Dustin Strand in victory lane at Norman County. Speedway Shots photo.
Dustin Strand won his second NLRA feature in three weeks at the Norman County Raceway in Ada, MN. The win is his second of the season with the NLRA, and the twenty-third of his career, which is one win behind Ricky Weiss for fourth on the series all-time wins list.
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Strand and Jeff Hapala, driver of the No. 16S City Parcel Devilvery MasterSbilt, made up the front row for the initial start. Strand took the lead on the initial green, but that start was scrapped after a multi-car pileup in turn four.
Once the track was cleared, the field realigned for a complete restart. Another caution on the restart for debris set up a third attempt to get the race underway. Strand took the lead after some minor contact with Hapala on the restart, with Strand taking the point. Dave Mass moved past Hapala for the runner-up spot on the following lap, as Strand built an advantage of over a full second by the fifth circuit. The third caution of the event came with six laps complete, erasing Strand's lead. Teammates Mass and Don Shaw lined up in the first Delaware double-file row on the restart. Shaw took the second spot in the restart, and began chasing down Strand in a replay from the first six laps of the feature at Norman County three weeks prior. Sitting second in the standings heading into the evening, Brody Troftgruben moved the No. 14 Gateway Auto Tech Rocket past Hapala to move into the top five on the restart. |
Dustin Strand at speed at Norman County.
Speedway Shots photo. Related |
Just before the halfway point, another debris caution erased another Strand lead of six tenths of a second. Strand got a great restart on the Shaw duo, as he built a seven tenths of a second lead at the halfway point.
With ten laps remaining, Shaw chipped away at Strand's advantage, as Shaw ran laps in the 16.7 second bracket, as compared to Strand's 17 second circuits.
With five laps remaining, Strand's lead remained steady at six tenths of a second over Shaw.
Strand continued on for the victory, his second in three weeks at the three-eighths mile oval over Shaw, Mass, Casey Meyer, and Troftgruben.
With ten laps remaining, Shaw chipped away at Strand's advantage, as Shaw ran laps in the 16.7 second bracket, as compared to Strand's 17 second circuits.
With five laps remaining, Strand's lead remained steady at six tenths of a second over Shaw.
Strand continued on for the victory, his second in three weeks at the three-eighths mile oval over Shaw, Mass, Casey Meyer, and Troftgruben.
"I never would have expected this in a million years at Ada," Strand commented on the heavy and fast racing surface in victory lane. "Normally we kinda like a hammer down race track. We're actually running a concept motor, it's a new rule package Wissota offered, and it's a little less horsepower and torque, but it's a really awesome package when the track is slick. I didn't know if we were gonna be able to hang on tonight, but the ol' girl was hitting on all eight."
Shaw, Hapala, and Mass were the heat winners. 23 cars made the trip to Norman County.
Strand will take a 38 point lead into Friday night's race at the River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks. The series will race alongside the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, with action slated to begin around seven.
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.
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