Austin Pierce Races to Runner-Up Finish at River Cities!

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (July 31, 2017) – Austin Pierce’s top five streak was extended to 14 races after Friday’s second place effort at River Cities Speedway. The driver of the Opp Construction / Lithia Ford No. 2A contended for the win in the closing stages, but ran out of laps.

The night began with a dominating heat race win as Austin led all 10 trips around the high-banked three-tenths mile clay oval. Austin’s best lap of the heat came on lap two, where he ran a time of 10.796, averaging 100.037mph.

“They had the track tacky and fast all night. I would have liked to have seen the track a little wider, but it was something different compared to what we have been used to this year,” said Austin.

The redraw put Austin outside of the front row for the 25-lap Buffalo Wild Wings main event with Wade Nygaard to his inside.

Nygaard got the jump to take the early lead, but Austin stayed in his tracks throughout the duration of the feature. With five laps to go, Austin had reeled in Nygaard in lapped traffic and pulled even with the No. 9N machine using the low side of the speedway.

“I thought for sure we were going to be able to get him there,” continued Austin. “On the last lap a lapped car dove down right in front of Wade and I. I was kind of counting on the yellow to come out there. Then we came around to turns three and four and Wade took my line away on the bottom coming to the checkers, but it was a good race.”

Running in the second spot, Austin was able to search the track to try to find a faster groove, while Nygaard was forced to protect the top side.

“I knew something was down there. I just kind of waited for the right time to hit it with Wade going to the top and getting trapped by lapped cars. It worked out, but we just ran out of laps there at the end.”

The second place run marks Austin’s 13th podium finish of the 2017 season and 18th overall top five. He once again extends his NOSA and River Cities Speedway points lead heading into the final full calendar month of the season.

The entire APR crew would like to thank their sponsors for their continued support!

Opp Construction
Lithia Ford Lincoln of Grand Forks
Highland Excavating
Dahlstrom Motors Inc.
Bun Lounge
Invision Ag
AJ’s Sandblasting & Painting
Solem Farms
Vollrath Farms
Hillesland Farms
Grand Forks Abstract & Title (GFabstract.com)
Adams Marketing Promotions
1st Realty
Ostrich Racing Engines
EMi – Eagle Motorsports, Schnee, Henchcraft, Stallard

Upcoming Events:
August 4th: River Cities Speedway – Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprints
August 5th: Devils Lake Speedway – Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprints

August 11th: River Cities Speedway – Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprints

2017 Stats:
Races:21
Wins:2
Top 5’s: 18
Top 10’s: 18
Heat Wins: 9

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