Seng Seeks 3rd Seitz Memorial Title

By Mike Spieker

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (September 7, 2017) – The time has come once again for the biggest Late Model event in the tri-state area; the 11th annual John Seitz Memorial. Brad Seng sits tied atop the wins list of the Seitz Memorial with two victories in the 92-lap, $9,200-to-win event. Seng’s victories came in 2011 and 2013.

The three-day event kicks off tonight (Sept. 7th) with the seventh running of the “Prelude to the Johnny,” which will double as the NLRA season championship. It has been a long, grueling season on the NLRA tour this year, which has been plagued with rainouts. Entering the night, Brad sits second in NLRA points by 90 points to the leader, Ricky Weiss.

The driver of the S&S Transport No. 12S has a pair of victories at River Cities Speedway in 2017 and is tied for the most top fives at the Bullring with 12 thus far. Brad will be looking to carry that momentum into this weekend, where approximately 50 of the regions better Late Model drivers will invade his home turf.

WEEKEND RECAP:
Brad had yet another solid three-race stretch over the extend Labor Day weekend. It all started Friday night at River Cities Speedway, where he raced to a fourth place finish in the feature. Brad started fifth on the 15-car starting grid, but passing was at a premium on the fast and tacky racing surface as early afternoon rains dampened the track. Brad picked up his eighth heat race win of the season earlier in the night.

The team headed south to Alexandria, Minn. to close out the weekend with the NLRA Late Models at Viking Speedway.

On Saturday, a stout field of 36 Late Models from four states and two Canadian provinces were checked in to battle at the “High Flyin’ Half-Mile.” Brad started fifth in his heat before momentarily taking the lead in the early going. As the race advanced, Brad slipped back to finish in the third position, which placed him 11th on the grid for the 25-lap feature.

Come feature time, Gregg Konze had the Valley Oral / MB Customs machine dialed in as Brad charged through the field. Brad moved by the likes of Mike Balcaen, Pat Doar, and Darrell Nelson en route to a very respectable sixth place finish.

On Sunday, Brad started back in the 11th position again for the main event, but the veteran driver methodically moved his way forward throughout the race. The Grand Forks, N.D. driver was the race’s hard charger as he advanced from 11th to round out the podium in third, finishing behind Don Shaw and Ricky Weiss.

Upcoming Events:
Sept. 7-8: River Cities Speedway – John Seitz Memorial 

2017 Stats:
RACES: 26
WINS: 4
TOP 5’s: 20
TOP 10’s: 22
HEAT WINS: 8

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