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Cole Schill and Don Shaw in victory lane at the Viking Speedway last weekend. Collin Nelson photos.
Cole Schill, driver of the No. 44 Mid Ag Dispatch MB Custom, and Don Shaw, driver of the No. 42S Northern Metal Recycling Victory, scored their first NLRA series wins of the season last weekend during the traditional Labor Day Double at the Viking Speedway in Alexandria, MN.
| Schill's followed up his second I-94 Speedway track title in as many seasons with arguably his biggest win to date with the series, and his first in two years. The win on Saturday night was also Schill's third career NLRA triumph, tying him on the all-time wins list with seven other drivers, including his father, and former series regular, Howie Schill. Shaw's win on Sunday night was his tenth series victory, winning the Sunday portion of the Double for the third year in a row. Shaw swept the weekend in 2016, while also winning for the fourth year in-a-row with the series at the 'High Flyin Half Mile.' Schill and Shaw lead the field to the green on Saturday's feature, with Shaw taking the point down the backstretch on the opening round. The top five settled into place with Jeff Wildung third in the No. 50 Veit Companies MB Custom, Mike Balcaen fourth in the No. 10 Enns Brothers Black Diamond, and Edmonton, Alberta native, Matt Smith, fifth in the No. 86 Polar Industries Capital. |  Cole Schill lapping with Ol' Glory at Viking last weekend. Collin Nelson photo. Related |
Balcaen reeled in Wildung on the fifth lap, pulling even while running the bottom on the backstretch. The pair remained side-by-side as Schill came within a car length of Shaw for the lead.
Schill got a good bite off the bottom on the seventh lap to take command down the backstretch. Schill started to work lapped traffic shortly thereafter, holding off Shaw while cycling around the slower cars on the bottom of the track.
For only the second time this season, the race came to a halt on lap nine for a scary wreck. Brad Seng launched over the banking in turn one, making heavy contact with a retaining wall with the driver's side of his No. 12S S&S Transport MB Custom.
After a few anxious moments, Seng emerged from his heavily damaged mount. He was o.k., despite being a little sore.
The field came back to the green in single file formation, with Schill continuing to lead. The top four, which now included Balcaen and Matt Smith, broke away from the rest of the field, while Canby, MN native Corey Nelson moved into the top five.
After a caution with eleven to go, Schill had a healthy lead, until the leaders caught the back of the field once again. As the field got the two-to-go signal, Shaw had closed in Schill's spoiler. The field crossed under the white flag, with Shaw's nose just inches from Schill back bumper.
One final caution came shortly thereafter, setting up a green-white-checkered restart. Schill was unchallenged in the final mile of the race, securing the victory. Shaw was second, with Balcaen third, Matt Smith fourth, and Corey Nelson fifth.
Troy Schill, driver of the No. 11 Todd's Electric MasterSbilt by JMR, was the hard charger, improving seven spots to finish 14th. Schill, Wildung, and Shaw were the heat winners. 27 cars showed up for night one in Alexandria.
Schill got a good bite off the bottom on the seventh lap to take command down the backstretch. Schill started to work lapped traffic shortly thereafter, holding off Shaw while cycling around the slower cars on the bottom of the track.
For only the second time this season, the race came to a halt on lap nine for a scary wreck. Brad Seng launched over the banking in turn one, making heavy contact with a retaining wall with the driver's side of his No. 12S S&S Transport MB Custom.
After a few anxious moments, Seng emerged from his heavily damaged mount. He was o.k., despite being a little sore.
The field came back to the green in single file formation, with Schill continuing to lead. The top four, which now included Balcaen and Matt Smith, broke away from the rest of the field, while Canby, MN native Corey Nelson moved into the top five.
After a caution with eleven to go, Schill had a healthy lead, until the leaders caught the back of the field once again. As the field got the two-to-go signal, Shaw had closed in Schill's spoiler. The field crossed under the white flag, with Shaw's nose just inches from Schill back bumper.
One final caution came shortly thereafter, setting up a green-white-checkered restart. Schill was unchallenged in the final mile of the race, securing the victory. Shaw was second, with Balcaen third, Matt Smith fourth, and Corey Nelson fifth.
Troy Schill, driver of the No. 11 Todd's Electric MasterSbilt by JMR, was the hard charger, improving seven spots to finish 14th. Schill, Wildung, and Shaw were the heat winners. 27 cars showed up for night one in Alexandria.
