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Leave no doubt

Sprint cars visited Nodak Speedway for the first time this season and it wasn’t much of a race.

Greg Nikitenko – of Minot – topped a field of 11 cars, beating out Dusty Lawson by about 3/4 of the track to easily win the featured race of the night.

The race was won handedly by Nikitenko, however, Ryder Olson provided stiff competition for the majority of the race.

Olson battled back from an early deficit and closed to within a few car lengths of Nikitenko before a caution flag waved with 10 laps to go.

The two battled on the initial restart, but with four laps to race, Olson’s car malfunctioned and he exited the track on the back straight away.

No caution was singled and Nikitenko eased to victory.

Murray Temple placed third, Todd Mickelson fourth and Kevin Lawson fifth.

Rain, rain go away

The sport modified A-main race didn’t have much flow to begin with as the race was marred by eight cautions

Throw in a 20-minute-rain delay and the race was a downright grind to the finish.

Robbie Conway – of Westhope – emerged victorious for his second win at the Playground of Power this season.

Conway seized the lead midway through the 20-lap race, overtaking Brent Burckhard, who led for the first half of the competition.

Conway quickly opened up a sizable advantage and navigated four cautions in the latter half of the race to claim the checkered flag.

Robby Rosselli crossed second while Nathan Burke placed third.

In dramatic fashion

Dana Brandt held second place for the majority of the hobby stock A-main on Sunday.

And it was his crafty driving among a lapped pack of cars that allowed him to drive down victory lane.

Andrew Bertsch led for 13 of the 15-lap race.

After quickly gaining the lead from Trever Hass during the opening lap, Bertsch opened up a comfortable edge on the pack.

He retained the advantage up until he approached lapping his first car with three laps to go. Bertsch made contact with Colton Whitson before eventually passing him.

But is was that tie up – along with another batch of lapped racers – that allowed Brandt to makes things interesting.

Real interesting.

Brandt was neck and neck with Bertsch with one lap to race and on the final turn Brandt elected to go high, and Bertsch low and Brandt emerged just ahead of Bertsch to steal the victory.

Vance Tomlinson placed third.

Stock cars and modifieds ran too late for full coverage.

Racing at the Playground of Power continues next week as fans get a double does as Memorial Day weekend brings races to both Sunday and Monday night.

John Denega covers Minot High and Minot State athletics and general assignments. Follow him on Twitter @JohnDenega_MDN.

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