Dustin Strand Dominates Performance Auto Late Model Feature

By Mike Spieker

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (May 26, 2017) – Defending WISSOTA Late Model national champion and River Cities Speedway track champion, Dustin Strand, started on the pole of the Performance Auto Late Model feature and led all 20 laps en route to his first win at the Bullring in 2017.

 “It helps to start on the front, especially with the field of cars we’ve got here,” said Strand in RydellCars.com Victory Lane. “It’s tough. We’ve had four different winners in four weeks and different track conditions every week.”
 
Strand jumped out to the early lead over Troy Schill and Zach Naastad, until a caution on lap three reset the field. On the ensuing Evergreen Insurance restart, Ryan Corbett moved into the second position behind Strand.
 
A pair of four car pileups in the first 10 laps shuffled up the running order behind the top five. When the race resumed, Thursday night winner at Red River Co-op Speedway, Mike Balcaen, moved into the third position behind Strand and Bill Mooney, respectively.
 
The final caution flew again on lap 12 as Brandon Fuller lost a left rear wheel assembly and spun out of control down the front stretch. Under the yellow, Mooney was forced to go pit-side with a flat tire, relinquishing the second spot to Balcaen.
 
Balcaen gave Strand everything he had on the restart, but the No. 71 was too strong and drove away to the win.

RESULTS:
A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 71-Dustin Strand[2]; 2. 10-Mike Balcaen[5]; 3. Z17-Zach Naastad[3]; 4. 4C-Ryan Corbett[4]; 5. 12S-Brad Seng[8]; 6. 4-Shane Edginton[9]; 7. 1R-Travis Robertson[10]; 8. 14-Brody Troftgruben[14]; 9. 345-Bryce Reimer[15]; 10. (DNF) 7P-Joey Pederson[7]; 11. (DNF) 11-Troy Schill[1]; 12. (DNF) 2-Bill Mooney[6]; 13. (DNF) F9-Brandon Fuller[13]; 14. (DNF) 1M-Nicholas Minske[16]; 15. (DNF) 9-Steve Anderson[12]; 16. (DNF) T1-Tom Corcoran[11]
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 7P-Joey Pederson[1]; 2. 4C-Ryan Corbett[3]; 3. 10-Mike Balcaen[5]; 4. 11-Troy Schill[7]; 5. 4-Shane Edginton[8]; 6. T1-Tom Corcoran[6]; 7. F9-Brandon Fuller[4]; 8. 345-Bryce Reimer[2]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 2-Bill Mooney[4]; 2. 12S-Brad Seng[1]; 3. 71-Dustin Strand[6]; 4. Z17-Zach Naastad[2]; 5. 1R-Travis Robertson[5]; 6. 9-Steve Anderson[7]; 7. 14-Brody Troftgruben[3]; 8. 1M-Nicholas Minske[8]