Pierce Claims 1st RCS Win of 2015

7/11/2015

NOSA Sprint Car Recap, presented by RydellCars.com

Austin Pierce crosses the ND Eye Clinic Finish Line for his 1st RCS win of 2015. Photo by Mike Spieker.

By Mike Spieker

GRAND FORKS, ND (July 10) - They say the first win of the season is the hardest to get, but once you get the first, the next ones come easier. Although he's ran up front all season long, Austin Pierce is certainly proving that true. It took the defending series champion until early July to pick up his first win of the season (last Saturday at Greenbush Race Park), but Pierce backed it up Friday night at River Cities Speedway by claiming his second consecutive checkered flag.

A full field of 24 Northern Outlaw Sprints made up the starting grid for the 25 lap A-main. Cory Mack and Ty Hanten brought the field to the green from the front row, with Mack taking the early advantage. Within four laps, Mack caught the tail of the field and found himself in heavy lapped traffic. That's when Cory's older brother, Casey, reeled him in and made a bid for the lead. On lap seven, Casey found an opening and drove by Cory's #8M to take over the race lead.

The race came to a halt one lap later as a five car pile up on the front stretch resulted in Nick Omdahl's #0 tipping over on its side. Chris Unrau, Rick Bates, and Ty Hanten were all involved. Eighth place running, Wade Nygaard, was charged for the red flag.

When the race resumed, Casey Mack jumped out to a commanding lead while Cory Mack and Chris Ranten battled for the second position. Meanwhile, Austin Pierce was charging through the field from his eighth place starting spot.

Pierce picked off both Cory and Ranten by lap 15 and set his sights on the Paradis' Inc. #8. With nine laps remaining, Casey bobbled on what was becoming a fairly choppy cushion, which allowed Pierce to rapidly close in on him.

Two laps later, Pierce drove his Opp Construction #2a to the top side of turns one and two and drove past Casey to take over the point. Once out front, nobody could touch Pierce as he went on to claim his first River Cities Speedway win of the season and second consecutive NOSA victory.

"It just took some hard driving," said Pierce of what it took to get the victory. "My crew gave me an awesome car tonight. It was unfortunate for Casey Mack. He had led most of the race and got caught up behind a lapped car, which really held him up and allowed me to get by him. I knew if I could just stay in his line after that, things would probably work out."

Cory Mack came home in the runner-up spot as Ranten, Casey Mack, and Wade Nygaard rounded out the top five.