Strand Wins Third of the Year with Last Lap Pass at River Cities

East Grand Forks, Minn. (June 10, 2024) - Dustin Strand collected his second win of the season Friday night in dramatic fashion as a last lap pass put the No. 71 Bun Lounge / Shocker Hitch Longhorn back in victory lane for the second consecutive week, 50th time in Late Model competition, and 106th time overall at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks.
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Strand joined the rest of the NLRA Friday night at River Cities at the series joined the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series for their annual June visit to the Bullring.

​Strand started the night keeping his season long heat win streak alive in heat races that he's been able to finish, winning his fifth qualifier of the 2024 campaign.

Strand started third in the 25-lap main event which was delayed two-hour by rain. Strand completed the opening lap in second as Laela Eisenschenk led the opening lap from the pole. 

Strand took the lead on the third lap and led through two cautions and a red through six laps.
Strand lost the lead to Shane Edginton on lap eight but remained second through another caution and a second red flag just past the midway point.

The remaining 12 laps went caution free as Strand reeled in Edginton in traffic with three laps left. Strand slipped past Edginton using the bottom of turns three and four, stealing the win at the line by just .049 seconds.

“I tell you Shane's about one of the best in the business on the bottom,” Strand said in victory lane post-race. “I wanted to stay up high because it was a little smoother, but he was so good around the bottom once we'd get into about a six to eight lap run. I started reeling him in a little bit but that was definitely his race and a lapped car kind of screwed him up and we were able to capitalize on it. That must’ve been pretty close at the line there.”

Strand continued his heat win streak Saturday night at Devils Lake Speedway in weekly Late Model action but started ninth in the 25-lap main event. Strand's march through the field started on a lap eight restart as he split Steve Anderson and Tucker Pederson to move into the top five for the first time.

From there, Strand continued to slice and dice his way to the front, passing Joey Pederson to take third at the conclusion of lap eight. Travis Robertson was next on the list as Strand completed a slider at the line to take second to end lap nine.

Strand took a peek to the inside of leader Brody Troftgruben on a restart with 12 laps left but remained a solid second until the final caution with six circuits remaining. Strand held off Robertson in the final laps to finish as the runner-up.

This week, Strand follows the NLRA to Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo on Friday night and heads back to Devils Lake on Saturday for more weekly action.

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: 12
Wins: 3
Top 5’s: 9
Top 10’s: 10

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