The NLRA is set to kick-off this weekend with two races at the Viking Speedway in Alexandria, MN. Saturday nights' race is now scheduled to be the season opener for the NLRA's 15th season of racing after last weekends rain-out at the Devils Lake Speedway. These races will mark the 28th and 29th times the series has visited the challenging high-banked half mile oval on the Douglas County Fairgrounds. Viking Speedway regular Jeff Wildung of Nassau, MN leads all drivers with 10 previous series victories at the speedway. Another driver familiar to Viking Speedway is Zach Johnson of Kensington, MN, who has six previous series victories there. Defending NLRA champion Brad Seng, driver of the No. 12S S&S Transport Mars MB Custom, and three-time series champion Mike Balcaen, driver of the No. 10 Northstar Canada Victory Circle each have one previous win at the speedway. Racing begins at 6 pm on both nights.
Joey Pederson Wins River Cities Speedway Opener
The poor weather last weekend failed to ruin the season opener at the River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks. Joey Pederson, driver of the No. 7P Dahlstrom Motors Mars MB Custom lead every lap en route to his 23rd career Late Model victory at the speedway. Pederson, who is also the defending track champion at River Cities went mostly un-challenge during the 20 lap contest. The only driver to be within striking distance of Pederson was Dustin Strand, driving his No. 71S Q&Z Plumbing & Heating machine, as he caught up to Pederson around the mid-way point of the event, but was unable to make a pass for the lead. Strand finished second and was followed to the finish line by Mike Balcaen, Bill Mooney, driver of the No. 2 Freehearingtest.ca Rocket, and Troy Schill and his No. 11 Forks Finest Auto Body entry. Mooney was the races' hard charger, making up six positions during the race.
Previous NLRA Feature Winners at Viking Speedway:
2012 - Zach Johnson on Sept. 1; Jeff Wildung on Sept. 2
2011 - Pat Doar on May 28; Joel Cryderman on May 29; Jeff Wildung on Sept. 3; Jeff Wildung on Sept. 4
2010 - Jeff Wildung on May 29; Zach Johnson on May 30; Jeff Wildung on Sept. 4; Zach Johnson on Sept. 5
2009 - Matt Aukland on May 23; Jeff Wildung on May 24
2008 - Justin Fegers on May 24; Zach Johnson on May 25; Zach Johnson on August 30; Jeff Wildung on August 31
2007 - Mitch Johnson on May 26; Mitch Johnson on May 27; Dave Mass on Sept. 1; Zach Johnson on Sept. 2
2006 - Mitch Johnson on May 27; Jeff Wildung on May 28
2005 - Mitch Johnson on May 29; Brad Seng on July 9; Jeff Wildung on August 27
2004 - Mike Balcaen on August 28
2003 - Jeff Wildung on May 31
TOUR SPONSORS
Adams Automotive, Burger King, S & S Transport, Wes' Plumbing, Initials Custom Embroidery (ICE), BOSS Signs & Graphics, Millar Race Engines, Cartunz, Todd's Electric, Gateway Cenex, White Water Truck Wash, ADrenaLize Graphics, Generous Jerry's/Gold-Silver Exchange, Lance Schill Construction, WJ Bradley Mortgage, Gateway Sports, Grand Forks Subaru Kia, Ramada, Sunray Printing, On The Edge Graphics, Kelly's Bar, Marco's Pizza, General Signs, Tom's Backhoe, Fastlane Racing Equipment
CONTINGENCY SPONSORS
Speedway International Fuel, Hi-Per Flex Panel Systems, Schaeffer's Oil & Lubricants, Mars Race Cars, Hoosier Tire North, FYE Motorsports Promotion, Intercomp, CMD Shocks, Shocks by Hammer
The poor weather last weekend failed to ruin the season opener at the River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks. Joey Pederson, driver of the No. 7P Dahlstrom Motors Mars MB Custom lead every lap en route to his 23rd career Late Model victory at the speedway. Pederson, who is also the defending track champion at River Cities went mostly un-challenge during the 20 lap contest. The only driver to be within striking distance of Pederson was Dustin Strand, driving his No. 71S Q&Z Plumbing & Heating machine, as he caught up to Pederson around the mid-way point of the event, but was unable to make a pass for the lead. Strand finished second and was followed to the finish line by Mike Balcaen, Bill Mooney, driver of the No. 2 Freehearingtest.ca Rocket, and Troy Schill and his No. 11 Forks Finest Auto Body entry. Mooney was the races' hard charger, making up six positions during the race.
Previous NLRA Feature Winners at Viking Speedway:
2012 - Zach Johnson on Sept. 1; Jeff Wildung on Sept. 2
2011 - Pat Doar on May 28; Joel Cryderman on May 29; Jeff Wildung on Sept. 3; Jeff Wildung on Sept. 4
2010 - Jeff Wildung on May 29; Zach Johnson on May 30; Jeff Wildung on Sept. 4; Zach Johnson on Sept. 5
2009 - Matt Aukland on May 23; Jeff Wildung on May 24
2008 - Justin Fegers on May 24; Zach Johnson on May 25; Zach Johnson on August 30; Jeff Wildung on August 31
2007 - Mitch Johnson on May 26; Mitch Johnson on May 27; Dave Mass on Sept. 1; Zach Johnson on Sept. 2
2006 - Mitch Johnson on May 27; Jeff Wildung on May 28
2005 - Mitch Johnson on May 29; Brad Seng on July 9; Jeff Wildung on August 27
2004 - Mike Balcaen on August 28
2003 - Jeff Wildung on May 31
TOUR SPONSORS
Adams Automotive, Burger King, S & S Transport, Wes' Plumbing, Initials Custom Embroidery (ICE), BOSS Signs & Graphics, Millar Race Engines, Cartunz, Todd's Electric, Gateway Cenex, White Water Truck Wash, ADrenaLize Graphics, Generous Jerry's/Gold-Silver Exchange, Lance Schill Construction, WJ Bradley Mortgage, Gateway Sports, Grand Forks Subaru Kia, Ramada, Sunray Printing, On The Edge Graphics, Kelly's Bar, Marco's Pizza, General Signs, Tom's Backhoe, Fastlane Racing Equipment
CONTINGENCY SPONSORS
Speedway International Fuel, Hi-Per Flex Panel Systems, Schaeffer's Oil & Lubricants, Mars Race Cars, Hoosier Tire North, FYE Motorsports Promotion, Intercomp, CMD Shocks, Shocks by Hammer
River Cities Speedway Feature Winner Joey Pederson & Crew in Victory Lane last Friday (May 17th)
Photo courtesy of Rick Rea
Photo courtesy of Rick Rea
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