I was back at Devils Lake Speedway on Saturday for the Golden Hammer Late Model Challenge. It was the opener for the NLRA Late Models.
Grand Forks veteran Brad Seng took home the big check for the NLRA Late Models while Joe Armstrong continued his hot streak in the Pure Stocks. Kelsi Pederson of East Grand Forks continues to dominate the Lightning Sprints at Devils Lake while Cole Haugland and Dustin Ebensteiner picked up their first wins of the year at Devils Lake.
Twelve late models were on hand for the $2,000-to-win, $300 to start show. Let’s put some context on that number, however. The closed border/travel ban between Canada and the United States has hurt car counts at River Cities Speedway and Devils Lake. There were 6-8 late models from Canada that could/would have been at Devils Lake on Saturday, but can’t travel to the states because of the non-essential travel ban (which is idiotic, but that’s another blog.). Plus, some cars had some trouble on Friday at River Cities — including damaging crashes for Shawn Meyer and Casey Meyer who both planned to be at Devils Lake — that limited the car count.
A few late models went out to the doubleheader at McLean County Speedway in Underwood, N.D. Some took Saturday night off which is totally their right. So it was a combination of factors in terms of car counts and to be honest, 12 isn’t bad under all of those circumstances.
The late model feature saw Brad Seng of Grand Forks (interviewed above) and Dustin Strand of East Grand Forks battle for the lead for the first several laps. Seng was able to open up an advantage, running the lower line, when a caution came out for a spin with seven to go.
Then came a crazy restart. Seng’s Raceiver got disconnected, and he couldn’t hear when the race was restarting; as a result he had a slow restart, and Joey Pederson of East Grand Forks took advantage and surged into the lead. Seng, however, was saved by a caution later in the lap. Since a full lap wasn’t completed, the lineup went to the previous restart. It was a huge break for Seng.
Seng pretty much controlled the race the final seven laps with Strand taking second. Joey Pederson was third. Brody Troftgruben of Grand Forks made a nice comeback; he went to the back for an early caution and battled his way back to fourth. Troftgruben, by the way, is running Dustin Strand’s modified motor; he blew his late model motor at the Test and Tune in May. He is awaiting the return of his late model engine. Veteran Troy Schill of Thompson was fifth.
Kelsi Pederson, interviewed above, has figured out Devils Lake Speedway in her #93 Lightning Sprint. She now has three wins at the 1/4-mile oval after another impressive performance on Saturday. Pederson had a good battle with Bryce Haugeberg of Fargo — who won his first career feature a few weeks ago at River Cities Speedway — for the lead. Pederson capitalized on some lapped traffic to make the pass and never was seriously threatened the rest of the race. Pederson now has four wins in 2020.
Haugeberg ran a solid second with Alan Truscinski of Greenbush, Dexter Dvergsten of Greenbush and Alex Truscinski of Greenbush rounding out the top five.
They may need to put a bounty on Joe Armstrong in the Pure Stocks at Devils Lake. He now has three feature wins in a row and four overall at the track. The race was a great battle between Dan Arends of Devils Lake, Seth Klostreich of Grand Forks (filling in for MiKara Johanson in her #16 car) and Armstrong.
Armstrong took over the lead, but Klostreich hung right with him to the checkered. The points in the Pure Stock class go to the car, so it was a good night for Johanson’s point standings, by the way. Dan Bromstad of Luverne ran a solid third with Arends settling for fourth. Tony Bundy of Balta, N.D., finished fifth after starting 11th.
A few weeks ago, Dustin Ebensteiner of Devils Lake lost a close Wissota Street Stock feature at the finish line to Daniel Aberle of Finley. This time, he weathered almost constant pressure from Kasey Ussatis of Nome to pick up his first Devils Lake win of 2020. Ussatis had a battle on his hands for second as Tucker Pederson of East Grand Forks and Trey Hess of Manvel were right in the thick of it. Ussatis held on for second with Pederson, Hess and Greg Jose of Grand Forks rounding out the top five. It was the second straight top five finish for Hess.
Aberle, by the way, took the green in the feature and pulled in, he had some front suspension issues. Alan Lane of Williams, Minn., wins the long tow award in the street stocks. It’s about a four-hour trip from Williams to Devils Lake.
Cole Haugland of Brocket had the outside pole in the Wissota Midwest Modified feature and took the early lead and picked up his first win of 2020. Preston Carr made a nice run through the field, taking second after starting eighth, while Randy Thompson of Lakota ran a solid third. Matt Schow of McIntosh, who has a win already at DLS this season, finished fourth after starting ninth. Kyle Lovcik of Rugby was fifth.
The street stocks saw a solid 14-car field take the green while 18 midwest modifieds were on hand. Nate Reynolds of Hoople had trouble in his heat, breaking and was not able to start the feature.
Carter, Wilke Win at Jamestown
Todd Carter of Lisbon picked up his fifth win of 2020 with a victory in the Wissota Street Stocks at Jamestown Speedway. Kyle Anderson of Jamestown, who has three wins this week already, was third while Jonny Carter of Lisbon was fourth.
Tye Wilke of Detroit Lakes keeps rolling along — he is up to 10 INEX Legend wins on the season. He started eighth and won once again at Jamestown. Ryan Braseth of Ulen was third, Brody Carlsrud of Moorhead was fourth.
John Nord of Enderlin finished second in the IMCA Modified feature with Jarrett Carter of Lisbon taking third. Casey Arneson of Fargo won the feature from the pole.
Billy Carow on the Bomber feature over fellow Jamestown driver Jarod Klein. Dylan Steele of Jamestown was fourth.
Brennon Weight of LaMoure topped Nate Reinke of Lisbon for the Wissota Midwest Modified feature win. Lucas Rodin of Marion was fourth and Jaren Wibstad of Jamestown was fifth.
Schill, Lee Pick Up Wins
—Cole Schill of Horace picked up the Wissota Late Model win Saturday night at McLean County Speedway in Underwood, N.D. Jeff Hapala of West Fargo was fourth.
—Cody Lee of Alexandria won the Wissota Midwest Modified feature on Friday at Big Sky Speedway in Billings, Mont.
—Ryan Gierke of Villard was fourth int he Wissota Midwest Modified feature at Ogilvie Raceway on Saturday. Ryan Satter of Dent was third in the Wissota Street Stock feature.
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