Strand, Hunter and Dykhoff get checkers at GRP

Some say that if you want to cure a drought, open a racetrack because it's sure to rain on raceday. And once again mother nature was going to have a say in the nights racing action at the Greenbush Race Park. The pit gates opened at 4pm, and the dark clouds rolled in at 4:05. But mother nature decided to give us a break and only give us a few light sprinkles and the racing would go on.

It was the third annual "Duggan" Nelson memorial for the Midwest Modifieds and Hunter Hougard of Warren, Mn., would lead the 20 car field to the green. But the yellow would fly early and often, nine times in all. Hougard would lead most of the race, and was challenged for the top spot on nearly every lap. Aaron Blacklance of Thief River Falls, Mn., and Mike Nichols of Watertown, S.D. were the main rivals. The last caution flew on lap 19 of the 25 lap feature and Austin Hunter of Winnipeg, Mb., who started seventh, had quietly worked his way into the second spot. Hunter looked for a way to get around Hougard for the next couple of laps and finally made the pass for the lead coming out of corner four with three to go and go on to pick up the win. Hougard would finish second and Blacklance third. The heat wins went to Hougard, Nichols, Reise Stenberg of Argusville, N.D. and Doyle Erickson of Bagley, Mn.

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