What won the race: Winning for the fourth time in his last seven starts, fifth-starting Ricky Weiss of Headingley, Manitoba, stole the lead from newly-crowned Northern LateModel Racing Association champion Brad Seng of Grand Forks, N.D., on the 27th of 30 laps and went on for a $1,250 victory.

Key notes: Weiss stalked Seng for most of the race prior to making the winning pass. ... Seng, who started fourth and led the first 26 circuits, kept pace with Weiss over the final laps and finished just .387 seconds behind the winner. ... Thirteen drivers were on the lead lap and 21 were running at the finish. ... The race was slowed by a single caution on the third lap. ... Mike Balcaen of Winnipeg, Manitoba, rallied from seventh to win the second heat. ... Thursday's event concluded the NLRA season. ... Weiss became the fourth different NLRA winner at River Cities this season and the fourth different driver in as many years to open the John Seitz Memorial weekend with an NLRA victory. ... The Prelude to the Johnny opened the River Cities weekend that is headlined by the $9,200-to-win John Seitz Memorial, a non-touring race for WISSOTA Late Models. ... Speedshift TV is providing a pay-per-view coverage of the three-day event.

On the move: A.J. Diemel of Elk Mound, Wis., came forward from ninth to round out the podium; Jeff Wildung of Nassau, Minn., started 17th and finished eighth.

Winner's sponsors: Weiss's No. 7 Bloomquist Race Car has a Pro Power Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from A.I.E. Mobility, Bell Mobility, Derrick's Sandblasting, Eibach Springs, Forest Flying Service, Hands On Excavating, J&C Trucking, Keewatin Truck Service, Metalz In Motion, New Vision Graphics, Speedworld Indoor Kart Track, Turk Enterprises and Wulff Pumps.

Points chase: Seng wrapped up his second NLRA championship in three seasons with his runner-up finish.

Car count: 38

Polesitter: Don Shaw

Heat race winners: Ricky Weiss, Mike Balcaen, Pat Doar, Don Shaw, Brad Seng

Consolation race winners: Eric Breeschoten, Jeff Wildung