What won the race: Six-time and reigning Northern Late Model Racing Association champion Dustin Strand of Grand Forks, N.D., fired off from the outside row and led all 45 laps unchallenged in winning Saturday's eighth annual Golden Hammer Classic at Devils Lake Speedway. Strand beat Joey Pederson to the checkers for the $5,000 paycheck, his fifth NLRA victory of the season and 46th of his career, breaking a tie with Brad Seng the most in tour history.

Key notes: Strand scored his seventh overall feature win of the season, six of them coming at Devils Lake as he locked up the track championship. ... He swept the tour's weekend action at the Crary, N.D., third mile, including Friday's $1,500 opener. ... Strand's 12th career NLRA victory at Devils Lake moved him within four points of championship leader Shane Edginton with one race left in the season — Sept. 10 at his home track of River Cities Speedway. ... Fourth-starting Joey Pederson took second on the third lap but never seriously threatened Strand's lead over the final 42 circuits. ... Sixth-starting Brody Troftgruben prevailed to finish third after a midrace back-and-forth battle with Shane Edington that saw the two drivers swap the spot four times between laps 20-23. ... Eighth-starting Jason Strand slipped by Edginton on lap 42, dropping Edginton, who entered Friday as the NLRA points leader, to finish fifth. ... Polesitter Ryan Kereluk faded to 10th before getting eliminated in a massive multicar crash on lap 20. ... The race was slowed three times, none bigger than the lap-20 pileup that eliminated Kereluk, Brad Seng, Lucas Rodin, Rusty Kollman, Troy Schill and Dylan Langevin, necessitating a 15-minute red flag for cleanup. ... Seventh-running Travis Robertson retired under the third and final stoppage on lap 25. ... The race lasted 33 minutes with 10 starters completing 45 laps and 13 running at the finish.

On the move: Jesse Teunis of Lockport, Manitoba, started 21st and finished eighth.

Winner's sponsors: Strand’s AK Race Car is powered by a Sturdy Racing Engine and sponsored by Walhalla Building Center, Shocker Hitch Air Ride Towing, Double Deuce Bar & Grill, Freije Farms, Bemidji Welders Supply, Keewatin Truck Service, Q&Z Plumbing and Heating, Hillside Ag Services, Midwest Pest Control, Generations Salon, Miller Motivations, Carr’s Grain Service, Nelson Salvage, East Grand Forks Dental, Bun Lounge, Energy Release, Shocks by Hammer, Wehrs Machine and Tomahawk Media & Design.

Points chase: After Devils Lake: 1. Shane Edginton (1,174); 2. Dustin Strand (1,170); 3. Cole Schill (1,116); 4. Brody Troftgruben (1,046); 5. Joey Pederson (1,044).

Current weather: Clear, 79°F

Car count: 22

Polesitter: Ryan Kereluk

Heat race winners: Brody Troftgruben, Cole Schill, Dustin Strand

Next series race: September 10, River Cities Speedway (Grand Forks, ND) $2,092