On Friday afternoon, Adam Sobolik graduates from high school; on Friday night, he wins a feature at River Cities Speedway

On Friday afternoon, Adam Sobolik graduated from East Grand Forks Sacred Heart High School. But the 17-year-old couldn’t wait for the formal ceremony and the photographs to end.

He wanted to go racing.

A few hours later, he was racing. And he wound up in Victory Lane as Sobolik won a dramatic wingless sprints feature at River Cities Speedway, a win he secured with a Turn 3 pass on the white flag lap.

It was a big day for Sobolik.

Graduation, said Sobolik, went too slow. He couldn’t wait to get to the track. But he was anything but slow on the race track, winning his heat and the feature.

“I wanted to be at the track all day,” said Sobolik. “Graduation was too slow. I like things fast."

Ross Cummings led the first 19 laps. He ran the low groove, with Sobolik mainly running the high side.

Sobolik made his move for the win going into Turn 3.

“I kept pushing the track more and more every lap,” he said. “That last lap … to be honest I’d rather go over the edge trying to win than finish second.

“I really wanted it. This is probably the most important race for me to win because this is my hometown and I’ve wanted to race here my whole life.”

Sobolik edged Cumming by 0.405 seconds. Cory Palm finished third as the wingless sprints raced for the first time this season at RCS.

Jade Hastings captured the 25-lap sprint feature, leading the final 18 laps as he held off Wade Nygaard for the win.

Nick Omdahl finished third, followed by Jordan Graham and Shane Roemeling.

“This win feels really good,” said Hastings. “We’ve had a rough start to the season. We got the monkey off our back.”

A number of caution flags came throughout the night in most of the classes.

In the late model feature, Mike Greseth captured the 20-lap win, beating Shane Edginton to the flag stand by 1.930 seconds. Brody Troftgruben was third, followed by Tom Corcoran and Cole Schill.

Lance Schill won the Midwest modified feature, leading throughout. Matt Schow was second and Darren Pfau third.

Bryce Reimer had a tough break in the streets feature. The Cavalier driver was leading before rolling off Turn 2 with seven laps to go.

John Halvorson capitalized and went on to win. Ryne Urhrich finished second while Ryan Johnson came in third.

The World of Outlaws will make their first visit to RCS next Friday.

1/2: NOSA sprints driver Jade Hastings waves the checkered flag after clinching the feature race win Friday, May 28, 2021 at River Cities Speedway. Wayne Nelson / Grand Forks Herald

2/2: WISSOTA Street Stocks driver Bryce Reimer watches as River Cities Speedway fire and track crews work to push his car off its side during the Premier Racing Series event at the Bullring on Friday, May 28, 2021. Wayne Nelson / Grand Forks Herald