What won the race: Dustin Strand of Grand Forks, N.D., staved off a couple challenges from Chad Becker in securing a convincing flag-to-flag victory in Saturday's 40-lap seventh annual Golden Hammer Classic at Devils Lake Speedway. Strand raced to the line 0.674 of a second ahead of Chad Becker for his first career Golden Hammer triumph, worth $5,000. The victory lifts Strand to a perfect 4-for-4 in Northern LateModel Racing Association action to start the season.

Quotable: “Ten (laps) to go, or maybe a little sooner that that, (the track) started rubbering up, so it was pretty tough. We caught the back of the field, but everybody was going about the same speed,” Stand said. “I tried to go around the outside of Jamie (Dietzler) there and got out of the rubber and Chad (Becker) got to next to me and I thought ‘I better keep my butt down on the bottom.’ It feels good, I’ve been trying a long time to win this race and it feels awesome to finally get it done.”

Key notes: Sixth-starting Chad Becker grabbed second from Kelsi Pederson on a lap-nine restart before pressuring Strand for the lead on lap 22, then making contact with him on lap 36 before the race was slowed for a lap-39 caution; Becker could not show his nose inside Strand on the two-lap dash to the checkers. ... Kelsi Pederson started second and finished third in her first major Late Model feature; it's the best finish for a female driver in NLRA history. ... Thirteenth-starting Don Shaw took fourth from Matt Schow on the late-race restart, with 16th-starting Brad Seng taking fifth; Schow slipped to eighth. ... Brody Troftgruben finished ninth after he spun as the leaders raced toward the white flag. ... Travis Robertson finished 18th after spinning on the ninth lap for the first slowdown. ... The Golden Hammer lasted 17 minutes, with 24 starters completing 40 laps. ... Mike Stearns and Steve Anderson tangled in the sixth heat race, the contact pushing Anderson off the backstretch, collecting Cole Schill; all three drivers failed to transfer out of the prelim; Cole Schill won the second consolation.

On the move: Cole Searing of Huron, S.D., started 19th and finished seventh.

Winner's sponsors: Strand’s Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Sturdy Racing Engine and sponsored by Walhalla Building Center, Q&Z Plumbing & Heating, Keewatin Truck Service, Freije Farms, Bemidji Welder’s Supply, Double Deuce Bar & Grill, Shocks by Hammer, Highside Truck Accessories & Sales, Generations Salon & Spa, Carr’s Grain Service, Kick'n Up Kountry Music Festival, Shocker Hitch and Tomahawk Media & Design.

Points chase: Before Devils Lake: 1. Dustin Strand (286); 2. Tyler Peterson (270); 3. Travis Robertson (246); 4. Brad Seng (244); 5. Cole Schill (238).

Current weather: Clear, 64°F

Car count: 43

Polesitter: Dustin Strand

Heat race winners: Tyler Peterson, Chad Becker, Amelia Eisenschenk, Trevor Anderson, Kelsi Pederson, Dustin Strand

Consolation race winners: Cole Searing, Cole Schill

Provisional starters: Rusty Kollman, Troy Schill, Brandon Corbett, Laine Schwehr

Next series race: June 20, I-94 EMR Speedway (Fergus Falls, MN) $1,500