After a month of waiting out frustrating spring weather, River Cities Speedway finally managed to pull off its season opener Friday night. Well, most of it.
The 25-lap sprint feature was called after one lap, due to the lateness of the night and because of a rough track - one that took its toll on a handful of cars.
Four times the green flag fell on the sprint feature. But only one lap was in the books when RCS officials decided to call the race. Double sprint features have been scheduled for next Friday.
The RCS opener drew a whopping 29 sprint cars. And 26 started the feature. How many would have survived had the race continued is anyone’s guess.
However, some drivers wanted the race to continue.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The track was rough but it was the same for everyone,” said Mark Dobmeier, who was the leader after one lap. “I apologize to the fans that stayed out here in the cold hoping to see the race.
“I wanted to finish this race bad.”
Mitch Mack and Tom Egeland both crashed their cars on the first lap. Earlier in the night, Ryan Flaten flipped his sprint in a heat race.
Three features did manage to finish, however.
In the late models, survival was the key.
Joey Pederson, last season’s RCS champion, won the 20-lap feature.
Pederson grabbed the lead on Lap 5 and led the rest of the way. Dustin Strand was the early race leader but slid high on Turn 4, allowing Pederson to slip by the No. 71 late model.
There were 16 late models that showed up at RCS. But only six finished the feature.
ADVERTISEMENT
Strand finished second, followed by Troy Schill, Tom Corcoran and Cole Schill.
It was a rough night for the late models as well.
“It was difficult,” said Pederson in Victory Lane.
Ryan Schroeder won the 18-lap Midwest modifieds feature, a race that had only one caution flag.
Schroeder took the lead on Lap 7 as he passed Ricky Hamel on the back straight-away.
Mike Anderson won the 15-lap streets feature. Anderson, who won a feature earlier this season at the Devils Lake Speedway, grabbed the lead on Lap 7 from Jordan Duray.
