By Spieker Promotions EAST GRAND FORKS, Minn. (September 9, 2020) - Arguably the biggest WISSOTA Late Model event of the year is set to kick off this weekend for the 14th time. The John Seitz Memorial begins this Thursday night, featuring the NLRA season championship, and continues through Saturday night with $9,200 going to the winner of the 92-lap feature. Dustin Strand may be the odds on favorite to it this year. Strand just claimed the 2020 River Cities Speedway Late Model track championship last Friday night, while also collecting his division-leading fifth win of the season at the Bullring.
Strand has also been the man to beat with the NLRA as well. The East Grand Forks driver is tied for the most wins with the series, with one of those three wins coming right at River Cities Speedway. "We always kind of hope we can get it done every year, but the car has been rolling really good,” Strand said of what he thinks his chances are to claim his first career Seitz Memorial title. “The car has been bad fast. Hopefully we can carry some momentum into that deal.” Strand holds a 60 point lead atop the NLRA point standings entering Thursday night’s season finale. In order to claim his fourth series title in the last seven years, Strand will have to finish 10th or better in the main event. Last weekend, Strand raced to victory lane in both his Late Model and Millenium SRT No. 71 Modified. It began on Friday night where Strand started on the pole and picked up the Late Model win at River Cities. It was a hard-fought victory, however, as Strand had to battle with Brad Seng. Seng led early, but Strand grabbed the point on lap nine with a textbook slidejob in turn three. Seng remained within striking distance all race long and had a shot at taking the lead on a late-race restart. “We had a pretty fun track. It was fun racing with Brad (Seng),” said Strand after the race on Friday. “It got kind of hairy in lapped traffic, but everything worked out great. On that last restart, I knew the bottom was fast, but if you missed it you kind of got hung out in the middle. I just tried to stay down in the traction and tried to keep it going. I knew (Seng) would probably be rolling through the middle. He goes like a son of a gun where nobody else can.” Strand went on to pick up the win by just under a half second. On Saturday, Strand made the trek to Viking Speedway in Alexandria, Minn. to compete in the Fallen Linemen Race at the big half-mile oval. After leading the race early from the second starting spot, Strand was passed by Dan Ebert. Ebert checked out, but Strand was able to make a late-race rally amid lapped traffic. Ebert got held up by traffic on the final lap, which allowed Strand to go to the top side. Strand rode the rim around Ebert to take the lead and go on to win the $3,000 payday. “At the midpoint of the race, I didn’t see the rubber come in and Danny (Ebert) found it and drove by us. I kind of thought he had it done, but we got into lapped cars at the end. It just played into my favor. Sometimes you’re in a better seat just watching what’s going on. We just snuck in there,” said Strand after the race recalling the final laps. Up Next: September 10-12: John Seitz Memorial - River Cities Speedway - Late Model & Modified Latest Results: September 5: River Cities Speedway - Late Model Heat: 1st (started 1st) Feature: 1st (started 1st) September 6: Viking Speedway - Modified Heat: 2nd (started 2nd) Feature: 1st (started 2nd) Dustin and the entire Strand Racing team would like to thank all of their sponsors for their continued support! Walhalla Building Center, Carr's Grain Service, Keewatin Truck Service, Bemidji Welders Supply, Generations Salon, Q&Z Plumbing, Millenium Chassis, Naastad Acres, Double Deuce Bar & Grill, Shocks by Hammer, Sam's Auto Body, Forest Flying Service, Bemidji Marine, Shocker Hitch, Gorsuch Performance Solutions, and Hagel Construction. 2020 Stats: Late Model: Races: 20 Wins: 8 Top Fives: 17 Top Tens: 18 Modified: Races: 15 Wins: 6 Top Fives: 13 Top Tens: 15
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