Red River Valley Speedway
Aukland scores $4,000 NLRA victory at Fargo
Winner Matt Aukland (12A) works the outside of Brad Seng (12) at Fargo. (crpphotos.com)
WEST FARGO, N.D. (June 20) — Former series champion and hometown driver Matt Aukland raced to victory Wednesday at Red River Valley Speedway's Tony Stewart Night for a $4,000 payday on the Northern LateModel Racing Association. | Slideshow
Aukland notched his fourth career NLRA victory and first since the 2009 opener in outrunning Zach Naastad of Northwood, N.D. and Troy Schill of Grand Forks, N.D. Polesitter Jeff Provinzino of Hibbing, Minn., and reigning NLRA champ Ricky Weiss of Winnipeg, Manitoba, rounded out the top five finishers.
Stewart, competing in a Jeff Wildung-prepared car, won a consolation race and charged to a seventh-place finish in the main event.
The night’s racing was delayed more than two hours by rain.
Notes: Aukland’s No. 12A is sponsored by Northwest Auto Body Racing and M&J Auto Parts. ... Aukland’s previous series victory came May 23, 2009, at Viking Speedway in Alexandria, Minn. ... Sixteen of 26 starters were running at the finish. ... Thirty-four drivers from five different states and two Canadian provinces entered the event.
Tony Stewart Night: (1) Matt Aukland, (2) Zach Naastad, (3) Troy Schill, (4) Jeff Provinzino, (5) Ricky Weiss, (6) Mitch Johnson, (7) Tony Stewart, (8) Mike Balcaen, (9) Shane Edginton, (10) Dusty Peterson, (11) Cole Schill, (12) Steve Anderson, (13) Brad Seng, (14) Lance Schill, (15) Norm Olson, (16) Josh Johnson, (17) Marshall Fegers, (18) Michael Johnson, (19) Jeff Wildung, (20) Mark Abeln, (21) Dave Smith, (22) Justin Fegers, (23) Cody Skytland, (24) Don Shaw, (25) Tom Thompson, (26) Dustin Strand. Fast qualifier (among 34 cars): Mitch Johnson. Heat race winners: C. Schill, B. Strand, Balcaen, Naastad, Provinzino. Consolation winners: Stewart, Shane Edington.
