17 hours ago 2

Dustin Strand wins a late model thriller at River Cities Speedway

GRAND FORKS — When the starting grid for the 20-lap late model feature was set, everyone knew the race likely wouldn't be decided until the final corner.

And that's the way it exactly played out Friday night at River Cities Speedway, where Dustin Strand outdueled Tyler Peterson in the final few laps to win the track's late model Midseason Championship — one of the more entertaining races at The Bullring in recent seasons.

Strand started on the pole and Peterson was right beside him when the green flag dropped. They were 1-2 for most of the feature but the race took a dramatic turn in the closing two laps.

Peterson slipped past Strand with two laps to go before Strand regained the lead on the white flag lap. Then both had to navigate lapped traffic on the final lap, with Strand managing to win by 0.118 seconds.

"That was pretty crazy; that was a lot of fun," said Strand. "We were neck-and-neck on the white flag lap and when we entered three and four we were side by side. I thought I was in trouble because I was stuck on the bottom behind the 33 car but luckily he slipped up and I saw a hole so I just plugged it."

For Strand, it was his fifth win in six features this season at RCS. He finished second in the other feature, behind Peterson.

The two have put on competitive races each time they have take the green flag at RCS.

"We both are hard racers going for the win," he said. "It's been an awesome year so far."

Overall, Strand has won seven features in 12 nights.

Shane Edginton finished third, followed by Brad Seng and Tucker Pederson.

Peterson posted the fastest lap time at 12.964 seconds, that coming on Lap 10. It was the only sub 13-second lap posted.

In the 25-lap sprint feature, Jade Hastings recorded a milestone win.

He now has 33 career NOSA wins, moving him into fifth place all time. He passed Casey Mack, who had 32 wins.

Hastings, who picked up his fifth win of the season, started second and trailed Jack Croaker by 1.432 seconds with 15 laps to go.

But the caution flag then came out and Hastings managed to overtake Croaker on the restart. And he was never threatened the rest of the way — winning by 3,431 seconds.

"The track was pretty fast at the start of the race and Croaker was setting a good pace," said Hastings. "He just left the line open for me on that restart and I was able to capitalize on it and drive way."

At the start of the season, Hastings said he wanted to win six features this season. He's one short of that goal at the midway point of the year.

"We might have to up that goal," said Hastings. "Hopefully, we'll get more and I don't see why not. We're very fast right now."

Andy Pake, who started 16th, finished third, followed by Colton Young and Nick Omdahl. There were 21 cars that showed up for the night.

The IMCA 305 sprints also were added to the program. Monty Ferriera of Lincoln, Neb., made the nine-and-a-half hour trip to RCS and he left with the win in the 20-lap feature.

Ferriera also raced with the IMCA sprints Thursday night in Lisbon, N.D., and will close out the weekend racing at Huset's Speedway in Brandon, S.D., on Sunday.

Tye Wilke of Detroit Lakes finished second. Ferriera also had the fastest lap time at 11.997 seconds — the only sub 12-second lap of the race.

Cole Greseth won the streets feature with Greg Jose finishing second, 1.158 seconds off the pace.

And Matt Schow won his fourth Midwest modified feature of the season. Schow started second and edged Austin Hunter, who started on the pole.

Friday's results
Streets
Feature — 1. Cole Greseth, 2. Greg Jose, 3. Seth Klostreich, 4. Weston Ramsrud, 5. John Halvorson
Midwest modifieds
Feature — 1. Matt Schow, 2. Austin Hunter, 3. Frank Veert, 4. Ryan Schow, 5. MaKenna Romuld
IMCA sprints
Feature — 1. Monty Ferriera, 2. Tye Wilke 3. Marcus Rothenbacher, 4. Ty Hanten, 5. Dylan Waxdahl
Sprints
Feature — 1. Jade Hastings, 2. Jack Croaker, 3. Andy Pake, 4. Colton Young, 5. Nick Omdahl
Late models
Feature — 1. Dustin Strand, 2. Tyler Peterson, 3. Shane Edginton, 4. Brad Seng, 5. Tucker Pederson