MULLEN COMPETES IN FIRST KNOXVILLE 360 NATIONALS
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (August 9, 2023) – Brendan Mullen and the Valvoline Instant Oil Change / Bergstrom Electric 11M team decided to make the nine-hour trip to Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway to compete in the 33rd 360 Knoxville Nationals last Friday and Saturday night before returning to the Fargo-Moorhead metro area to meet back up with the Northern Outlaw Sprint Association at Buffalo River Speedway in Glyndon, MN.
With only four previous appearances at Iowa’s famed half-mile, the 20-year-old former NOSA champion headed into the event wanting to get a few more laps at the track.
Mullen’s weekend got off to an inauspicious start, however, as he drew the 72 pill out of a possible 75 available, which meant he would be going out fourth to last to qualify. Rolling out 51st in the order, Mullen did jump up 14 spots in qualifying. Mullen finished his night just one spot short of the B-Main after finishing fifth in the C-Main.
Slated to start sixth in the E-Main on Saturday night, Mullen moved up to fourth on the opening lap. Mullen made one more pass on lap three to finish third and transfer into the D-Main.
With only ten laps to work with, Mullen did pass five cars in the four-and-a-half-minute race, making for a total of eight passes in the 19 laps he ran.
Making the eight-hour trip back to Fargo on Sunday, Mullen rejoined the NOSA series at Buffalo River Speedway. Another poor draw saw Mullen work his way up from the sixth and final starting spot in his heat to finish third.
Starting the 30-lap feature in the ninth starting spot, Mullen spent the first half of the race making his way through the second half of the top ten, eventually making it into the top five just before the midway point.
Mullen saw his top five run ended on the 21st lap when he tried to avoid the fifth-place car that spun in front of him and ended up flipping in turn two.
Mullen will take the weekend off before returning to the track on August 18th for the Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin’ Challenge at River Cities Speedway.
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: 43
Wins: 1
Top 5’s: 11
Top 10’s: 15
