NLRA Event Preview - Fifth Annual Can-Am Late Model Challenge

Jesse Teunis (70) and Victoria Stutsky (24) battle door-to-door at the Red River Co-op Speedway earlier this season.
​Speedway Shots photo.

This Thursday night, August the 16th, the NLRA will make it's lone trip to the great white north, as the Red River Co-Op Speedway will host the series for the 28th time. The fourth-tenths mile semi-banked oval was the sight of the inaugural NLRA event twenty years ago, and will be the site of the fifth annual Can-Am Late Model Challenge.

Five racers from America and Canada face off in a points battle as the night progresses, culminating in the crowning of a team champion at the conclusion of the main event.

In the previous four Challenges, Team Canada won the first three, with team America finally breaking though, and picking up the win last season.

Donny Schatz, driver of the No. 15 Fargo Petro Rocket, won the event last season.

Cole Schill brought the No. 44 Mid Ag Dispatch MasterSbilt by JMR home second, with eventual series champion Ricky Weiss, driver of the No. 7 Derrick's Sandblasting Bloomquist, rounding out the podium.

Shane Edginton, driver of the No. 4 General Signs Victory, and Brad Seng, driver of the No. 12S S&S Transport MB Custom, completed the top five last August.

In weekly competition at the Red River Co-op Speedway this season, Ricky Weiss leads the way, winning six of the ten features contested in Winnipeg.

​Mike Balcaen, driver of the No, 10 Enns Brothers Black Diamond, has one win, as does Shane Edginton, and Kevin Sexton, driver of the DAB's Repair No. 57.

Mike Balcaen is the current point leader at the
Red River Co-op Speedway.
​Speedway Shots photo.

Related

• Schatz Picks Up Hometown Win In NLRA Return To Nodak
  

• ​Strand Wins Third Of The Year At Jamestown
  

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• ​Balcaen Scores Second Win Of The Season At Greenbush

​Current series point leader, and two-time champion, Dustin Strand, driver of the No. 71 Q&Z Plumbing and Heating Millenium SRT, will head into Thursday night as the most  recent winner at Red River Co-op, after picking up the victory in last Thursday's main event.

In the season long points chase at the Speedway, Mike Balcaen will take a 103 point lead over Shane Holden, driver of the No. 11 Union Insurance Rocket into Thursday night's event. Sexton is third, with Rick Fawcett, driver of the No. 71 Fawcett Auto Body MasterSbilt, and Mike Martin, driver of the No. 55 Reimer Overhead Door Pierce, rounding out the top five.

Mike Balcaen leads all active drivers with six previous series victories in Winnipeg. Kevin Sexton has four, while Brad Seng, Ricky Weiss, and Joey Pederson, driver of the No. 7P B&E Meats Victory, have three wins each.
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Troy Schill, driver of the No. 11 Todd's Electric MasterSbilt, has two wins, and Dustin Strand collected his first checkered flag at the track during the 2016 Can-Am Challenge.

Dustin Strand will take a 98 point lead over Mike Balcaen into Thursday night, with Mike Balcaen third, Shane Edginton fourth, and Troy Schill rounding out the top five.

Newly crowned Devils Lake Speedway champ Brody Troftgruben, driver of the No. 14 Gateway Auto Tech Rocket, is sixth, with Rookie Jesse Teunis seventh in the No. 70 Grand Prix Amusements MasterSbilt.

Bill Mooney, driver of the No. 2 OMG Candy MasterSbilt, is eighth, with Ryan Corbett ninth in the No. C4 Corbett Trucking MasterSbilt. Joey Pederson rounds out the top ten.

Racing begins at seven on Thursday night. To find out more about the event, visit our Tracks page, or visit redrivercoopspeedway.ca.
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​Previous NLRA Feature Winners at the Red River Co-op Speedway:
2017 - Donny Schatz on August 17
2016 - Dustin Strand on August 25
2015 - Ricky Weiss on July 2; Mike Balcaen on August 20
2014 - Brad Seng on July 17; Ricky Weiss on August 28
2013 - Joey Pederson on June 27
2012 - Brad Seng on June 28
2009 - Ricky Weiss on June 11; Troy Schill on August 6
2008 - Brad Seng on May 22; Mike Balcaen on August 7
2007 - Kevin Sexton on May 17; Scott Greer on June 21; Kevin Sexton on August 16; Joel Cryderman on Sept. 8
2006 - Mike Balcaen on June 15; John Seitz on August 17; Kevin Sexton on Sept. 9
2005 - John Seitz on June 16; Mike Balcaen on Sept. 10
2004 - Troy Schill on May 1; Kevin Sexton on Sept. 11
2003 - Mike Balcaen on May 3; Joey Pederson on Sept. 6
2001 - Joey Pederson on April 28
1998 - Howie Schill on June 17; Mike Balcaen on July 15

​The NLRA would like to thank Tour Sponsors: Wes' Plumbing, S&S Transport, Performance Auto, Adams Automotive & Machine, White Water Truck Wash, Day Dreams, Grand Forks Subaru/Kia, BOSS Signs & Graphics, Storbakken & Sons Construction, A&L Siding, Millar Engines, Gateway Cenex, Fastlane Racing Equipment, Q&Z Plumbing, Fargo Forum, On The Edge Graphics, Hugo's, EGF American Legion Post 157, and Contingency Sponsors: Speedway International Fuel, Hi-Per Flex, Schaeffer's Oil & Lubricants, Hoosier Tire North, and FYE Motorsports Promotion, for their support.
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