 Ricky Weiss looks on from the infield at Viking on Sunday night after mechanical woes ended his night. Collin Nelson photo. | On Sunday night, Menomonie, Wisconsin native Mike Prochnow and Jeff Wildung lead the field to the green flag at the start. Shaw, who started third, was able to take the point on each of the two attempts to get a lap in the books. Mike Balcaen moved into third on the second lap, as Prochnow remained on Shaw's spoiler. The top three split from the rest of the pack in the ensuing circuits. Balcaen continued his charge from the sixth starting spot, moving past Prochnow for the runner-up spot by the conclusion of the fourth round. A few laps later, Wildung moved past Prochnow for the third spot as the field continued to set a torrid pace around the Douglas County oval. |
Shaw caught up to the rear of the field just before the halfway point, and started working lapped traffic, as North South 100 winner Ricky Weiss, driver of the No. 7 Hawkeye Construction Bloomquist, headed to the infield with mechanical woes. Weiss was the only DNF of the race.
Shaw made his way through the traffic with relative ease, as he cycled around the bottom of the Speedway with ten laps remaining.
Shaw and Balcaen eventually put two lapped car between themselves and third running Jeff Wildung with five laps showing on the scoreboard.
Shaw held on in the remaining circuits to pick up the victory over Balcaen and Wildung. Prochnow and Dave Smith, driver of the No. 06 Polar Industries Capital, rounded out the top five.
Shane Edginton, driver of the No. 4 Performance Auto Victory, was the hard charger for the second time in eight days. Edginton improved six spots to finish sixth. Prochnow, Wildung, and Shaw were the heat winners. 22 cars returned for night two at Viking.
Dustin Strand, driver of the No. 71 Q&Z Plumbing & Heating Millenium SRT, will head into the final race of the season with a slim eight point edge over Mike Balcaen. Shane Edginton is third, with Brad Seng fourth, and Troy Schill rounding out the top five.
Brody Troftgruben is sixth in the No. 14 Gateway Auto Tech Rocket, with Ryan Corbett seventh in the No. C4 Corbett Trucking MasterSbilt, and Jesse Teunis, driver of the No. 70 Grand Prix Amusements MasterSbilt in eighth. Bill Mooney, driver of the No. 2 OMG Candy MasterSbilt, and Cole Schill round out the top ten.
NLRA series action comes to a close this Thursday night with the 8th running of the 'Prelude to the Johnny' at the River Cities Speedway, which kicks off the three-day, 12th annual John Seitz Memorial.
Shaw made his way through the traffic with relative ease, as he cycled around the bottom of the Speedway with ten laps remaining.
Shaw and Balcaen eventually put two lapped car between themselves and third running Jeff Wildung with five laps showing on the scoreboard.
Shaw held on in the remaining circuits to pick up the victory over Balcaen and Wildung. Prochnow and Dave Smith, driver of the No. 06 Polar Industries Capital, rounded out the top five.
Shane Edginton, driver of the No. 4 Performance Auto Victory, was the hard charger for the second time in eight days. Edginton improved six spots to finish sixth. Prochnow, Wildung, and Shaw were the heat winners. 22 cars returned for night two at Viking.
Dustin Strand, driver of the No. 71 Q&Z Plumbing & Heating Millenium SRT, will head into the final race of the season with a slim eight point edge over Mike Balcaen. Shane Edginton is third, with Brad Seng fourth, and Troy Schill rounding out the top five.
Brody Troftgruben is sixth in the No. 14 Gateway Auto Tech Rocket, with Ryan Corbett seventh in the No. C4 Corbett Trucking MasterSbilt, and Jesse Teunis, driver of the No. 70 Grand Prix Amusements MasterSbilt in eighth. Bill Mooney, driver of the No. 2 OMG Candy MasterSbilt, and Cole Schill round out the top ten.
NLRA series action comes to a close this Thursday night with the 8th running of the 'Prelude to the Johnny' at the River Cities Speedway, which kicks off the three-day, 12th annual John Seitz Memorial.
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, Cartunz, Generous Jerry's/Gold Silver Exchange, A&L Siding, Millar Engines, Todd's Electric, Gateway Cenex, Fastlane Racing Equipment, Q&Z Plumbing, On The Edge, Fargo Forum, Hugo's, Eagles, 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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