It took two attempts to get the race underway, but Pederson picked up where he left off last year, leading the opening lap over Peterson and series point leader Cole Schill in the No. 44* Mid Ag Dispatch MB Custom.
Pederson and Peterson went door-to-door for a few laps with five complete before Peterson took the lead on lap nine. Following caution number two on lap 14, three-time series champion Mike Greseth and Jason Strand moved into second and third respectively.
Strand was the runner-up initially as he ran the cushion in the No. E85 North Dakota Corn Council Rocket XR1. Another caution two laps later saw Montevideo, MN native Matt Gilbertson move into second as Brad Seng moved in on Strand for third in the No. 12S S&S Transport MB Custom.
Just past the midway point, Peterson was ahead by a straightaway but his lead was erased four laps later by caution number four with 14 to go and caution number five one lap later.
Once the race resumed, Strand and Greseth again ran second and third as Peterson rebuilt his advantage in front of the field.
In the closing laps Strand and Greseth reeled in Peterson and began a three-car battle for $5,000. On the final lap it was Greseth, who was running the bottom of the speedway in the No. 17 Quality Engines Rocket XR1, who made the last gasp effort to take the win. He pulled even in turns three and four but ran out of laps as Peterson went on to victory. Jason Strand, Matt Gibertson, and Brad Seng completed the top five.
“I was running high over here through the middle and down there and then all of a sudden my stick signals went from, “you're doing good buddy to smash here's Michael out of nowhere,” Peterson said post race about the close finish. “The middle got super dirty over here and I probably lost two seconds on one lap but hats off to Devils Lake the track was awesome. I almost got myself beat on the bottom and I was running the top so two lanes there for sure.”
Peterson, Brad Seng, Tucker Pederson, and Cole Schill were the heat winners with Brandon Corbett winning the B Main. Shane Edginton was the Speedwerx hard charger, improving 17 spots to finish sixth.
NLRA action continues Friday and Saturday July 19th and 20th at Brown County Speedway in Aberdeen, SD as the series takes part in the annual running of ‘The Rumble.’
The NLRA would like to thank tour sponsors, Performance Auto, Wes’ Plumbing, S & S Transport, Adams Automotive and Machine, White Water Truck Wash, Grand Forks Subaru/Kia, Signs by deSigns, Storbakken & Sons Construction, Millar Engines, Gateway Cenex, SRT Specialties, Q & Z Plumbing, Fargo Forum, Hugo’s Family Marketplace, EGF American Legion Post 157, Greg’s Lawn Care, Checkered Flag Services, Smeby Construction, Advanced Drain Systems, Signature Graphics & Apparel, and contingency sponsors, Performance Auto, Schaeffer’s Oil & Lubricants, Hoosier Tire North, and FYE Motorsports Promotion, for their continued support.