Tucker Pederson becomes a two-time Champion of the Cliff Reeves Memorial on Saturday
The Devils Lake Speedway ran two shows, one on Thursday Night for the Prelude to Cliff Reeves and Night #1 of the Powri Lightning Sprint Nationals. Then on Saturday ran the third Annual Cliff Reeves Memorial.
41 Lightning Sprints were on hand for Night #1 of the Lighting Sprint Nationals. With four heat races, a pole dash and two bmains, all made up according to passing points to get into the feature each night. It made for a lot of racing. Alex Truscinski of Greenbush MN started pole and managed to hold off a stout field of cars to capture the checkered flag. With Alex Therrian of Victoriaville, QC came in second with Dexter Dvergsten of Greenbush MN finishing third. Brent Sexton of Lakeside, CA was the Hard Charger moving up 12 spots to finish fifth. Sexton would have probably moved up more positions but unfortunately the wing on his car broke with around 10 laps to go.
In the Purestocks Austin Harris of Belcourt ND moved up three positions to take the checkered flag. Joe Ree of Belcourt, ND moved up one position to finish second and Thayne Marcellais of Belcourt, ND, rounded out the Top Three.
The Wissota Midwest Modifieds had back and forth racing all feature long. Eric Haugland of Lakota, ND, crushed the top lane of the track to pass the high flying Jory Berg of Grand Forks, ND, and attempted to challenge the first place car, Randy Thompson of Lakota, ND. Haugland moved up five positions but ran out of laps as the Checkered Flag waved with Randy Thompson taking the checkered. Haugland finishing second and Jory Berg rounding out the podium in third place.
Jaden Christ of Jamestown, ND, ventured north Thursday night for the Prelude to Cliff Street Stock Special. With a stiff battle between his dad, Billie Christ of Jamestown, ND. Jaden was eventually able to get around him to charge up to the lead after a stiff battle with Kasey Ussatis of Nome, ND. To take the checkered flag. Ussatis would settle for a second place finish and Billie Christ would round out the podium with a third place finish.
Saturday
Saturday was the day for the third Annual Cliff Reeves Memorial with $1004 to win on the line for the Wissota Street Stocks. It seems like every race in the Street Stock division is Deja Vu at the Devils Lake Speedway. With Trey Hess of Grand Forks, ND, Kyle Anderson of Jamestown, ND, Kasey Ussatis of Nome, ND, Tucker Pederson of East Grand Forks, MN and Seth Klostreich of Grand Forks, ND. Fun to watch back and forth battle week after week. Saturday night was no exception. Tucker Pederson was called at the start of the race for a jump start and was sent to the tail of the field. Pederson stormed his way back to the front with stiff battles with Kasey Ussatis and former National Street Stock Champion Johnny Carter of Fairmount, ND. Pederson squeaked out another win to make him a two-time Cliff Reeves Memorial Champion, winning back to back championships. Kasey Ussatis finished second, moving up five positions to claim the Hard Charger Award and was awarded a New Hoosier Tire Compliments of BOXCAR BRAND. Kyle Anderson settled for a third Place Finish. Johnny Carter finished fourth and Trey Hess finished fifth.
Jason Halvorson of Devils Lake hopped in a Purestock for the night and stole the show with a last lap pass in corner four to take the checkered flag from veteran driver Joe Armstrong of Crary, ND. Armstrong would finish second with Brian Bellew of Killarney, MB finishing third and Barry Hermanson of Maddock, ND finishing fourth.
The Wissota Midwest Mods had another entertaining feature as Bryan Kakela of Langdon, ND put on the slide job of the century passing two cars at once. Kakela battled his way up the field with many slide jobs throughout the feature. Late into the feature he was able to get by Ryne Uhrich of Langdon, ND to take the Checkered flag. Uhrich would settle for a second place finish, which is his best finish yet this season as a rookie in the Wissota Midwest Mod class. Jory Berg of Grand Forks was called for a caution early in the feature and battled back for a third place finish. After a stiff battle with Nate Reynolds of Manvel, ND, and high flying Eric Haugland of Lawton, ND. Reynolds would finish fourth and Haugland would finish fifth.
The Western Renegade Non-Wing Sprint Cars Series was back in action Saturday night at the Devils Playground. The Non-Wing Sprints put on yet another entertaining feature race. Nick Shriek of Thompson, ND, drew pole in the redraw. Shirek would hold off a hard charging field most of the race. Eventually hard charging Myles Tomlinson of Turtle Lake, ND, would pass Shirek for the lead with Jeremy Lizakowski of Veseleyville, ND, right on his tail. Lizakowski would also get past Shirek. Tomlinson would take the checkered flag with Lizakowski finishing second. Shirek would finish third. Steve Nordrum of Devils Lake, ND settle for a fourth place finish and Colton Young of Devils Lake, ND finished fifth.
The Devils Lake Speedway only has five scheduled shows left with the highly anticipated rescheduled $5k to Win NLRA Golden Hammer show this Saturday August 19. Then the season track points championship for the Wissota Late Models August 26. Labor Day weekend with a two-day show for the second Annual Non-Wing Nationals with over 30 Non-Wing Sprint Cars already pre-registered. Plus the season championship and points championship. September 16 will be the finale for the 2023 season with the Purestock Nationals. For show times and complete schedule go to devilslakespeedway.myracepass.com
Photos provided courtesy of the Devils Lake Speedway.
