Andy Pake scores RRV opener; eighth career Sprint Series win
WEST FARGO, N.D. (May 10, 2024) – On an unusually fast and tacky Red River Valley Speedway, Andy Pake led 19 of 20 laps in Friday’s Superior Customs Red River Sprint Series feature to claim the first win of the 2024 season.
Last year’s Red River Valley Speedway track champion, Pake, and the 2023 Red River Sprint Series titlist, Tye Wilke, led the field of 10 to the green flag. Wilke got the jump on the opening circuit, but Pake came charging back. The two were side by side at the completion of lap one with the edge going to Wilke.
Pake took the lead in turn one, however, and drove out to a three car length lead.
From there, Pake was untouchable. Pake ran the fastest lap of the night, a 13.577 second lap, averaging a blistering 99.43mph around the three-eighths mile oval.
On the final lap, fourth place runner Brandon Rekow lost a powerplant, bringing out the red flag.
With Pake approaching the checkers, the race was deemed official. The win was Pake’s eighth with the Red River Sprint Series and seventh at Red River Valley Speedway.
“I knew if I let Tye get away, it would be tricky to catch him,” said Pake in Finley Motorsports Victory Lane. “I was glad to be able to make a move in the first couple of laps. Once I got going, I wasn’t sure if I was making the fastest laps, but it all worked out.”
Wilke came home second with Amelia Eisenschenk rounding out the podium. Ty Hanten picked up the night’s Keith Berger Realtor Century 21 FM Realty Hard Charger, advancing five positions, with Morgan Nyquist rounding out the top five.
Lap Leaders: Tye Wilke (1); Andy Pake (2-20)
Keith Berger Realtor Century 21 FM Realty Hard Charger: Ty Hanten (+5)
RESULTS:
A Feature: 1. 64-Andy Pake[2]; 2. 72-Tye Wilke[1]; 3. 1-Amelia Eisenschenk[3]; 4. 13-Ty Hanten[9]; 5. 39-Morgan Nyquist[7]; 6. (DNF) 69-Brandon Rekow[8]; 7. (DNF) 69C-Tom Cummings[10]; 8. (DNF) 3M-Marcus Rothenbacher[4]; 9. (DNF) 3D-Dan Griep[6]; 10. (DNF) 19B-Jack Berger[5]
Heat 1: 1. 1-Amelia Eisenschenk[2]; 2. 69-Brandon Rekow[4]; 3. 72-Tye Wilke[5]; 4. 3M-Marcus Rothenbacher[1]; 5. 13-Ty Hanten[3]
Heat 2: 1. 39-Morgan Nyquist[1]; 2. 19B-Jack Berger[2]; 3. 3D-Dan Griep[5]; 4. 64-Andy Pake[4]; 5. (DNF) 69C-Tom Cummings[3]