Weiss holds off Strand for Performance Auto Late Model win

Dustin Strand and Brad Seng led a strong field of 16 Performance Auto WISSOTA Late Models to the green flag. The action intensified immediately as Strand, Seng and Bill Mooney raced three wide for the point. Mooney dove to the inside of both drivers in turn one to move from third to first on lap two.

Strand battled back on the high side, however, and they raced door to door for the top spot for the next three circuits. Mooney eventually prevailed, running a smooth, patient line on the low side. With Strand and Seng still within striking distance, Mooney quickly had his hands full with defending NLRA champion, Ricky Weiss.

Weiss made quick work of Strand and Seng and challenged Mooney for the lead on lap five. Mooney didn’t give up the spot easy, but Weiss eventually drove around the outside of him to take the lead on lap seven.

One caution slowed the field, but as the race resumed Weiss regained his advantage up front. The four-time WISSOTA Late Model national champion ran the remainder of the 20-lap event relatively unchallenged as he took the win. Strand, Mooney, Mike Balcaen, and Ryan Corbett rounded out the top five.

WISSOTA Late Models:A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 7W-Ricky Weiss, 07:20.728[5]; 2. 71-Dustin Strand, 09:13.130[1]; 3. 2-Bill Mooney, 09:15.487[3]; 4. 10-Mike Balcaen, 09:17.984[6]; 5. 4C-Ryan Corbett, 09:18.967[7]; 6. 44-Cole Schill, 09:20.733[12]; 7. 12S-Brad Seng, 09:22.396[2]; 8. 11-Troy Schill, 09:25.464[16]; 9. F9-Brandon Fuller, 09:26.220[13]; 10. 1R-Travis Robertson, 09:13.212[10]; 11. 14-Brody Troftgruben, 09:14.632[8]; 12. 1M-Nicholas Minske, 09:17.698[14]; 13. 48-Larry Niemi, 09:25.971[11]; 14. (DNF) 4E-Shane Edginton, 09:03.672[4]; 15. (DNF) 16S-Jeff Hapala, 07:20.728[9]; (DNS) 7P-Joey Pederson, 09:12.175
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 7W-Ricky Weiss, [6]; 2. 4E-Shane Edginton, [3]; 3. 71-Dustin Strand, [5]; 4. 14-Brody Troftgruben, [2]; 5. 16S-Jeff Hapala, [4]; 6. 48-Larry Niemi, [8]; 7. (DNF) 7P-Joey Pederson, [7]; 8. (DNF) 11-Troy Schill, [1]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 10-Mike Balcaen, [2]; 2. 4C-Ryan Corbett, [1]; 3. 12S-Brad Seng, [6]; 4. 2-Bill Mooney, [5]; 5. 1R-Travis Robertson, [4]; 6. 44-Cole Schill, [7]; 7. F9-Brandon Fuller, [3]; 8. 1M-Nicholas Minske, [8]