Former NLRA champion Olson dies
Former Northern LateModel Association touring champion Troy Olson of Fargo, N.D., died Wednesday, according to NLRA officials. The dirt racer who competed in several dirt racing divisions through 2008 was co-NLRA champion with Cody Skytland in 2006 and tallied seven NLRA victories between 2002 and 2008.
The driver who spent part of his Late Model career in Kenny Johnson’s Northwest Auto Body No. 0, driving as a teammate to Mitch Johnson, was one of just two drivers to win both NLRA and Northern Outlaw Sprint Association victories (the other is 10-time World of Outlaws sprint car champion Donny Schatz).
Along with his NLRA success, Olson was among the top Late Model drivers at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D., and his hometown Red River Valley Speedway. He had 13 career Late Model victories at River Cities.
Besides Late Models and sprint cars, Olson competed in hobby stocks, super stocks and modifieds, often racing with the assistance from from his father, former racer Ron Olson, who served as crew chief and mechanic.
