Pierce Returns to Action with NOSA Sprints After Strong Run in Ohio
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (May 9, 2018) – After having the last two weeks off, the Austin Pierce Racing team will return to the track this Friday night at River Cities Speedway with the Buffalo Wild Wings Northern Outlaw Sprint Association (NOSA).
Austin comes into the local season as the defending NOSA and River Cities Speedway champion after picking up both titles for the second time in his career. Despite that, points might be the last thing on Austin’s mind this early in the season. The driver of the Opp Construction / Lithia Ford No. 2A is focused on racking up wins in 2018, rather than points.
Friday will serve as the season opener for both River Cities Speedway and the NOSA tour. Austin had a solid record at the three-tenths mile clay oval last year, picking up three wins and an impressive 14 podium finishes.
After competing at one of the biggest Sprint Car events of the year, Austin and the crew feel confident entering the weekend.
RECAP: Austin made his season debut at Mansfield Motor Speedway’s inaugural Sprint Car World Championship on April 27th and 28th. The weekend got off to a weird start on Friday night. Rain delayed the start of the program by over two hours. When it came time for time trials, Austin went out early, and felt as though he laid down two solid laps. He was later notified, however, that his transponder did not record his lap times even though it was working during hot laps.
He was forced to requalify after a total of about 40 cars had hit the track on a much slicker racing surface, hurting his lap time.
Once the racing got underway, though, everything returned to normal. Austin advanced into the fourth and final transfer spot from the sixth starting position in his heat.
“In the A-main, we started 14th and got up to 10th,” said Austin. “I hit a pretty big rut and it stood the front end straight in the air and I thought we broke something when it came back down. It took me a lap or so to figure out the car was still in working order, but by then we had fallen towards the back again. It was still a pretty good night for our team.”
On Saturday, Austin finished sixth in his heat, where just the winner advanced. From there, he went on to finish sixth in the B-main, with only the top two going to the A-main.
“It was a fun weekend, overall,” continued Austin. “I have to thank my crew guys, Lee and Kyle Kozel and Matt Bakken for taking the time off work to make the trip to Ohio.”
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
Auggie’s Flying Service
AJ’s Sandblasting & Painting
Solem Farms
Vollrath Farms
Hillesland Farms
Elite Pole Buildings LLP
Grand Forks Abstract & Title (GFabstract.com)
Adams Marketing Promotions
1st Realty
Ostrich Racing Engines
EMi – Eagle Motorsports, Schnee, Henchcraft, Stallard
Photo by SprintFun Photos
