Seitz Memorial Recap

Thursday - 
Ricky Weiss won his third NLRA series feature of the 2014 season, and his 13th series win overall, which ties him with Mitch Johnson for fourth on the all time list. Weiss passed race long leader Brad Seng in lapped traffic on the 26th lap, and lead the remaining four laps to take the 30 lapper. Brad Seng lost his chance at a series record 27th win, but he did clinch his second title in three years. AJ Diemel, Don Shaw, and John Kaanta rounded out the top five. Jeff Provinzino finished sixth, with Adam Hensel seventh, Jeff Wildung eighth, Bill Mooney ninth, and Pat Doar rounded out the top ten.

Thursday Night winner Ricky Weiss

'Go Hard or Go Home' pole dash winner Don Shaw

Friday - 
Ricky Weiss, Mike Balcaen, Pat Doar, Don Shaw, and Brad Seng were the winners of the 15 lap qualifying heat races. In a popular selection, Shaw redrew the pole for the 20 lap 'Go Hard or Go Home' pole dash, which he won for the second straight year. Jeff Provinzino, Doar, Jake Redetzke, and Steve Laursen completed the top five. Defending Seitz Memorial winner Brad Seng was sixth, with AJ Diemel, Marshall Fegers, Adam Hensel, and Ricky Weiss rounding out the top ten. The way they finished determined how they started Saturday Nights' 92 lap feature.

Saturday - 
It looked like a regular night at Viking Speedway early with Eric Breeschoten and Jeff Wildung in front of the first B Main with Joey Pederson finishing third. Zach Naastad won the second 20 lap B Main event over Curt Gelling and Zach Johnson. Johnson was in danger of missing his first Seitz feature since its' inception. His B Main performance kept his streak alive along with Brad Seng, Don Shaw, and Pat Doar, all of whom have qualified for all eight Seitz Memorial finals. Shane Edginton won the inaugural 15 lap last chance race over Matt Aukland, and Bill Mooney earned the final spot in the main event, having been the highest finisher from last years' race not yet qualified. 

Seitz Memorial Champion AJ Diemel (58) races Zach Johnson(73)

Early in the feature was unusually marred with cautions, including a red flag at lap 26 for a wreck that saw Steve Anderson and Zach Naastad roll, collecting Adam Hensel, Shane Edginton, Zach Johnson, Bill Mooney, and Norm Olson. Shaw lead the first twelve laps, but AJ Diemel took the lead on lap 13, and lead until the fuel stop on lap 32. On the restart, Diemel continued to lead, but Shaw stayed close as the pair closed in on lapped traffic. Shaw briefly took the lead after a bold move in turn one on lap 77, but Diemel took the lead right back as they headed into three and four. Shaw and Diemel made contact at the start/finish line, and Shaw hit the wall, damaging his car badly enough to end his night. Diemel looked to be in the clear for the remaining 15 laps, but on the restart, Joey Pederson, whom earlier in the night had to qualify out of his B Main, shot from sixth to second in one lap, and set his sights on Shaw. For the final ten laps Pederson pushed to make his way to Diemel's back bumper, when coming for the white flag Pederson caught a good bite coming out of turn four, and he took one last shot at the win. Coming out of four for the checkered, Diemel took the high line, causing Pederson to have to under cut him to have any shot at beating him to the line, leaving Diemel with a scant .116 second victory. Ricky Weiss, Jake Redetzke, and Jeff Provinzino rounded out the top five. Pat Doar was sixth, with Brad Seng, John Kaanta, Steve Laursen, and AdamHensel, who rebounded from having Steve Anderson's car nearly land on top of him, rounding out the top ten.

Brad Seng won his second NLRA title in three years by 128 points over Mike Balcaen. Ricky Weiss finished third, with Steve Anderson, and Cole Schill rounding out the top five. Shane Edginton took the sixth spot, with last years' series champion Dustin Strand ifinishing seventh. Norm Olson had his best season, with an eighth place finish, while Steffen Snare, and Pat Doar rounded out the top ten. The NLRA season ending banquet is set for Saturday November the 22nd, at the HO in Grand Forks, with the membership meeting at 2 pm, with the dinner and awards ceremony to follow.

Eighth annual John Seitz Memorial Champion AJ Diemel. All photos courtesy of Rick Rea.