ADA, Minn. (August 6, 2020) – The Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprint Cars made their first and only visit of the season to Norman County Raceway on Thursday night with seventeen 410 cubic inch winged machines checked in for action.
On lap seven, Omdahl found his groove as he moved past both Estenson and Wilde to take the lead on lap eight.
Omdahl felt pressure from Brendan Mullen of Grand Forks, N.D., winner of two of the last three NOSA events, and Jade Hastings of Grand Forks, NOSA series point leader, in the second half of the event. However, Omdahl went on to lead the final 13 laps to collect his ninth career win.
“Starting up front was huge,” admitted Omdahl after the race, who started on the outside of the front row. “We haven’t had any luck lately. We’ve been fast, but we always seem to start in the back. I got nervous on one restart when Mullen got next to me. We ended up making contact and I feel bad for that. But I knew as long as I hit my marks, I’d be okay.”
The contact between Omdahl and Mullen on the front straightaway ended Mullen’s bid at a podium finish as it wrecked the front end on the 17-year-old’s No. 11M.
The win for Omdahl came just five days after he went for a nasty tumble after the checkered flag on Saturday night in Mandan, N.D.
“It was a huge effort,” said Omdahl of what it took to be ready for Thursday’s event at NCR. “My dad worked all week getting this thing ready. He pretty much rebuilt this car himself while I was at work. Ricky, Alex, Kenny, they are there helping out every week too. It’s a team effort for sure.”
The race was brought to a halt on lap 10 when Wilde and Jack Croaker made contact in turn two. The end result was Croaker going for a wild series of end-over-end flips before coming to rest on all four wheels. Both drivers were okay. Croaker’s car was destroyed, while Wilde was able to continue.
Hastings and 17th place starter Wade Nygaard rounded out the top three at the checkers.
Lap Leaders: Brenden Wilde (1-7), Nick Omdahl (8-25)
Hard Charger: Wade Nygaard (+14)
RESULTS:
A Feature: 1. 0-Nick Omdahl[3]; 2. 8H-Jade Hastings[8]; 3. 20A-Jordan Adams[14]; 4. 31-Shane Roemeling[2]; 5. 10S-Josh Swangler[16]; 6. 17-Zach Omdahl[13]; 7. 91A-Reed Allex[15]; 8. 35-Brenden Wilde[1]; 9. (DNF) 11M-Brendan Mullen[7]; 10. (DNF) 4-Colton Young[12]; 11. (DNF) 12-Brayden Pengilly[11]; 12. (DNF) 8-Jack Croaker[10]; 13. (DNF) 26-Blake Egeland[9]; 14. (DNF) 2-Tee Young[4]; 15. (DNF) 14-Tom Egeland[6]; 16. (DQ) 9N-Wade Nygaard[17]; 17. (DQ) 14T-Tim Estenson[5]
Heat 1: 1. 8H-Jade Hastings[3]; 2. 14-Tom Egeland[4]; 3. 35-Brenden Wilde[2]; 4. 26-Blake Egeland[1]; 5. 2-Tee Young[9]; 6. 12-Brayden Pengilly[5]; 7. (DNF) 20A-Jordan Adams[6]; 8. (DNF) 9N-Wade Nygaard[7]; 9. (DNF) 91A-Reed Allex[8]
Heat 2: 1. 11M-Brendan Mullen[3]; 2. 0-Nick Omdahl[1]; 3. 14T-Tim Estenson[5]; 4. 31-Shane Roemeling[6]; 5. 8-Jack Croaker[4]; 6. (DNF) 17-Zach Omdahl[2]; 7. (DNF) 4-Colton Young[8]; 8. (DNF) 10S-Josh Swangler[7]
*Nygaard & Estenson finished 3rd and 4th, respectively, but were DQ'd for having crew member on the racing surface during a closed red flag.