Shane Edginton in victory lane at Devils Lake last Saturday night. Mike Spieker photo.
Shane Edginton, driver of the No. 4 Performance Auto Victory, picked up the season opening victory Saturday night at the Devils Lake Speedway near Crary, ND. The win is Edginton's fourth career series triumph, and third overall to start the 2019 season, as he has won both of the first two main events contested in weekly competition at the Red River Co-Op Speedway in Winnipeg. Edginton's victory was worth $2,000 dollars, with Walhalla Builders presenting the Golden Hammer Classic.
| Estevan, Saskatchewan native Aaron Turnbull had the pole at the start, as he lined the No. 21 Mack Auction MB Custom next to three-time and defending NLRA series champion Dustin Strand, and his No. 71 Q&Z Plumbing and Heating Millenium SRT for the first green of the 2019 season. Strand used the cushion to his advantage through the first set of turns, as he took the lead down the backstretch. At the same time, Brad Seng in the No. 12S S&S Transport MB Custom, and Brody Troftgruben in the No. 14 Gateway Auto Tech Rocket, battled for the final spot on the podium. Five laps in, Seng had taken control of third, as Strand and Turnbull pulled away. It was then when fifth place starter Shane Edginton pulled to the inside of Troftgruben for fourth, taking the spot shortly thereafter. Seng and Edginton then closed the gap on Turnbull for second with ten circuits of the scheduled thirty completed. After a caution with twenty laps remaining, Strand continued to lead as Turnbull, Seng, Edginton, and the previous nights winner at River Cities, Cole Schill, driver of the No. 44 Mid Ag Dispatch MB Custom, began a dogfight for the remaining positions inside the top five. |  Mike Balcaen (10), Shane Edginton (4), and Bob Moody battle at Devils Lake last Saturday. Mike Spieker photo. Related |
Seng improved to the runner-up spot, as Schill took third. Just past the halfway point, Schill passed Seng to become the third driver to hold the second spot as the field continue to circulate around the high-banked, third-mile Devils Lake oval.
With ten laps left, Strand caught up to the back of the field, and began to work lapped traffic. It was then when Schill spun in turn four while making an attempt at the lead while the lead duo was working around a lapped car.
The lapped car was charged with the caution, and the field re-stacked for a final double file restart with seven laps remaining.
Edginton had the best restart, moving past Schill for second, then began stalking Strand for the lead.
With ten laps left, Strand caught up to the back of the field, and began to work lapped traffic. It was then when Schill spun in turn four while making an attempt at the lead while the lead duo was working around a lapped car.
The lapped car was charged with the caution, and the field re-stacked for a final double file restart with seven laps remaining.
Edginton had the best restart, moving past Schill for second, then began stalking Strand for the lead.
The new lead pair both ran the bottom in turns three and four, but Strand was running the cushion in turns one and two, and that's where Edginton used the bottom to take the point with five laps left.
Edginton continued on for the victory, with Strand second, Schill third, Seng fourth, and Turnbull fifth. Edginton said in victory lane about the pass for the win, "Dustin was leading there, and sometimes it's harder to lead than to be in second. I was kinda able to pick my line, and take my time. I saw [turns] one and two were coming in, and, like I said, when you're leading, it's hard to know where to go sometimes. But, fortunate enough for us, we got the win, and, a great race with Dustin, he races awesome, it was a heck of a race."
Brody Troftgruben was sixth, with Bill Mooney seventh in the No. 2 Lithia Toyota of Grand Forks MasterSbilt by JMR, and Kevin Robertson eighth in the MLGC No. 10R. Rookie Ryan Kereluk moved the No. 29K Edison Electric Services Victory up from the 19th spot at the start to finish ninth, collecting hard charger honors. Troy Schill rounded out the top ten in the No. 11 Todd's Electric Black Diamond.
Troftgruben, Strand, and Turnbull were the heat winners. 22 cars we in attendance. NLRA action continues this Friday night at the River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, as the series will share the spotlight with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car series for the first of three times in 2019.
The NLRA would like to thank Tour Sponsors: Adams Automotive & Machine, S&S Transport, Gateway Cenex, Millar Engines, Wes' Plumbing & Heating, White Water Truck Wash, On The Edge Graphics, Anderson Brother's Body Shop, Smitty's Transmission, Fastenal, El Roco Nightclub & Bottleshop, Hart Attack Racing, Residual Materials, Generous Gerry's, Gold & Silver Exchange, Gateway Sportz, Grand Forks Subaru/Kia, BOSS Signs & Graphics, Forum Printing, Fastlane Racing Equipment, Q&Z Plumbing, A&L Siding, Bank Forward, Hugo's Wine & Spirits, Day Dreams, Play It Again Sports, Red Wing Shoes, Speedway Shots, Country Financial, Katie Marcotte Century 21, and Contingency Sponsors: CMD Shocks, Hoosier Tire North, Mars Race Cars, Performance Auto, Speedway International Fuel, Schaeffer's Oil & Lubricants, for their support.
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