The three day mini-series which starts at the three-eighths mile Norman County Raceway will be NOSA's return to the 106-year-old oval for the first time since 2020 while the IRA will make their debut a the track that sits just 56 miles from Grand Forks. This event will add to an already robust schedule for the Ada, MN speed plant as the series will host the World of Outlaws Late Model series for the first time in June.
On nights two and three, the two series go head-to-head at River Cities Speedway once again in competition for the Buffalo Wild Wings King of the Wings title, won by NOSA last season with Mark Dobmeier leading the way as the overall three-night champion, collecting two wins in the Buffalo Wild Wings No. 13.
Austin Pierce capped off a sweep for the NOSA contingent, winning the Saturday night finale at River Cities and taking home the $5,000 payday which also served as the 50th NOSA triumph of his career. Dobmeier and Pierce finished with top fives all three nights last season with Jack Croaker and Brendan Mullen also collecting a pair of top fives.
Croaker podiumed in the Hugo's Family Marketplace Eight-ball at I-94 Speedway on the Thursday night show last season with Mullen finishing as the runner-up in the Native Nations Cannabis No. 11M during the Saturday finale.
This season may end up being a title-unification of sorts as the IRA will see a full-time return for two-time series champion Jake Blackhurst who will run for another IRA title in the NineSix Motorsports No. 96. Blackhurst stole the win from Thomas Kennedy in the final corner during the inaugural King of the Wings event in 2021, taking the title belt back to Illinois.
The IRA title picture will change with 2023 titlist Brenham Crouch moving over to the High Limit series in 2024. Crouch was also the series Rookie of the Year, scoring a pair of podiums in last season's visit to the area.
In the five features run the previous two seasons, NOSA drivers have collected four wins, led 121 of the 150 laps of feature action while also taking 12 of 15 podium spots.
07.15.22 River Cities Speedway - IRA/ NOSA King of the Wings -Wayne Anderson Cup #2
A Feature (30 Laps): 1. 2A-Austin Pierce[8]; 2. 8H-Jade Hastings[2]; 3. 13-Mark Dobmeier[7]; 4. 21K-Thomas Kennedy[10]; 5. 3N-Jake Neuman[16]
Lap Leaders - Jade Hastings 1-27; Austin Pierce 28-30
07.16.22 River Cities Speedway - IRA/ NOSA King of the Wings -Wayne Anderson Cup #3
A Feature (30 Laps): 1. 39-Jake Blackhurst[4]; 2. 21K-Thomas Kennedy[8]; 3. 8H-Jade Hastings[2]; 4. 11M-Brendan Mullen[6]; 5. 2A-Austin Pierce[11]
Lap Leaders - Jade Hastings 1-28; Thomas Kennedy 29; Jake Blackhurst 30
07.13.23 I-94 emr Speedway
1. 13-Mark Dobmeier[2]; 2. 11M-Brendan Mullen[5]; 3. 8-Jack Croaker[3]; 4. 3N-Jake Neuman[10]; 5. 2A-Austin Pierce[4]
Lap Leaders - Mark Dobmeier 1-8; Brenham Crouch 9-21; Mark Dobmeier 22-30
07.14.23 River Cities Speedway
1. 13-Mark Dobmeier[1]; 2. 2A-Austin Pierce[4]; 3. 1-Brenham Crouch[9]; 4. 46-Joel Myers Jr[13]; 5. 49-Josh Schneiderman[3]
Lap Leaders - Mark Dobmeier 1-30
07.15.23 River Cities Speedway
1. 2A-Austin Pierce[1]; 2. 1-Brenham Crouch[3]; 3. 11M-Brendan Mullen[6]; 4. 13-Mark Dobmeier[8]; 5. 8-Jack Croaker[2]
Lap Leaders - Jack Croaker 1-9; Brenham Crouch 10-24; Austin Pierce 25-30