Hamel Scored Happy Harry's Midwest Modified Win

Mike Spieker photo.

By Mike Spieker

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (July 7, 2017) – A B-main narrowed the 29-car Happy Harry’s Midwest Modified feature to the fastest 24 for their 18-lap main event. Defending track champion, Austin Hunter, led the field on the opening lap as Rick Hamel and Todd Johnson filed into second and third, respectively.

On a lap three restart, several cars got stacked up on the front stretch, which resulted in Eric Haugland tipping over on his roof to bring out the red. Haugland was uninjured from the incident.

Hunter continued to pace the field until Hamel found a way by with five laps remaining, but a caution with three laps to go gave Hunter one last shot. On the Evergreen Insurance restart, Matt Schow harassed Hunter for the runner-up spot, which allowed Hamel to pull away.

Schow took the position on the final lap as Hamel went on to score the victory. Hunter, Todd Johnson, and Nate Reynolds rounded out the top five.