Mike Spieker photo.
So, to Shane, Mike, Jesse, Ryan, Bill, Dave and Matt, your families and crews, fellow Canadian drivers that may have also made the trip, and to our Canadian fans... we miss you, and hope for a re-opening, sooner rather than later, to complete our season with you.
After losing four series events due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the NLRA finally gets to start it's 23rd season this Saturday night, June the 27th, at the Devils Lake Speedway, near Crary, ND, for the second running of the Golden Hammer Classic presented by Walhalla Building Centers, which will award the winner $2,000.
This will now be the latest start in series history, as the series first season in 1998 didn't get started until June 25th, due to a rain out on June 17th, at the Victory Lane (now Red River Co-op) Speedway in Winnipeg, an event won by Howie Schill.
Last season at the first running of the Golden Hammer, it was Shane Edginton, who parked the No. 4 Performance Auto Victory in victory lane. Edginton made the bottom of the third-mile Ramsey County oval work to his advantage, passing Dustin Strand, and his No. 71 Q&Z Plumbing & Heating Millenium, leading the final five circuits to pick up his fourth NLRA triumph.
Strand was second, and was followed by a trio of MB Customs, as Cole Schill finished third in the Mid Ag Dispatch No. 44, Brad Seng fourth in the S&S Transport No. 12S, and Aaron Turnbull fifth in the Mack Auctions No. 21.
Devils Lake has already hosted one Late Model event this season, and it was Strand who picked up the victory. Strand was followed by Kevin Robertson, who charged from the eighteenth and final spot on the original grid, to finish second in the H. Anderson Concrete No. 10R. Shawn and Casey Meyer finished third and fourth respectively, with Troy Schill rounding out the top five in the No. 11 Todd's Electric MB Custom.
Seng, Strand, and Mike Balcaen, driver of the No. 10 Enns Brothers Black Diamond, lead all active series drivers with four previous triumphs at Devils Lake. Shane Edginton, Bill Mooney, driver of the No. 2 Lithia Toyota of Grand Forks MasterSbilt by JMR, and Ryan Corbett, driver of the No. C4 Jess Rice Crary Realty MasterSbilt, are the only other active series regulars to chalk up a win in Devils Lake.
The speedway, which sits just one hour west of Grand Forks on Highway 2, has already hosted six events in 2020. With great racing, and a bar and grill off of turn four, trips to Devils Lake are always a must on any race fan's schedule.
Racing begins at seven on Saturday night. Due to distancing measures, all drivers must pre-register before the arive at the track for Saturday's event. Please follow the following link to pre-register...
myracepass.com/tracks/3488/registrations/3006
For more information, visit our Tracks page, or log on to dlspeedwaytest.weebly.com
2019 - Shane Edginton on June 1
2018 - Mike Balcaen on May 19
2017 - Ricky Weiss on July 22; Brad Seng on August 19
2016 - Dustin Strand on July 23; Dustin Strand on August 20
2015 - Brad Seng on July 18; Dustin Strand on August 29
2014 - Brad Seng on July 26
2013 - Bill Mooney on August 17
2012 - Ricky Weiss on June 23
2011 - Ricky Weiss on August 19
2006 - Cody Skytland on June 10; Roger Gendron on August 19
2003 - Brad Seng on June 28; Brian Strand on July 19
2002 - Ryan Corbett on June 8; Mike Balcaen on July 27; Mike Balcaen on August 31
2001 - John Seitz on June 23; Mike Balcaen on July 21; John Seitz on Sept. 1; Brian Strand on Sept. 2
The NLRA would like to thank Tour Sponsors: Wes’ Plumbing, S & S Transport, Performance Auto, Adams Automotive and Machine, White Water Truck Wash, DayDreams Specialties, Grand Forks Subaru/Kia, Boss Signs, Storbakken & Sons Construction, Millar Engines, Gateway Cenex, Fastlane Racing Equipment, Q & Z Plumbing, Fargo Forum, On The Edge Graphics, Hugo’s Family Marketplace, EGF American Legion Post 157, EZ Open Garage Door, Schill Construction, and Greg’s Lawn Care, and Contingency Sponsors: CMD Shocks, Hoosier Tire North, Mars Race Cars, Performance Auto, Speedway International Fuel, Schaeffer's Oil & Lubricants, for their continued support.