ALTA, Iowa (Aug. 3) – Chris Abelson had an All-Star kind of day on Wednesday.
Announced as a starter that morning for the upcoming Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational, Abelson raced his way onto the ballot for the 2012 race by winning the JR Motorsports Hawkeye Dirt Tour feature at Buena Vista Raceway that evening.
The IMCA Modified series victory paid $1,000. Abelson is now the eighth different driver to take the checkers in as many tour events this season.
Dustin Smith, Jay Noteboom, defending HDT champion Mike Jergens and Clayton Christensen made up the rest of the top five. Point leader Ryan Dolan gained a little breathing room with his 13th place finish, four places better than closest challenger Mark Elliott.
Kurt Krauskopf grabbed the lead at the start of the main event, which was yellow flagged by a quick caution for debris. Abelson passed Dylan Smith for second on lap three and started reeling in Krauskopf.
Krauskopf ran the middle groove while Abelson sailed around on the top shelf for several laps, finally gaining the front spot near halfway.
A lap 16 caution interrupted the tussle between Dustin Smith, Noteboom and Christensen over third. Krauskopf got out of sorts and lost a couple positions on the ensuing restart.
Abelson put some distance between himself and the rest of the pack while Noteboom and Smith continued their fight over second. The 16th starting Jergens reached the top four on lap 16 and challenged Noteboom for third.
No one could shake Abelson from the lead, with Smith ending in second. Noteboom edged Jergens by a half a car length for third while Christensen followed.
Ronn Lauritzen scored his sixth top 10 finish of the season to move into third in the standings, 19 points behind Dolan and 14 behind Elliott.
Next up on the tour schedule is a two-day show Friday and Saturday, Sept. 16-17 at Farley Speedway. The series concludes with Sept. 23 and 24 features at Marshalltown Speedway.
Feature results –
1. Chris Abelson, Sioux City;
2. Dustin Smith, Lake City;
3. Jay Noteboom, Hinton;
4. Mike Jergens, Plover;
5. Clayton Christensen, Spencer;
6. Justin Sackett, Moville;
7. Mike Albertsen, Audubon;
8. Dylan Smith, Osceola, Neb.;
9. Ronn Lauritzen, Jesup;
10. Larry Herring, Lone Tree;
11. Mark Schulte, Delhi;
12. Jeff Waterman, Quincy, Ill.;
13. Ryan Dolan, Lisbon;
14. Greg Peck, Sioux City;
15. Jeff Ignaszewski, Wells, Minn.;
16. Jim Thies, Mapleton;
17. Mark Elliott, Webster City;
18. Brian Schmitt, Wall Lake;
19. Kurt Krauskopf, Decorah;
20. Stacey Mills, Webb;
21. Todd Reed, Park View;
22. Albert Wolfgram, Boone;
23. Ricky Stephan, South Sioux City, Neb.;
24. Brad Williams, Lytton;
25. Jason Briese, Cleghorn;
26. Greg Cox, Altoona.
1st heat – 1. Abelson; 2. Williams; 3. Krausfopf; 4. Albertsen. 2nd heat – 1. Dylan Smith; 2. Dustin Smith; 3. Lauritzen; 4. Christensen. 3rd heat – 1. Sackett; 2. Briese; 3. Mills; 4. Cox.
Announced as a starter that morning for the upcoming Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational, Abelson raced his way onto the ballot for the 2012 race by winning the JR Motorsports Hawkeye Dirt Tour feature at Buena Vista Raceway that evening.
The IMCA Modified series victory paid $1,000. Abelson is now the eighth different driver to take the checkers in as many tour events this season.
Dustin Smith, Jay Noteboom, defending HDT champion Mike Jergens and Clayton Christensen made up the rest of the top five. Point leader Ryan Dolan gained a little breathing room with his 13th place finish, four places better than closest challenger Mark Elliott.
Kurt Krauskopf grabbed the lead at the start of the main event, which was yellow flagged by a quick caution for debris. Abelson passed Dylan Smith for second on lap three and started reeling in Krauskopf.
Krauskopf ran the middle groove while Abelson sailed around on the top shelf for several laps, finally gaining the front spot near halfway.
A lap 16 caution interrupted the tussle between Dustin Smith, Noteboom and Christensen over third. Krauskopf got out of sorts and lost a couple positions on the ensuing restart.
Abelson put some distance between himself and the rest of the pack while Noteboom and Smith continued their fight over second. The 16th starting Jergens reached the top four on lap 16 and challenged Noteboom for third.
No one could shake Abelson from the lead, with Smith ending in second. Noteboom edged Jergens by a half a car length for third while Christensen followed.
Ronn Lauritzen scored his sixth top 10 finish of the season to move into third in the standings, 19 points behind Dolan and 14 behind Elliott.
Next up on the tour schedule is a two-day show Friday and Saturday, Sept. 16-17 at Farley Speedway. The series concludes with Sept. 23 and 24 features at Marshalltown Speedway.
Feature results –
1. Chris Abelson, Sioux City;
2. Dustin Smith, Lake City;
3. Jay Noteboom, Hinton;
4. Mike Jergens, Plover;
5. Clayton Christensen, Spencer;
6. Justin Sackett, Moville;
7. Mike Albertsen, Audubon;
8. Dylan Smith, Osceola, Neb.;
9. Ronn Lauritzen, Jesup;
10. Larry Herring, Lone Tree;
11. Mark Schulte, Delhi;
12. Jeff Waterman, Quincy, Ill.;
13. Ryan Dolan, Lisbon;
14. Greg Peck, Sioux City;
15. Jeff Ignaszewski, Wells, Minn.;
16. Jim Thies, Mapleton;
17. Mark Elliott, Webster City;
18. Brian Schmitt, Wall Lake;
19. Kurt Krauskopf, Decorah;
20. Stacey Mills, Webb;
21. Todd Reed, Park View;
22. Albert Wolfgram, Boone;
23. Ricky Stephan, South Sioux City, Neb.;
24. Brad Williams, Lytton;
25. Jason Briese, Cleghorn;
26. Greg Cox, Altoona.
1st heat – 1. Abelson; 2. Williams; 3. Krausfopf; 4. Albertsen. 2nd heat – 1. Dylan Smith; 2. Dustin Smith; 3. Lauritzen; 4. Christensen. 3rd heat – 1. Sackett; 2. Briese; 3. Mills; 4. Cox.
