07.10.15 PS Garage Doors "Driver of the Night"

Dustin Strand named PS Garage Doors "Driver of the Night"

Dustin Strand (#71) passing current WoO point leader, Shane Clanton (#25), for second position. Photo by Mike Spieker.

By Mike Spieker

GRAND FORKS, ND (July 10) - If there's ever been an obvious choice for the PS Garage Doors "Driver of the Night" award, it was last Friday night with hometown driver, Dustin Strand. 

Strand put on a show in not only one, but two different divisions. He began by winning his WISSOTA Modified heat race, which put him eighth on the starting grid for the 20 lap feature. By lap six Strand moved himself into second and took the lead away from Scott Greer on lap 12. From there Strand kept the Q&Z Pluming #71 out front and picked up his second career RCS Modified victory. 

Strand wasn't done yet. After winning his World of Outlaw Late Model heat in dramatic fashion, Strand lined up third for the 50 lap, $10,000-to-win A-main. The 2013 NLRA Late Model champion hung in the top three for the first handful of laps, but brought the crowd to its feet on lap 15 when he took the lead from Chub Frank. 

The hard charging Tim McCreadie got by Strand on lap 18, but Strand held his ground in the top five until a slide job by Josh Richards cut down Strand's left rear tire. Strand was credited with a 20th place finish, but the enormous crowd was proud of their Grand Forks driver.