Does not work - motor runs continuously instead of cycling on and off. If sections (1) and (2) are swapped, works! Why?

gistfile1.ino

//---------------------------------------------
// Libraries
//---------------------------------------------
#include <Wire.h>
#include <Adafruit_LEDBackpack.h>
#include <Adafruit_GFX.h>
#include <Adafruit_MotorShield.h>

//---------------------------------------------
// Pin configuration
//---------------------------------------------
//MOTORS
#define AUGER_OUT    1 //M1 on Adafruit V2 motor shield
#define FAN_OUT      2 //M2 on Adafruit V2 motor shield

#define TIME_DISPLAY 0x70 //I2C Address

//---------------------------------------------
// Variables and Setup
//---------------------------------------------
Adafruit_7segment time_display = Adafruit_7segment();

Adafruit_MotorShield AFMS = Adafruit_MotorShield(); 
Adafruit_DCMotor *auger = AFMS.getMotor(AUGER_OUT);

//---------------------------------------------
// Core Functions
//---------------------------------------------

/**
 * Run once at startup
 */
void setup() {
  //Comms
  Serial.begin(9600);
  Serial.println(F("Mindbleach Engineering - Motor AND Display Test"));
  time_display.begin(TIME_DISPLAY);

  //Motors
  AFMS.begin(); 
  auger->run(BACKWARD);
  auger->setSpeed(0);
}

int i=0;
void loop() {
  //(1)
  Serial.println("Setting auger to 50%");
  auger->setSpeed(128);
 
  //(2)
  Serial.println("Displaying i");
  time_display.print(i++, DEC);
  time_display.writeDisplay();
  
  delay(3000);
  Serial.println("Setting auger off");
  auger->setSpeed(0);
  delay(3000);
}

gistfile2.txt

i2c for above code: Motor runs slowly and doesn't stop. Display works.
[0xC0+0x26+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x08+]
[0xE0+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x7D+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x00+]
[0xC0+0x26+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x00+]

i2c for case when (1) and (2) are reversed. Motor starts/stops properly, display works.
[0xE0+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x7D+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x00+]
[0xC0+0x26+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x08+]
[0xC0+0x26+0x00+0x00+0x00+0x00+]