Race Results for Friday July 18th, 2008

LePier & Pederson Sweep River Cities Speedway
7/18/08 Race Report
Prepared by Orness Creations

On a night sponsored by Gateway Cenex and Interstate Power, the Premier Racing Series was back under way with all four classes racing after the Midwest Modifieds and Street Stocks had the night off during the WoO Show. Just over eighty race teams checked in the back gate with the Transystems Street Stocks up first with their heat races.

Aaron Olson and Jim Geringer both won their respective heat races which would put them both at a total of four heat race wins this year at RCS. Bryce Reimer and Greg Neumann chased Olson across the line in the first heat race, as Jeremy Grochowski and Steffen Snare followed Geringer across the line in the final heat race.

There were a total of four WISSOTA Midwest Modified heat races sponsored by Dempsey Truck Service. Bryan LePier picked up his third heat race win of the year by besting Naastad and Sonstelie in the first heat race. Bryan Dyrdahl won the second heat race followed by Olson and Jensen. Ryan Schroeder held off Dustin Strand to win his first heat race of the year at RCS while Strand finished ahead of Matt Schow. The final heat race saw Rod Peterson grab the checkered flag first with Sobolik and Sparby second and third.

Seventeen WISSOTA Late Models hit the track next with Joey Pederson picking up his first heat race win of the year, with Howie Schill and Mike Balcaen chasing him across the line. Troy Schill beat Tom Corcoran across the line in the second heat race with Doyle Erickson third.

There were three NOSA Outlaw Sprint Car heat races with Greg Nikitenko picking up his first heat race win at RCS in 2008 during the first heat race action with McDonald and Dobmeier in line behind him. Bob Martin won his third heat race of 2008 with Graham and Egeland crossing the checkered flag after him. Linnell bested Chris Shirek and Thomas Kennedy when the checkered flag waved for the last heat race for the Honda Nissan sponsored class.

The MDRA Street Stock feature event started out with a string of cautions with Geringer and Schill getting the worse of it, forcing them to retire. Reimer led the first couple of laps, but then Aaron Olson passed him for the lead through the next caution, but then it was Snare that passed Olson for the lead and went on to capture his third consecutive win. Olson held on to second with Reimer third, and Joe Potter advancing from being put tailend earlier in the race to finish a strong fourth. Tyson Anderson finished fifth.

The Dempsey Truck Service Midwest Modified feature event was next with rookie, Zach Naastad and Bryan LePier on the front row. This feature also had trouble getting started with a string of cautions to begin with. Strand got the worse of one yellow flag with much front end damage forcing him to retire. Once the field was able to stay green it was LePier that was out front with Ryan Schoeder constantly getting a run for the pass throughout the middle portion of the eighteen laps. Schroeder was able to get past LePier for the lead, but would be voided as the caution flag waved shortly after. LePier continued on to capture his first win at RCS in 2008, and fourth overall this year. Dyrdahl finished a strong second with Sobolik and Naastad following them across the line. Ryan Schroeder capped off the night with a top five finish.

The C&M Ford Sales Inc. Late Model feature started seventeen cars with Brandon Burke and Doyle Erickson on the front row. The yellow flag waved early as Burke got into the front wall and slowed. The field was lined up again and given the green with Troy Schill taking command of the race with Erickson, Anderson and Pederson slightly behind him. The second caution of the night was for James SanGrait who came off turn four three-wide and got turned sideways. SanGrait met the front wall head-on and rolled his machine with the wheels in the air. SanGrait was ok, but his car was not. Schill continued to lead the field and led every lap until there was about five laps to go when Joey Pederson made his move on the high side of the track to get past Schill. Pederson then led every lap to the victory. Troy Schill held on to the second spot with Mike Balcaen and Tom Corcoran finishing off the night with strong runs, and Seng finishing fifth after starting twelfth.

The NOSA Outlaw Sprint had the fewest cautions with TJ Kennedy and Jordan Graham on the front row to start. Graham grabbed the lead first, but it was the young Kennedy that passed for the lead and continued to lead every lap through the second caution and into lap traffic. Dobmeier continued his charge forward till he met Kennedy in lap traffic and used that to his advantage with about 8 laps to go. The two continued to battle for the lead but it was Dobmeier that found an opening coming off turn four and took advantage to grab the lead. He continued on to claim his third consecutive win at RCS. Lou Kennedy Jr, pulled a wheelie down the front stretch while making contact with his son who was in second till the last couple feet when Lou was able to claim the second spot. TJ was scored third with Jason Linnell fourth. Scott McDonald added another top five finish with Bob Martin making a strong run forward to finish sixth after restarting tailend after a caution.

River Cities Speedway will close out the month of July with its Premier Racing Series this coming Friday, as well as it being the Hall Of Fame night in which John Seitz will be inducted into the HoF. August will kickoff a month of racing five Fridays throughout the month, ending with the season championship. The first race of September will be the 2^nd Annual John Seitz Memorial Late Model Invitational. For more information please visit rivercitiesspeedway.com