EGF's Pulkrabek picks up first career win at River Cities Speedway
· Yahoo Sports
May 16—GRAND FORKS — Gage Pulkrabek began the 2026 race season traveling and competing against High Limit Racing, one of the top two sprint car circuits in the country. Racing against the best in the country apparently has paid off for the 19-year-old East Grand Forks sprint car driver.
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Pulkrabek returned home Friday night, winning the season-opening NOSA 25-lap feature at River Cities Speedway — his first career win at The Bullring.
Pulkrabek caught a break when NOSA career wins leader Mark Dobmeier spun out with 13 laps to go. At the time, Dobmeier led Pulkrabek by 2.704 seconds.
"It's a pretty big win for me," said Pulkrabek. "It's my home track."
He said Dobmeier's bobble opened the door for him. "But the track conditions were great. The bottom didn't wear out until probably the last restart."
Dobmeier was looking for career NOSA win No. 199.
"The car was really good," said Dobmeier. "I just drove it a little too hard into the corner."
Jade Hastings, the defending NOSA season champion, finished second, followed by Jack Croaker, Nick Omdahl and Colton Young.
Friday's windy conditions forced RCS officials to alter the program. Sprint cars didn't hit the track until after all the heat races in the other divisions and two features were completed.
Pulkrabek said he will return to the HIgh Limit series next week. The circuit's next race is in Pennsylvania.
He said he's learned a lot so far running a national series.
"You just have to find a way to push yourself through," said Pulkrabek. "You just can't stick behind people and wait for them to mess up. You've got to find a way to force yourself through."
Pulkrabek said he still hopes to race this season at RCS.
In other classes, Shane Edginton captured the 20-lap late model feature, passing pole-sitter Kelsi Pederson for the lead with eight laps to go. Edginton caught Pederson on the back straightaway and managed to grab the lead in Turns 3 and 4.
"I knew we were pretty good," said the Winnipeg driver. "I just had to bide my time."
Dustin Strand, who started seventh, closed strong to take second, 3.767 seconds off the lead. Pederson finished third, followed by her dad, Joey, and John Seng.
"It was kind of surreal watching her lead all those laps," said Joey of his daughter.
The late model field also featured East Grand Forks driver Tom Corcoran, who began his 57th season of racing Friday night.
Eric Guyot won the wingless sprint feature, leading all 20 laps. Nick Shirek, a former 410 sprint driver, finished second, 1.142 seconds off the pace.
Winnipeg driver Frank Vreet won the Midwest modified feature while Cole Greseth captured the 20-lap streets event.
Greseth, a Harwood, N.D., driver, has raced four times this season, winning three features.
RCS will next race on Thursday, May 22, to avoid competing with the Memorial Day weekend.
River Cities Speedway
Friday's features
Sprints
1. Gage Pulkrabek, 2. Jade Hastings,3. Jack Croaker, 4. Nick Omdahl, 5. Colton Young
Late models
1. Shane Edginton, 2. Dustin Strand, 3. Kelsi Pederson, 4. Joey Pederson 5, John Seng
Wingless sprints
1. Eric Guyot, 2. Nick Shirek, 3. Jeremy Lizakowski, 4. Steve Nordrum, 5. Myles Tomlinson
Midwest modifieds
1. Frank Vreet, 2. Brenden Luschinski, 3. Austin Hunter, 4. Jory Berg, 5. Cylen Vargason
Streets
1. Cole Greseth, 2. John Halvorson, 3. Deryk Weleski, 4. Blaine Barnes, 5. Josh Barker