Second Leg of the Gerdau Northern Tour brings World of Outlaws back to River Cities Speedway
by Tony Veneziano
GRAND FORKS, N.D. — August 18, 2016 — The World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series returns to River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, North Dakota on Friday, August 26 for the Second Leg of the Gerdau Northern Tour. In the First Leg of the Gerdau Northern Tour back in June, Donny Schatz was victorious at the high-banked bullring for the third-straight time, which marked his sixth overall win with the series at the track in his home state.
Schatz, who leads the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series with 17 wins this season, took the lead from Logan Schuchart on lap-21 and was out front for the remainder of the 40-lap contest. Schatz has won four of the last seven races the series has contested at the always thrilling high-banked bullring.
David Gravel, who has won seven races this season and is currently second in points, finished second at River Cities Speedway in June to earn his best-career finish at the track. Gravel has been very strong on the smaller tracks this year, scoring wins on bullrings at Wilmot Raceway in Wisconsin in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Badger 40, as well as at Thunderbowl Raceway in California, Tri-State Speedway in Indiana and Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Missouri.
Logan Schuchart finished third at River Cities Speedway in June, after leading the first 20 laps from the pole. The Pennsylvania native scored his first World of Outlaws win earlier this season at Cedar Lake Speedway in Wisconsin.
Shane Stewart charged from the 11th starting spot to finish fourth in June at River Cities Speedway. The veteran driver has five wins thus far in 2016 and is just outside of the top-five in points.
Daryn Pittman, who is a past winner at River Cities Speedway in World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series competition, finished fifth at the track in June. The 2013 series champion sits fourth in points, just three point behind Brad Sweet, his teammate at Kasey Kahne Racing.
Sweet ran sixth in the First Leg of the Gerdau Northern Tour in June. He opened the night by turning the fastest lap in time trials. Sweet sits atop that statistical category this season with 11 fast time awards.
Paul McMahan powered his way from the 16th starting spot to finish seventh at River Cities Speedway in June. Jason Sides was just one spot behind in eighth. Joey Saldana, who has two wins in his career at the track, finished ninth back in June.
Jason Johnson, who won the $150,000 Knoxville Nationals last weekend made his second-career start at River Cities Speedway in June. Last August, Johnson raced for the first time at the high-banked bullring and powered his way from the 16th starting spot to finish fourth.
Also in action on Friday, August 26 will be Jacob Allen, son of Hall of Famer Bobby Allen, who owns the two-car Shark Racing team.
A pair of drivers are competing for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award in 2016. Greg Wilson, who is a two-time champion with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions, is the leading contender for the honor. Clyde Knipp, an 18-year-old driver from Missouri, will be visiting River Cities Speedway for the second time.
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Tickets for the Second Leg of the 2016 Northern Tour for the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series events at River Cities Speedway can be purchased in advance online at https://slspromotions.ticketforce.com or by calling 815-344-2023, as well at the River Cities Speedway track office and ticket outlets around the Grand Forks area and at the track on race day.
