Some times that fastest way around a race track is not a straight line.

Drivers took advantage of multiple lanes of racing to pick up feature victories during the season opener at Brown County Speedway, Aberdeen, Friday night.

Mike Stearns took a little advice from his pit crew on the way to winning the Modified feature. The Aberdeen driver decided to jump straight to the bottom of the oval, despite the previous feature winner driving on the high side.

“They put a little water down around the top so I figured that would take a little bit to come in. (Kent) Arment started outside front row, so I’m like no use going and following him,” Stearns said. “If we have an opportunity to get to the bottom and maybe poke a nose on him and take the lead, we’re going to try that.”

That strategy work as Stearns grabbed an early lead and was circling the track on the low side, when he noticed his pit members signaling him to move to the top of the racing surface.

“It was very good for the longest time and I felt comfortable down there. The car was really good, and then with that caution with five to go, my pit guys were pointing me to the top,” Stearns said. “I couldn’t commit to it, so I went back to the bottom after the restart. I thought I had a little bit left on the bottom I could have run a little harder, so I told myself to give that a try, and they were still pointing me to the top, so I went up to the top.”

Stearns said he wasn’t overly concerned about switching lines, because he knows the BCS track very well.

“I’ve got enough laps around here now that it’s not too bad,” Stearns said. “If you’re at a track where you’re not familiar with, then you don’t know what you’ve got, but enough laps around this place that I felt comfortable doing it and they were telling me to do it, so I had to do it.”

The feature victory was the second season-opening win in a row for Stearns.

“We won Watertown Sunday night at their opener and now we won our opener here,” Stearns said. “We’ve been running really good on the road to start out the season, so probably the best start to a race season that I’ve ever had, so hopefully we can keep it going.”

Mike Nichols of Watertown also changed his line late in the race to claim a victory in the Midwest Modified feature.

Nichols was running on the bottom while Ryan Ost of Adrian, N.D. was rolling along with a lead on the high side.

However, on a late restart, Ost left the door open and Nichols took advantage.

“I think he knew the top was better, but he knew he should be on the bottom on the restart,” Nichols said. “He was little indecisive that last restart, but the restarts before that he had been running the bottom and blocking my plan. He just missed it a little bit there. When they give you a little bit, you’ve got to take a lot.”

While the bottom was solid, Nichols knew that the top was faster because he couldn’t quite pass Ost.

“I was trying to pace myself with him on the bottom and then I found it on the bottom,” Nichols said, “but I couldn’t make as much speed as he could make on the top.”

Nichols patiently waited for an opportunity to present itself and was there to make the most of it.

“All in all it played out good,” Nichols said. “It was a lot of patience, a lot of frustration from behind the helmet, but sometimes patience is key. It was well worth it.”

Nichols, who also won last weekend at Watertown, is looking forward to next week’s special race at BCS.

“Hopefully, we can keep a little momentum rolling,” Nichols said. “I know the REBEL Tour is here next weekend, so it’s always good to know that your stuff’s good when they’re coming to town.”

A late restart also proved to be factor in the Street Stock feature as Kyle Anderson of Jamestown, N.D., was able to maintain his lead.

“I blew it off the top beforehand,” Anderson said. “I couldn’t have done it without that yellow and whatnot. It’s just the saving grace for the night.”

Anderson, who has struggled a bit at other tracks so far this season, was happy with his season-opening win at BCS.

“We’ve had a pretty rough start to the season,” Anderson said, “so it’s nice to knock one down and knowing stuff’s heading in the right direction.”

Trevor Nelson of Warner won the Super Stock feature, while Aberdeen’s Chad Becker took the checkered flag in the Late Model feature.

Auto racing continues Friday at 7 p.m.

To see the complete results, click on the following link:

https://www.myracepass.com/events/526071/races