Strand Wins Fourth Feature of the Year; Regains NLRA Point Lead

East Grand Forks, Minn. (June 18, 2024) - Dustin Strand kept his NLRA hot streak alive last Friday night at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, ND as he won his third series feature, and fourth overall, of the 2024 campaign. Strand's 32nd career NLRA triumph also put him back on top of the series standings in his search for a fifth series championship.

Strand kept his heat win streak alive at the start of the night at Red River Valley Speedway as he won his heat from the third starting spot. Strand went on to draw the third starting spot for the 25-lap main event.

Strand made it past second starting Greg Friestad in the first pair of turns and completed the opening lap in the second spot. Strand then pulled even with Lee Grosz on the third lap to enter in a side-by-side battle for the lead.

Strand and Grosz remained door-to-door until a lap six caution. Strand got a bite of the bottom of the second turn to take the lead on the restart. Strand led the field back to green following a lap seven pileup in turn four and led a couple more laps before the third caution of the race a few laps later.

Strand began to open up an advantage over Don Shaw near the midway point during the longest green flag segment of the race. As Strand was about to have to work lapped traffic with eight laps to go, the final caution of the race allowed Strand to run the final circuits in clean air.

Strand went on to win his third NLRA series feature of the season and 32nd of his career.

“I tell you this car just kinda drives like a dream,” Strand said in victory lane post-race. “We got this Longhorn at the end of last year and it's one bad Hot Rod. I really couldn't do it without my boys and the pits. Nate and Matt keep me rockin’ and I just get the pleasure to hold the steering wheel.”

Strand made the trip to Devils Lake Speedway near Doyon, ND on Saturday night as the final tune-up for Saturday’s 6th Annual, 40-lap, $5,000-to-win Walhalla Building Centers Golden Hammer Classic.

Strand’s heat win streak came to an end, but he still finished in the top three which set up a row four start in the 25-lap main event.

Strand passed three cars on the opening circuit to make his way into the top five where he remained for the duration of the event.

Strand passed Cole Babcock on the second lap for fourth and then set his sights on Jason Strand and Rusty Kollman for a podium finish.

With ten laps left Strand caught Kollman and moved into his eventual finishing position of third as the race went caution free and lasted just over six minutes.

Strand heads to I-94 emr Speedway in Fergus Falls, MN on Friday night as the new NLRA point leader and will follow the series back to Devils Lake Saturday night for the aforementioned Golden Hammer Classic which is also an NLRA series race. Strand heads into the weekend leading by 14 points over Cole Schill.

Thanks to all of our great sponsors who help get us here!
Walhalla Building Center Inc. 
Keewatin Truck Service  
Q&Z Plumbing and Heating 
Kick'n Up Kountry Music Festival
Mattracks
​Freije Farms
Bemidji Welders Supply, Inc  
Bun Lounge  
Shocker Hitch  
Shocks by Hammer-Brian Diede  
Sturdy Engines 
Naastad Acres 
Highside Truck accessories and sales. 
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products 
Generations Salon 
Flagstaff Nissan Subaru  
Carr's Grain Service
Double Deuce Bar and Grill
Performance Bodies  
Jason Strand Farms
Nathan Davis 
Matt Lunski

2024 Stats (Late Model):
Races: 14
Wins: 4
Top 5’s: 11
Top 10’s: 12

2023 Stats (Modified):
Races: 1
Wins: 0
Top 5’s: 0
Top 10’s: 0