Heat Race Tumble Ends Night Early For Pierce

GRAND FORKS, ND (July 7) – Coming into Friday night’s program at River Cities Speedway, Austin Pierce’s search for his third consecutive track championship looked strong as he entered the Midseason Track Championship as the point leader. Unfortunately Pierce’s point lead was evaporated by night’s end due to an incident in his heat race.

After a slow start to the season, the Dahlstrom Motors Inc./AJ’s Sandblasting team has really gelled over the past month and has clicked off some solid and consistent finished as a result.

Austin began the evening in heat race number one and rode in the second spot in the early going of the 10-lap event. On lap five Austin dove to the inside of Mitch Mack to challenge for the lead, but the two made contact exiting turn two. The outcome of the contact sent Pierce flipping end-over-end two and a half times before coming to rest upside-down.

Thankfully Austin climbed out of his mangled #2Aunharmed.

Once the Lithia Ford Lincoln of Grand Forks/Solem Farms machine was towed back to the trailer, the crew initially thought they could replace the damaged bolt on parts before the B-main. However, severe damage to the front clip of the chassis put a halt to the repair process and an end to their night.

Austin will be back in action this weekend, starting at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks on Friday night. The team will then follow the NOSA tour to Devils Lake Speedway in Crary, ND on Saturday.

Despite not running the main event last Friday, Pierce is still in contention for the River Cities Speedway track championship as he now sits fourth in the standings, 30 points behind leader Mark Dobmeier with 10 events remaining at the Bullring.

Season Stats:
Races: 14
Wins: 0
Top 5’s: 6
Top 10’s: 8
Heat Wins: 3

UPCOMING EVENTS:
July 8 – River Cities Speedway
July 9 – Devils Lake Speedway
July 15 – River Cities Speedway

Photo and Recap by Mike Spieker.