Red River Valley Speedway
Red-hot Strand gets third NLRA victory
WEST FARGO, N.D. (Aug. 25) — Dustin Strand of Grand Forks, N.D., continued his hot streak on the Northern LateModel Racing Association tour Saturday night at Red River Valley Speedway, earning $1,100 for his third victory in the past four series races.
Strand, who had never won on the tour prior to back-to-back victories earlier in the month, advanced from his third starting spot and topped fifth-starting Brad Seng also of Grand Forks, in Saturday’s main event while Mike Balcaen of Winnipeg, Manitoba, rallied from 10th to finish third.
Reigning series champion and current points leader Ricky Weiss also of Winnipeg, finished fourth from the 11th starting spot with outside polesitter Michael Johnson of Moorhead, Minn., rounding out the top five.
Shane Edginton also of Winnipeg, started from the pole but failed to finish the race. He was 20th in the final rundown.
Notes: Strand’s No. 71D is sponsored by Q&Z Plumbing and Heating, RealTruck.com, Adams Automotive & Machine and Fastlane Racing Equipment. … Strand’s previous series victories came at Norman County Raceway in Ada, Minn, (Aug. 9) and Jamestown (N.D.) Speedway (Aug. 11). … Seng’s runner-up finish was his eighth straight finish among the top three in a series event. … The event rounded out the season for Red River’s 3/8-mile oval. … The NLRA tour has three events remaining on the year. A Sept. 1-2 doubleheader at Viking Speedway in Alexandria, Minn., and Sept. 6’s visit to River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D., will finish up the regional tour’s season.
NLRA @ Red River Valley: (1) Dustin Strand, (2) Brad Seng, (3) Mike Balcaen, (4) Ricky Weiss, (5) Michael Johnson, (6) Troy Schill, (7) Bill Mooney, (8) Matt Aukland, (9) Mitch Johnson, (10) Cody Skytland, (11) Paul Mueller, (12) Jeremy Keller, (13) Lance Schill, (14) Steve Anderson, (15) Dusty Peterson, (16) Cole Schill, (17) Norm Olson, (18) Jake Bitker, (19) Adam Fischer, (20) Shane Edginton, (21) Josh Johnson, (22) Tom Corcoran. Heat race winners: Johnson, Strand, Edginton.