NLRA Event Preview - Minnesota Speedweek

The busiest stretch of the NLRA season continues this week with a demanding run of five races in as many nights. The action starts on Wedesday night, June the 24th and Thursday night, June the 25th at the Norman County Raceway in Ada, MN. On Friday night, June the 26th, the drivers will head south to make the series first appearance at the I-94 Speedway in Fergus Falls, MN. Saturday night, action continues for the second time this season at the Viking Speedway in Alexandria, MN, before the five race swing ends on Sunday night at the Buffalo River Race Park near Glyndon, MN.

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The five day stretch begins at the Norman County Raceway in Ada, MN, as the series races during the 120th Norman County Fair. The races are scheduled to be the 14th and 15th visits by the series to the 3/8ths mile oval. Last season in Ada, Jeff Wildung, driving the No. 50 Veit Companies Rocket, won his first NLRA feature away from the Viking Speedway and was followed to the line by Brad Seng, in the No. 12S S&S Transport MB Custom, Ricky Weiss in the No. 7 Derrick's Sandblasting Bloomquist, Cody Skytland, and Mike Balcaen, in the No. 10 Northstar Canada Black Diamond. Cody Skytland won night two over Donny Schatz, in the No. 15 Fargo Petro Rocket, with Seng in third, Minot native Steven Pfeifer in fourth, and Zach Johnson, driver of the No. 73 Shaw Trucking Pierce. The third and final NLRA event at Ada last August was claimed by rain after the heats were completed. Seng and Skytland each have two wins at Norman County, which leads all active drivers. Racing starts at seven on Wednesday and Thursday night.

Speaking of rain, the NLRA hopes that mother nature will be kinder this season so it can make its' debut at the I-94 Speedway in Fergus Falls, MN, a high-banked, wall-surrounded, three-eights mile oval. With a field of no less than 40 late models in attendance last season a thunderstorm ended the night before it even began, leaving the series to cancel and try again this year. A pair of MasterSbilt chassis by JMR racing sit atop the weekly point standings in Fergus Falls. Cody Skytland in the Langdon Implement No. 75, and Cole Schill in the Rivinius Ranch No. 44 are separated by just five markers. Ricky Weiss leads all drivers with three wins at I-94 this season, with Don Shaw in the Shaw Trucking No. 42S, Kevin Robertson in the No. 10R H. Anderson Concrete Placement MasterSbilt, and last Friday nights' winner Blake Jegtvig with one win apiece. Racing starts at seven on Friday night.

On Saturday night, the series returns to the Viking Speedway in Alexandria for its' second show of the 2015 campaign. Brad Seng won his 27th career NLRA feature on May 23rd, while rain claimed night two on May 24th. Seng took the lead from Cody Skytland with 10 laps to go, and lead the remainder of the main event. Ricky Weiss was third, with Zach Johnson and Mike Balcaen rounding out the top five. The late models have appeared four times in weekly competition at the Viking Speedway, with four different drivers winning the features. Zach Johnson won the opener on May 2nd, with Cody Skytland winning on May 9th. Donny Schatz used a rain out with the World of Outlaws in Michigan to fly home and win on May 30th, while Ricky Weiss won the most recent event at the speedway on June 13th. Skytland is the point leader at Alex by nine markers over Zach Johnson, with Matt Aukland, driver of the Northwest Auto Body No. 12A in third, Ricky Weiss fourth, and Casey Meyer rounding out the top five. Rookie Robert Bladow, driver of the No. 00 Primitive Place K&K Racing GRT rounds out the top ten. Racing starts at six on Saturday night.

Finally on Sunday night, the series is scheduled to race for the third time in series history at the Buffalo River Race Park near Glyndon, MN. Once again rain put an end to the NLRA's bid to race at the tight three-eights mile oval, that will likely produce the closest racing of the weekend, with its fairly long straightaways and tight corners. Two seasons ago, Zach Johnson won over Dustin Strand, driver of the Q&Z Plumbing & Heating No. 71, on his way to his third Wissota national title. Three years ago, Shane Edginton, driver of the No. 5E Avonlea Group Victory Circle, won the first late model feature of his career at the series debut at the track. Passing is never at a premium at Buffalo River, Brad Seng finished 4th in 2012 after starting 15th, while Bill Mooney, driver of the No. 2 OMG Candy MasterSbilt by JMR, restarted the race at the back of the field after an early caution, and was running around the top five before dropping out of the main event. The most impressive display of passing was put on by Wisconsin veteran John Kaanta two years ago when he finished fifth after starting 24th. Racing starts at six on Sunday night.

Previous NLRA Feature Winners at Norman County Raceway:
2014 - Jeff Wildung on June 25; Cody Skytland on June 26
2013 - Zach Johnson on June 19; Brad Seng on July 18; Kent Arment on August 8
2012 - Brad Seng on June 27; Dustin Strand on August 9
2011 - Pat Doar on July 14
2009 - Cody Skytland on June 24
2008 - Troy Olson on June 25
2004 - John Seitz on August 19
2001 - John Seitz on June 30
1998 - Mitch Johnson on July 12

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

Previous NLRA Feature Winners at Buffalo River Race Park:
2013 - Zach Johnson on August 11
2012 - Shane Edginton on August 26

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.

Steffen Snare (71S) and Cody Skytland (75) racing side-by-side earlier this season at the I-94 Speedway in Fergus Falls, MN. Photo courtesy of Mike Spieker.