By Mike Spieker
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (September 18, 2020) - A lot was up for grabs during Friday night’s season finale at River Cities Speedway as the Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprint Car and River Cities Speedway Sprint Car titles were on the line, as well as a hefty bounty if a driver could beat Austin Pierce, who was on a three-race win streak.
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (September 18, 2020) - A lot was up for grabs during Friday night’s season finale at River Cities Speedway as the Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprint Car and River Cities Speedway Sprint Car titles were on the line, as well as a hefty bounty if a driver could beat Austin Pierce, who was on a three-race win streak.
The final 25-lap Buffalo Wild Wings main event was led to the green by Blake Egeland and 10-time series champion, Wade Nygaard. Nygaard took the point on the opening lap before the yellow was displayed. Zach Omdahl got loose in turn two as Zach Wilde made heavy contact with his front end. Tom Egeland was also involved. All drivers were okay and all unfortunately were done for the night.
Jade Hastings makes the pass for the lead on Wade Nygaard on lap 3.
As the race resumed, Nygaard continued to lead but NOSA point leader Jade Hastings took the point on lap three. At the halfway point, eighth-place starter Brendan Mullen moved around his teammate Wade Nygaard for second and set his sights on Hastings. Hastings had built up well over a straightaway advantage, but Mullen seemed to be quicker in open track and began to reel him in. Mullen cut Hastings' lead in half as the white flag flew but ran out of time as Hastings collected his sixth win of the season and fourth at the Bullring.
“I don’t know what happened to Wade… but it gave me an opportunity to get by him and good thing it did,” said Hastings, recalling the pass for the lead on lap three. “We all knew the rubber was coming. It came in about halfway through and from there it was smooth sailing. I just had to run my line and not let anyone under me.”
Austin Pierce, who finished third from 11th, came into the night on a three-race win streak. That meant River Cities Speedway put up a $300 bounty on the two-time NOSA champion. Thanks to the contributions by various sponsors and fans the bounty escalated to $1,520 by the time the green flag flew for the NOSA feature. For the second time this season, Hastings collected the bounty.
Nygaard and Shane Roemeling completed the top five.
“I don’t know what happened to Wade… but it gave me an opportunity to get by him and good thing it did,” said Hastings, recalling the pass for the lead on lap three. “We all knew the rubber was coming. It came in about halfway through and from there it was smooth sailing. I just had to run my line and not let anyone under me.”
Austin Pierce, who finished third from 11th, came into the night on a three-race win streak. That meant River Cities Speedway put up a $300 bounty on the two-time NOSA champion. Thanks to the contributions by various sponsors and fans the bounty escalated to $1,520 by the time the green flag flew for the NOSA feature. For the second time this season, Hastings collected the bounty.
Nygaard and Shane Roemeling completed the top five.
Brendan Mullen puts a slider on teammate Wade Nygaard for the second spot.
By starting the night’s races, Hastings was named the 2020 NOSA Sprint Car series champion. Pierce was crowned as River Cities Speedway track champion.
“Awesome year. The best year I’ve had by far. I think the only guy truly better than me (at River Cities) is Austin Pierce but maybe we can come after him next year,” said Hastings after the race. “The NOSA championship is awesome to get too. I’ve been watching a lot of these guys since I was young and it’s cool to say I beat them for a championship. But honestly, I’m just really glad I won. The championships are cool, but we really focus on getting wins.”
With the win - the 13th of his career - Hastings moves into a tie for 10th with Thomas Kennedy on NOSA's all-time win list.
RZS Enterprises Quick Time: Nick Omdahl - 11.071 seconds (97.552mph)
Hard Charger: Austin Pierce (+8)
Lap Leaders: Wade Nygaard (1-3), Jade Hastings (4-25)
“Awesome year. The best year I’ve had by far. I think the only guy truly better than me (at River Cities) is Austin Pierce but maybe we can come after him next year,” said Hastings after the race. “The NOSA championship is awesome to get too. I’ve been watching a lot of these guys since I was young and it’s cool to say I beat them for a championship. But honestly, I’m just really glad I won. The championships are cool, but we really focus on getting wins.”
