MULLEN REMAINS A CONTENDER FOR WINS AS NOSA POINTS RACE TIGHTENS
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (July 25, 2023) – Bringing momentum with him from the previous week’s appearances with the IRA Sprints, Brendan Mullen continued to show good speed, and was in contention for the win in each of his three appearances last week in the Knife River / Home of Economy No. 11M nearly scoring three top fives and a win save for a flip at the end of his night while leading at Casino Speedway in Watertown, SD.
Mullen kicked off another three-race set last Friday night at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks with a heat race win. Starting on the outside of the fourth row of the main event and spent the early part of the race searching around the quarter-mile for the opportunity to make up ground.
The race slowed a number of times due to cautions, with Mullen eventually climbing into the top five on a lap 18 restart. In the closing stages of the race, Mullen stayed in or around the top five as the field tried to complete the 26th lap. Mullen ended the race with a fourth-place finish.
Mullen traveled south for a return trip to Hartford, South Dakota’s I-90 Speedway where Mullen started the night with the third best qualifying lap and a third-place run in his heat race. Starting eighth for the second straight night, Mullen ran around the outside of the track, moving into the top five on the opening lap.
Mullen then dove under Colin Smith in turns one and two to score the fourth spot. Mullen spent the next lap reeling in the lead trio, catching and passing front-row starter Aaron Werner for third on the fourth trip around the three-eighths mile oval.
Mullen then battled Sam Henderson for second until a caution just past the halfway point. Jade Hastings replaced Henderson in the battle for second as the pair kept leader Troy Schreurs within their reach late in the race.
A number of cautions in the final ten laps saw Mullen slip back to fourth a pair of times, but on the final restart, Mullen made it past Schreurs to make it close at the end.
Mullen pulled nearly even with Hastings in the final corners, but finished second as the checkers flew.
One final race on the weekend saw the NOSA series complete its three-race weekend at Casino Speedway in Watertown. Mullen was third quick in time trials for the second straight night, while scoring his second heat win of the weekend.
Mullen started sixth in the 30-lap main event, where he entered into a four-car battle for second on a lap three restart. Mullen eventually took third, then went on to reel in leaders Jack Croaker and Sam Henderson.
Mullen roared past the lead duo to take the lead on the tenth lap. Mark Dobmeier joined him as the new lead duo, as Mullen continued to lead until a caution with nine to go.
Dobmeier was battling with Dobmeier and Hastings with 5 laps left when Mullen got into the wall in the fourth turn, ending his night with a flip.
Despite the heartbreak at the end, the speed Mullen has shown recently should serve as a confidence boost as Mullen heads to the track where he’s arguably been the most consistent in his career, Mandan, ND’s Dacotah Speedway.
Mullen has won the opening night of the Governor’s Cup the past three seasons and has gone on to fall just shy of winning the cup, though he has finished third, second, and third again on the Saturday program the past three trips to the three-eighths mile oval.
Mullen will also enter the weekend third in points just 22 markers behind new leader Jade Hastings.
Thanks to all of our sponsors for their continued support!
Native Nations Cannabis
Knife River
Home of Economy
Auto Finance Super Center
Royal River Casino & Hotel
605 Lending
Simplot – Grand Forks, ND
State Bank of Fairmont
Valvoline Instant Oil Change
Bergstrom Electric
Northland Custom Woodworking
Bosh Enterprise
2023 Stats:
Races: 38
Wins: 1
Top 5’s: 10
Top 10’s: 14
