Wade Nygaard of Grand Forks, ND has made two trips to the Cedar Lake Speedway this season for Midwest Powers Series events. On Saturday night July 6 during the popular World of Outlaws weekend at the western Wisconsin dirt oval, Nygaard made it two for two in the win column as he bested Chris Graf of Glencoe en route to the $3,000 top prize. In fact, it was a clean sweep for the night with Nygaard also winning his heat race and the dash for an extra $300 in the process from Al Parker Engines of Newton, Iowa. Nygaard was all smiles in Victory Lane on the 2nd Annual Boss Hogg/Daisy Duke Tribute Night presented by Donnohue Designs.
The 8-lap heat races were won by Jamey Ogston of Duluth and Nygaard. Each driver earned $100 from Al Parker Engines. As mentioned, Nygaard topped the 6-lap dash. With the preliminary events completed, it would be Nygaard and Ryan Bowers of Ham Lake on the front row for the feature. Nygaard led then opening lap but Bowers grabbed the lead on lap 2. Nygaard retook the top spot on lap 3. The red flag flew with five laps in the books when Lee Grosz of Harwood, ND and Bowers made contact in turn one which saw Bowers car flip over the concrete wall in turn two and end up in the grass area near the catch fence. Some drama played out under the red in the work area between the two teams, as tempers flared. Grosz ended up out of the race as well.
Once everything cooled down the race resumed, but it was under caution before a lap could be completed when James Broty of Lonsdale spun in turn four. Nygaard continued to show the way when the green flag replaced the yellow. Two-time Midwest Power Series Champion Chris Graf was on the move forward though. Graf took the lead on lap 10 from Nygaard, as the battle for the top spot was very good. The yellow light blinked on again with 12 laps in the books for a Jamey Ogston spin in turn 3. One lap later the red flag reappeared when rookie Scotty Broty of Lonsdale drifted high in turn two, contacted the wall and tipped over. Under the red flag, Dominic Scelzi, driving the Protofab 14 car, also retired from the race with an overheating engine. Nygaard retook the lead from Graf on the restart, survived one more caution with 17 laps scored when Tori Knutson spun in turn two, and went on the record his second Midwest Power Series victory of the season at Cedar Lake Speedway.
Graf finished second in his best run of the season so far and earned the $300 GRP Motorsports Highest Finishing Past Champion Bonus. Another two-time and defending Midwest Power Series Champion, Derrik Lusk of Jackson, finished third and earned the $200 GRP Motorsports/Minnesota Mafia Hard Charger Award with a +10 effort coming from his 13th starting spot. Chase Viebrock of New Richmond took over the Midwest Power Series point lead with his fourth place finish. Sye Anderson of Brainerd also turned in his best effort of the season with a fifth place finish and picked up the $200 Boxo USA Bonus in the process. Ogston and James Broty recovered from their spins to place sixth and seventh. Broty earned the $100 Boxo USA Bonus. Making his first appearance in a sprint car in several seasons, Andy Jones of Princeton, rode home in eighth followed by Tori Knutson and rookie Carter Chevalier. Thomas Kennedy of Winnipeg was unable to race at Cedar Lake Speedway when he destroyed his car the night before in a crash at the Knoxville Raceway and fell back to third in the current point standings.
The next Midwest Power Series event will see the series return for their third appearance at the Jackson Motorplex on July 12 followed by a big double-header weekend July 19 & 20 at Jackson and Knoxville. Strong fields are expected at all three shows, as drivers vie for the $3,000 to win top spot along with the usual heat race and dash winner bonuses from Al Parker Engines, the Hard Charger Award from GRP Motorsports/Minnesota Mafia and once again another BOXO USA Bonus night on July 19.
Midwest Power Series thanks it 2019 sponsors Midwest Power Equipment, GRP Motorsports, Mastell Brothers Trailer Service, Dekalb Asgrow Seeds, Al Parker Engines, BOXO USA, Donnohue Designs, AO Coolers, Grandview Buildings, LIFAN USA, Eagle and Vortex Racing Products.