For the sixth consecutive season, and eighth overall, the NLRA is scheduled to run its' annual Labor Day double header this Saturday night, September the 5th, and Sunday night, September the 6th, at the Viking Speedway in Alexandria, MN. The races are scheduled to be the second and third appearances by the series during this, the 50th year of racing at the big half-mile oval on the Douglas County Fairgrounds. A pair of rain-outs claimed two previous series events on Sunday May 24th, and during the heat races on Saturday June 27th. The races are scheduled to be the 36th and 37th appearances by the series at the Viking Speedway, the most of any track on the NLRA calendar.
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Brad Seng, driver of the No. 12S S&S Transport MB Custom, won the only previous NLRA feature completed at the Viking Speedway this season on May 23rd. Seng took the lead from Cody Skytland, driver of the No. 75 Langdon Implement MastersBuilt by JMR, with 10 laps to go, and lead the remainder of the event. Ricky Weiss in the No. 7 Derrick's Sandblasting Bloomquist was third, with Zach Johnson in the No. 73 Shaw Trucking Pierce finishing fourth, and Mike Balcaen, piloting the No. 10 Northstar Canada Black Diamond to a fifth place finish.
The names Jeff Wildung and Zach Johnson have become synonymous with Viking on Labor Day weekend, as they have won all but two of the 13 races of the labor day series, with Wildung having won six, and Zach Johnson with five. Other than Ricky Weiss's win on night one of the double last September, you have to look all the way back to 2007 to find another winner not named Wildung of Johnson, when Dave Maas was the winner on September 1st of that year. In weekly action at the Viking Speedway this season, Cody Skytland, Ricky Weiss, and Jeff Wildung all have two victories, while Greg Meyer, Donny Schatz, and Brad Seng each have one win apiece. Cody Skytland is the point leader, and will likely become the track champion at Viking, as he holds a comfortable 63 point advantage over Zach Johnson. |
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Jeff Wildung, driving his No. 50 Veit Companies Rocket, is always in contention at Viking. Photo courtesy of Mike Spieker.
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Zach Johnson (73) is always a threat to win at Viking. Photo courtesy of Mike Spieker.
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Saturday Nights' program is scheduled to include the make-up feature from the regular night of racing that was rained out after the heats were completed on August 8th. NLRA regulars Brad Seng, Mike Balcaen and Norm Olson, driver of the No. 29 Disabled American Veterans MasterSbilt, were in attendance that night, after the NLRA show at the Hibbing Speedway was cancelled. All three drivers will be eligible to start that race. Seng and Balcaen finished second in their respective heats, while Olson collected a fourth place finish in his heat race. Jeff Wildung, Cody Skytland, and Don Shaw were the heat winners. 19 cars were in attendance on August 8th. Race action begins at six each night.
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Heading into Alex, Mike Balcaen leads the NLRA point standings with a slim 14 point edge over Dustin Strand, driver of the No. 71 Q&Z Plumbing & Heating Moyer Longhorn. Brad Seng is 42 points behind Balcaen in the third spot, while Ricky Weiss and Steffen Snare, driver of the No. 71S Todd's Electric Bloomquist, round out the top five. Steve Anderson, has the No. 9 Hi-Per-Flex Panel Systems Pierce is in the sixth spot, with Bill Mooney, driver of the No. 2 OMG Candy MasterSbilt by JMR in seventh, and Jeff Hapala, driver of the No. 16S Auto Solutions Rocket in eighth. Cole Schill driver of the No. 44S Rivinius Ranch MasterSbilt by JMR and Norm Olson round out the top ten with three races remaining.
Previous NLRA Feature Winners at Viking Speedway:
2015 - Brad Seng on May 23
2014 - Ricky Weiss on May 24; Brad Seng on May 25; Ricky Weiss on August 30; Jeff Wildung on August 31
2013 - Pat Doar on May 25; Zach Johnson on May 26; Zach Johnson on September 1
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
The NLRA would like to thank Tour Sponsors: Adams Automotive, S & S Transport, Wes' Plumbing, Initials Custom Embroidery (ICE), BOSS Signs & Graphics, Millar Race Engines, Todd's Electric, Gateway Cenex, White Water Truck Wash, ADrenaLize Graphics, Generous Jerry's/Gold-Silver Exchange, Gateway Sports, Grand Forks Subaru Kia, Forum Printing, On The Edge Graphics, Fastlane Racing Equipment, Victory Diesel, Forks Mobile Wash, Q&Z Plumbing, A&L Siding, The Ho Bar And Grill, AG Spray, and Cartunz, and Contingency Sponsors: Speedway International Fuel, Hi-Per Flex, Schaeffer's Oil & Lubricants, Mars Race Cars, Hoosier Tire North, FYE Motorsports Promotion, and CMD Shocks, for their support.
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Mike Balcaen (10) and Brad Seng (12S) in action at the Viking Speedway during last Octobers' Fall Classic. Photos courtesy of Mike Spieker.
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