With the win - the 13th of his career - Hastings moves into a tie for 10th with Thomas Kennedy on NOSA's all-time win list.
RZS Enterprises Quick Time: Nick Omdahl - 11.071 seconds (97.552mph)
Hard Charger: Austin Pierce (+8)
Lap Leaders: Wade Nygaard (1-3), Jade Hastings (4-25)
RESULTS:
A Feature (25 Laps): 1. 8H-Jade Hastings[4]; 2. 11M-Brendan Mullen[8]; 3. 2A-Austin Pierce[11]; 4. 9N-Wade Nygaard[2]; 5. 31-Shane Roemeling[5]; 6. 26-Blake Egeland[1]; 7. 0-Nick Omdahl[7]; 8. 99-Jordan Graham[6]; 9. 8BALL-Jack Croaker[3]; 10. 20A-Jordan Adams[9]; 11. 10S-Josh Swangler[15]; 12. 4-Colton Young[12]; 13. 47-Sabrina Hockenson[18]; 14. 41-Travis Strandell[17]; 15. 2-Tee Young[16]; 16. (DNF) 6-Zach Wilde[14]; 17. (DNF) 14-Tom Egeland[13]; 18. (DNF) 17-Zach Omdahl[10]
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 26-Blake Egeland[1]; 2. 9N-Wade Nygaard[3]; 3. 8H-Jade Hastings[5]; 4. 0-Nick Omdahl[6]; 5. 17-Zach Omdahl[4]; 6. 6-Zach Wilde[7]; 7. 4-Colton Young[2]; 8. 2-Tee Young[8]; 9. 47-Sabrina Hockenson[9]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 99-Jordan Graham[2]; 2. 11M-Brendan Mullen[3]; 3. 31-Shane Roemeling[5]; 4. 2A-Austin Pierce[4]; 5. 8BALL-Jack Croaker[9]; 6. 14-Tom Egeland[1]; 7. 20A-Jordan Adams[6]; 8. 10S-Josh Swangler[7]; 9. 41-Travis Strandell[8]
A Feature (25 Laps): 1. 8H-Jade Hastings[4]; 2. 11M-Brendan Mullen[8]; 3. 2A-Austin Pierce[11]; 4. 9N-Wade Nygaard[2]; 5. 31-Shane Roemeling[5]; 6. 26-Blake Egeland[1]; 7. 0-Nick Omdahl[7]; 8. 99-Jordan Graham[6]; 9. 8BALL-Jack Croaker[3]; 10. 20A-Jordan Adams[9]; 11. 10S-Josh Swangler[15]; 12. 4-Colton Young[12]; 13. 47-Sabrina Hockenson[18]; 14. 41-Travis Strandell[17]; 15. 2-Tee Young[16]; 16. (DNF) 6-Zach Wilde[14]; 17. (DNF) 14-Tom Egeland[13]; 18. (DNF) 17-Zach Omdahl[10]
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 26-Blake Egeland[1]; 2. 9N-Wade Nygaard[3]; 3. 8H-Jade Hastings[5]; 4. 0-Nick Omdahl[6]; 5. 17-Zach Omdahl[4]; 6. 6-Zach Wilde[7]; 7. 4-Colton Young[2]; 8. 2-Tee Young[8]; 9. 47-Sabrina Hockenson[9]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 99-Jordan Graham[2]; 2. 11M-Brendan Mullen[3]; 3. 31-Shane Roemeling[5]; 4. 2A-Austin Pierce[4]; 5. 8BALL-Jack Croaker[9]; 6. 14-Tom Egeland[1]; 7. 20A-Jordan Adams[6]; 8. 10S-Josh Swangler[7]; 9. 41-Travis Strandell[8]
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