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Diemel Wins The Battle; Super Rookie Wins The War

9/10/2021

AJ Diemel (Left) and Mike Greseth (right) celebrate their victories Thursday night. Speedway Shots photos.

AJ Diemel took the point from race long leader Don Shaw with two laps remaining to win the 'Prelude to the Johnny' at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks Thursday night. The win was Diemel's second career NLRA series triumph, and his first since the 2015 running of the 'Prelude,' which kicks off John Seitz Memorial weekend. Dustin Strand, Brad Seng, and Mike Greseth rounded out the top five. Greseth's fifth place finish gave him enough points to earn the 2021 NLRA series championship. Greseth, in his rookie season in a Late Model, earned the nickname "Super Rookie" after his first career series win at Grand Rapids Speedway in May. From then, Greseth has won six more features, including five in NLRA competition. Greseth won by 24 points over Shane Edginton. Brody Troftgruben was the hard charger, finishing sixth after starting 18th.

Full Results
Final Points

NLRA Event Preview - 'Prelude to the Johnny' at River Cities

9/9/2021

Mike Greseth (17) and Shane Edginton (5E) are separated by just 8 points heading into the 'Prelude.' Speedway Shots photo.

Thursday night, September the 9th, the NLRA will wrap up its 24th season of racing with the 11th running of the "Prelude to the Johnny" at the River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, ND. The event kicks off the 15th annual John Seitz Memorial weekend, which honors four-time series champion John Seitz who passed away in 2007.

John Seitz Memorial Recap

9/14/2020

The fourteenth annual John Seitz Memorial at the River Cities Speedway is in the books, and the big winners were Lance Schill, driver of the No. 17 Schill Construction MB Custom, who collected his first career NLRA series feature win during the 'Prelude to the Johnny.' Dustin Strand, driver of the No. 71 Q&Z Plumbing & Heating Millenium SRT won his fourth NLRA series championship. And Aaron Turnbull, driver of the No. 21 Mack Auctions MB Custom, who won the 'Go Hard or Go Home' pole dash, and his second consecutive John Seitz Memorial championship.

Lance Schill Scores First NLRA Victory; Dustin Strand Wins Fourth Title

Lance Schill with his family and crew in victory lane after winning the 'Prelude to the Johnny.'
Speedway Shots photo.

On Thursday night at River Cities, Steffen Snare lined the No. 71S Todd's Electric Bloomquist on the pole, with Lance Schill to his outside. After a caution on the initial start, Schill took the lead, as Joey Pederson moved to second in the No. 7P Dahlstrom Motors Victory.

NLRA Event Preview - 10th Annual Prelude To The Johnny

9/7/2020

The field storms out of turn four at River Cities. Speedway Shots photo.

This Thursday night, September the 10th, the 23rd season of NLRA action comes to a close with the tenth running of the 'Prelude to the Johnny.' The event kicks off the three-day, fourteenth annual John Seitz Memorial, which honors our three-time series champion, the late great John Seitz. Thursday's race serves as the series opportunity to crown its' series champion at their home track, the high-banked, quarter-mile River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, racing at the speedway for the 45th time overall in series history.

Seitz Memorial Recap

9/17/2019

Aaron Turnbull and Shane Edginton battle for the lead at the John Seitz Memorial. Mike Spieker photo.

It was another exciting John Seitz Memorial at the River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, with Jake Redetzke winning the 'Prelude to the Johnny' on Thursday night, while Brad Seng captured his fourth NLRA championship, and the pole for the 92-lap finale on Saturday night by winning Friday's 'Go Hard Or Go Home' Pole Dash. But is was Estevan, Saskatchewan's Aaron Turnbull that came away as the weekend's big winner, by scoring his first John Seitz Memorial victory.

NLRA Event Preview - Prelude To The Johnny

9/4/2019

Brad Seng (12S), Dustin Strand (71), and Shane Edginton (4), battle for the lead at River Cities last Friday night.
The trio will head into Thursday night separated by 66 points. Mike Spieker photo.

This Thursday night, September the 5th, the 22nd season of NLRA action comes to a close with the ninth running of the 'Prelude to the Johnny,' kicking off the three-day, thirteenth annual John Seitz Memorial, which honors our three-time series champion, the late great John Seitz, whom we lost in 2007. Thursday's race allows the Grand Forks based series to crown its' series champion on home turf, the high-banked, quarter-mile River Cities Speedway.

Balcaen Ties Seitz With Jamestown Triumph

7/21/2019

Mike Balcaen with crew member Paul Manske in victory lane Saturday night in Jamestown. Speedway Shots photo.

Mike Balcaen won his first NLRA series feature of the season Saturday night at the Jamestown Speedway in Jamestown, ND. The win is his third at the high-banked, quarter-mile, Stutzman County speedplant, and also his 26th with the series, tying the late great John Seitz for second on the all-time wins list.

Weiss Dominates Seitz Weekend; Strand Captures Third Series Title

9/12/2018

Ricky Weiss won all three features contested at River Cities on the John Seitz Memorial weekend.
Dustin Strand won the pole dash, and clinched his third series title with a fourth place run on Saturday afternoon.
Mike Spieker photos.

It was a big weekend for two-time series champion Ricky Weiss, driver of the No. 7 Keewatin Truck Service Bloomquist, as he won all three main events contested during the 12th annual John Seitz Memorial weekend at the River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks.

NLRA Event Preview - 8th Annual 'Prelude To The Johnny'

9/5/2018

Mike Spieker photo.

This Thursday night, September the 6th, the 21st season of NLRA action comes to a close with the annual running of the 'Prelude to the Johnny' at the River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, which will kick off the twelfth annual John Seitz Memorial weekend. This Thursday's event will be the 37th time the Speedway has hosted the series since 1999.

John Seitz Remembered 10 Years On - February 4

2/4/2017

Ten years ago today, we lost a friend, a competitor, a champion, a son, a husband, a father, and a great man. John Seitz passed away at just 36 years of age, leaving a void that is still left unfilled today.

During John's time with us, he was a three-time NLRA series champion, and 2001 series tour champion. Seitz won 26 features with the series, which topped the list from August 2006, until Brad Seng broke the mark in May 2015.

He has since been inducted onto the River Cities Speedway Hall-of-Fame, and had the track's fall Late Model special renamed in his honor.

The following is an article that was first published in the Grand Forks Herald in February 2007, written by fellow River Cities Hall-of-Famer Wayne Nelson.