STRAND NETS THREE TOPS TENS DURING NLRA TRIPLE HEADER WEEKEND

EAST GRAND FORKS, Minn. (August 22, 2023) - Dustin Strand, driver of the No. 71 Walhalla Building Center / Shocker Hitch Millenium SRT Late Model, competed in three Northern Late Model Racing Association events last week scoring top tens during each night of the third annual Howie Schill Memorial at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, ND and at the fifth annual Golden Hammer Classic at Devils Lake Speedway near Doyon, ND.

Strand's Thursday at Red River Valley Speedway started with his first of three consecutive heat race wins on the weekend. Strand redrew the eighth starting spot for the 25-lap main event and avoided disaster early as fellow heat winners Mike Greseth and Josh Zimple crashed on the front stretch at what would've been the close of the opening lap.

Strand ran the top of the third-mile oval on the resumption of the race, going three-wide with Chad Becker and Brad Seng, ending the opening circuit in fifth.

Strand remained as one of the few drivers to stick with the topside of the track as he battled with Mitch Johnson and Brad Seng for the fourth through sixth spots. Strand abandoned the top a few laps later after falling to seventh.

A caution with eleven laps left saw Strand continue to lap close to the Johnson/Seng battle which now included Cole Schill. The closing laps saw the order remain similar as Strand finished the race in sixth.

Another heat win at the beginning of the second and final night of the Schill Memorial was followed by a poor redraw which saw Strand start tenth. Following a caution for Becker on the initial start, the race went green-to-checkered.

The 30-laps ran in just over nine minutes, and once Strand found his place running the bottom of the track, was able to make up a few spots, finishing seventh.

Strand rounded out the weekend running the fifth annual Walhalla Building Center Golden Hammer Classic at Devils Lake Speedway near Doyon, ND. Strand won his third heat race of the weekend and drew the third starting spot for the $5,000-to-win feature.

Strand remained inside the top five until the third caution of the race on lap ten. Some close quarters action saw Strand get the short end of the stick in turns one and two as he slid up the track, falling back to seventh.

The final caution on lap 17 again failed to help Strand, who had rebounded to run just outside the top five but slipped back to eighth in the final third of the race.

This week, Strand returns to River Cities and Devils Lake for more Late Model action. Strand is four points behind Brody Troftgruben with one race left at Devils Lake, and ten points behind Brad Seng with two races left at River Cities.

Thanks to all of our great sponsors who help get us here!
Walhalla Building Center Inc.
Keewatin Truck Service
Q&Z Plumbing and Heating 
Bemidji Welders Supply, Inc
Bemidji Marine
Novacek Honey Farms
Shocks by Hammer-Brian Diede
Shocker Hitch
Bun Lounge
Miller Motivations, LLC.
Naastad Acres
Sturdy Racing Engines 
Carrs Grain Service
Double Deuce Sports Bar and Grill
Generations Salon 
RHRSwag.com 
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products
Highside Truck Accessories & Sales

2023 Stats (Late Model):
Races: 29
Wins: 4
Top 5’s: 14
Top 10’s: 24

2023 Stats (Modified):
Races: 19
Wins: 2
Top 5’s: 9
Top 10’s: 10