Belleville, IL. (07/27/2020) On what was a warm Saturday night with temperatures still in the 90's at race time, the POWRi Lucas Oil Minn-Kota Lightning Sprint Series returned to Greenbush Race Park for some exciting racing action. Dexter Dvergsten & Alan Truscinski started this heated event by capturing heat race wins, setting the stage for a great main event. Corey Olson and second-year driver Bryce Haugeberg would lead the field to the green from the front row in the 15-lap main event. In what was to become one of the fiercest battles for the front, Kelsi Pederson would drive from deep in the starting line-up to continue to rack-up feature event victories.
With several of the top-5 drivers spreading out due to their redraw for the main event, Corey Olson, in only his second week back behind the wheel of a lightning sprint this year, would take the lead off at the drop of the green. Olson would do his best to keep everyone behind him, running consistent laps in the Big Show Motorsports #16 car, only to be slowed by a caution bunching the field back up and setting the stage for a wild finish.
The restart proved to be just what Kelsi Pederson needed to capitalize, taking advantage of the caution after methodically working her way from the eighth starting position. Pederson was able to make the most of the late-race caution, sneaking past Olson on the inside and taking the lead never to relinquish the top spot. A remarkably close battle for second thru fifth would then ensue, as drivers were often three-wide on the front-straight, everyone fighting hard for each position as the laps kept winding down.
With the final flag-waving, Kelsi Pederson would again put her #93 lighting sprint in victory lane, in the process padding her point lead as the closet competitor Alan Truscinski finished in the sixth position. Consistently recording strong showings while gaining speed and comfortability behind the wheel, second-year driver Cody Swenson #51 had an impressive run finishing in the runner up spot and is well on his way to Victory Lane soon. The top five at the Greenbush Race Park were Pederson, Swenson, Olson, Dvergsten & Haugeberg.
The POWRi Lucas Oil Minn-Kota Lightning Sprints along with the NLSA Lightning Sprints will embark on a doubleheader this weekend as Friday, July 31st the series return to the legendary "BULLRING" at the River Speedway in Grand Forks ND. Pits open at 4 PM with driver’s registration from 4-6 PM. Hot-Laps begin at 7 PM, racing action to follow.
Then, on Saturday, August 1st the Minn-Kota Lightning sprints head south 75 miles to tackle the extremely fast 3/8-mile Red River Valley Speedway, as part of the Sanders Mod Tour. (Rain Date Sunday if necessary) Pits are set to open at 3 PM with Hot-Laps at 7 PM, racing to follow.
Drivers as a reminder, you must pre-register for the Saturday's races at Red River Valley Speedway by going to the link listed before 6 PM the day of the event. Drivers failing to do so will start in the back!
Fans unable to attend Saturday nights action can listen to the action on KRJB 106.5 FM on your radio or stream audio on your phone to listen to the races for free. Those unable to attend can also stream the action live at RACERX.COM with a subscription for Saturday nights feature events. As a bonus, the Modifieds will run two complete and separate shows on Saturday night.
For more information such as driver profiles, points standings, and series rules visit the POWRi Minn-Kota Lightning Sprint Series Facebook page.
Follow along for more information such as race recaps, updates, full results, and press releases online at www.powri.com, or on Twitter & Instagram at @POWRi_Racing or on Facebook at POWRi.