Austin Pierce claims second consecutive Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin' Challenge victory

By Mike Spieker

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (September 16, 2020) – The Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprints had 21 cars for 30-laps in the sixth annual Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin’ Challenge. Six qualified drivers took their shot at starting at the back of the field for bonus money. An extra $2,900 was up for grabs if either Jade Hastings or Jordan Adams could win from the back row.

For the eighth time this season, Austin Pierce visited RydellCars.com Victory Lane and raced to his second streak of three wins in-a-row.

The race began with Shane Roemeling driving around front row starters Tim Estenson and Nick Omdahl to lead the opening circuit. Roemeling led until the lap 12 restart when Omdahl took the point as Brendan Mullen followed him into second. 

Austin Pierce takes the checkered flag just before 2:00am in front of the River Cities faithful on Friday night.

The red was displayed on lap 14 as Jack Croaker got upside down on the front stretch. Croaker was okay. He was running in the sixth position at the time from the 18th starting spot.

Mullen was running in the second spot until he slid off the top of the banking in turn two to bring out the yellow. On the restart, contact with another driver sent Mullen upside down on the front stretch, ending his night. He was okay. 

Austin Pierce restarted in the second spot but took the lead from Omdahl as the race resumed. Lee Grosz, who had to start at the tail of the field after spinning on the first lap, ran third in his 360c.i. motor. 

Pierce checked out and claimed his eighth win of the season at the Bullring as Omdahl, Hastings, Grosz, and Roemeling rounded out the top five. ​

Lee Grosz (4J), Brendan Mullen (11M) and Austin Pierce (2A) race for position inside the top five during Friday's feature at River Cities Speedway.

"I knew I had my work cut out for me starting 10th, but I also knew the guys taking the back row challenge would be coming as well," continued Pierce. "We got the top working pretty well and sailed around there. I went to the bottom of (turns) one and two on a restart and was able to get by Omdahl."

The NOSA feature finished just before 2:00am as the night began with a nearly three-hour rain delay. 

"I'm glad we stuck it out through the rain. Just before we were about to get going, I honestly didn't want to be at the track anymore, but the track did a great job and gave us a really nice racing surface. Hats off to the track guys and all the fans for sticking it out."

​RZS Enterprises Quick Time: No time trials
Hard Charger: Jade Hastings (+17)
Lap Leaders: Shane Roemeling (1-11), Nick Omdahl (12-19), Austin Pierce (20-30)

RESULTS:
A Feature (30 Laps): 1. 2A-Austin Pierce[10]; 2. 0-Nick Omdahl[2]; 3. 8H-Jade Hastings[20]; 4. 4J-Lee Grosz[8]; 5. 31-Shane Roemeling[4]; 6. 14T-Tim Estenson[1]; 7. 20A-Jordan Adams[19]; 8. 35-Brenden Wilde[14]; 9. 10TRB-Bob Martin[6]; 10. 6-Zach Wilde[9]; 11. 17-Zach Omdahl[3]; 12. 10S-Josh Swangler[15]; 13. 41T-Travis Strandell[11]; 14. (DNF) 11M-Brendan Mullen[7]; 15. (DNF) 14-Tom Egeland[16]; 16. (DNF) 8BALL-Jack Croaker[18]; 17. (DNF) 26-Blake Egeland[5]; 18. (DNF) 9N-Wade Nygaard[17]; 19. (DNF) 4-Colton Young[12]; 20. (DNF) 2-Tee Young[13]; 21. (DNS) 99-Jordan Graham

Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 14T-Tim Estenson[1]; 2. 0-Nick Omdahl[4]; 3. 8H-Jade Hastings[3]; 4. 20A-Jordan Adams[5]; 5. 8BALL-Jack Croaker[8]; 6. 9N-Wade Nygaard[6]; 7. 17-Zach Omdahl[7]; 8. 14-Tom Egeland[11]; 9. 10S-Josh Swangler[10]; 10. (DNF) 31-Shane Roemeling[2]; 11. (DNF) 26-Blake Egeland[9]

Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 10TRB-Bob Martin[2]; 2. 11M-Brendan Mullen[3]; 3. 4J-Lee Grosz[5]; 4. 6-Zach Wilde[1]; 5. 2A-Austin Pierce[4]; 6. 41T-Travis Strandell[7]; 7. 4-Colton Young[9]; 8. 2-Tee Young[6]; 9. (DNF) 99-Jordan Graham[8]; 10. (DNF) 35-Brenden Wilde[10]