance brought out the first yellow. … The second caution waved when Weiss and Don Shaw made contact as Weiss swept into the lead. Shaw was sent to the tail for the restart and rallied to fifth. … Schatz started ninth, but was in the top five by lap six. He moved to second on lap 14. … Dustin Strand, who entered the race as the co-points leader, slowed with mechanical trouble on lap 12; he retired in 24th.
On the move: Bill Mooney improved seven spots after starting 17th.
Winner's sponsors: Weiss drives a Bloomquist Race Car with a Vic Hill Racing Engine and is sponsored by Derrick's Sandblasting, Hands On Excavating, A.I.E. Communications, The Orthopaedic Institute of Western Kentucky, Keewatin Truck Service, Turk Enterprises, Hamburg Designs, J&C Trucking, Forest Flying Service, Speedworld Indoor Kart Track, Hawkeye Construction, Eibach Springs, All Rig Towing, Straight Ahead Ventures, Wulff Pumps, Cousins Farms, Allied Roofing, Schaeffer's Racing Oil and Metalz in Motion.
Points chase: With his win, coupled with Dustin Strand's last-place finish, Ricky Weiss took the NLRA points lead; the two were tied heading to Norman County.
Car count: 30
Polesitter: Ryan Mikkelson
Heat race winners: Ryan Mikkelson, Brad Seng, Don Shaw, Ricky Weiss
Consolation race winners: Paul Mueller
Next series race: September 6, River Cities Speedway (Grand Forks, ND) $1,292
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.