GRAND FORKS, N.D. (August 28, 2020) - Twenty-one Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprints were led to the green flag by Brendan Mullen and Chris Ranten for the 25-lap main event.
After a thrilling battle between the front row starters, Ranten took the lead and checked out from the rest of the field.
A caution on lap five bunched the field back up. Jade Hastings took over second on the restart as Ranten checked out once again.
With five to go, Pierce was on the rear bumper of Ranten and drove through the middle of the track to take lead from Ranten off turn four. Ranten countered with a crossover to take the lead as Pierce then had his hands full with Hastings and Wade Nygaard.
Pierce regrouped and made another charge at Ranten in turn one with two laps to go. Pierce threw a slidejob and Ranten hit the brakes to get back underneath him, but got loose allowing Nygaard and Hastings to sneak by.
Nygaard had a run off turn four, but came up a car length short as Pierce claimed his sixth win of the season.
“Once I caught up to Chris (Ranten), I probably could have just rode behind him and we probably would have finished second. But I started diving through the middle and found some moisture. I think we bumped wheels one time on the back straightaway, but we were both able to maintain our positions,” said Pierce post-race. “Then Jade (Hastings) showed his nose there at the end. I didn’t know how it was going to play out to be honest. I’m just glad we were able to come out one top.”
RZS Enterprises Quick Time: Chris Ranten - 10.526 (102.603mph)
Hard Charger: Wade Nygaard & Tom Egeland (+7)
Lap Leaders: Brendan Mullen (1-2) Chris Ranten (3-23), Austin Pierce (24-25)
A Feature (25 Laps): 1. 2A-Austin Pierce[7]; 2. 9N-Wade Nygaard[9]; 3. 8H-Jade Hastings[3]; 4. 27-Chris Ranten[2]; 5. 0-Nick Omdahl[4]; 6. 11M-Brendan Mullen[1]; 7. 14T-Tim Estenson[6]; 8. 99-Jordan Graham[8]; 9. 26-Blake Egeland[15]; 10. 14-Tom Egeland[17]; 11. 20A-Jordan Adams[12]; 12. 10S-Josh Swangler[14]; 13. 8BALL-Jack Croaker[5]; 14. 31-Shane Roemeling[13]; 15. 17-Zach Omdahl[16]; 16. 22-Tanner Wisk[11]; 17. 41T-Travis Strandell[20]; 18. 4-Colton Young[18]; 19. 2-Tee Young[19]; 20. 47-Sabrina Hockenson[21]; 21. (DNF) 10TRB-Bob Martin[10]
Heat 1: 1. 0-Nick Omdahl[2]; 2. 27-Chris Ranten[4]; 3. 31-Shane Roemeling[1]; 4. 11M-Brendan Mullen[6]; 5. 9N-Wade Nygaard[3]; 6. 26-Blake Egeland[5]; 7. 2-Tee Young[7]
Heat 2: 1. 2A-Austin Pierce[4]; 2. 8BALL-Jack Croaker[6]; 3. 99-Jordan Graham[3]; 4. 17-Zach Omdahl[5]; 5. 22-Tanner Wisk[2]; 6. 10S-Josh Swangler[1]; 7. 41T-Travis Strandell[7]
Heat 3: 1. 8H-Jade Hastings[4]; 2. 14T-Tim Estenson[1]; 3. 10TRB-Bob Martin[3]; 4. 14-Tom