Pierce takes the $2,000 “King of the Wings” win at Buffalo River Race Park
GLYNDON, MN (September 20) – Twenty-four Northern Outlaw Sprint Cars were signed in Sunday night for the season finale at Buffalo River Race Park. Up for grabs was the $2,000 “King of the Wings” crown, along with the NOSA championship.
For two drivers, the main event ended before the initial green flag flew.
During parade laps, heat race winner, Chris Shirek, was rolling his R&R Contracting #1K into turn three when another competitor drove over his left front tire, causing significant damage. The Shirek brothers, Nick and Chris, went to work and were able to swap out a few steering components, but weren’t able to get pushed off in time to take the green flag.
Scheduled pole sitter, Jordan Adams, also had troubles. Despite multiple efforts, the Reynolds, ND driver couldn’t get the Home of Economy #20A fired and eventually had to retire his Sprinter back to the trailer.
That put Austin Pierce and Ty Hanten on the front row for the 25-lap feature. Pierce grabbed the early lead as Mark Dobmeier slid into second. Dobmeier challenged Pierce for the lead until Dobmeier uncharacteristically looped the Senske & Sons #13. Dobmeier then tagged the tail of the lead lap in 13th, while Cory Mack inherited the runner-up position.
The race resumed and Mack drove by Pierce to take over the point. Within five laps, Mack found himself in heavy lapped traffic, which allowed Pierce to close back in. On lap 17 Mack hauled his Miracle Ear #25 to the top side of turns one and two when a lapped car took his line away. To avoid contact, Mack drove his car off the banking where it stalled, bringing out the caution. Mack then joined Dobmeier at the tail of the lead lap, but would rebound to finish sixth.
With nine laps remaining the race came down to a shootout between Pierce and eighth place starter, Dusty Zomer. Pierce got a good jump on the restart and pulled out to a rather comfortable lead in his Opp Construction #2A. Zomer was unable to reel in the 2014 NOSA champion in the closing laps as Pierce cruised to the $2,000 payday, presented by Buffalo Wild Wings, in front of a capacity crowd.
Casey Mack finished in third as 17th place starter, Jade Hastings, rebounded from a mid-race spin to finish fourth. Brenden Wilde rounded out the top five, while Jackson Moffett scored the highest finish of any rookie this season with his seventh place effort.
Wade Nygaard tagged the wall early in the race, causing damage to the rear end of his #9N machine and resulting in a 17th place finish. However, the Grand Forks, ND driver scored his eighth NOSA championship and first since 2013, by a mere 11 points over Austin Pierce.