BRITT, Iowa (July 21) – Clayton Christensen added his name to the list of JR Motorsports Hawkeye Dirt Tour feature winners with a late move to the front Thursday night at Hancock County Speedway.
Christensen slipped underneath J.J. Wise with four laps left in the 30-lapper to gain the $1,000 IMCA Modified victory and qualify for the 2012 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot.
Ryan Watnem also caught Wise before taking the checkers. Rob Hughes and Jay Noteboom rounded out the top five while Mark Elliott pared Ryan Dolan’s lead in the standings to a single point with his sixth place finish.
Dolan saw a strong run end with a flat tire late in the contest. He got back on the track and salvaged 14[SUP]th[/SUP] place. NASCAR visitor Ken Schrader was ninth.
Dolan and Wise drew the front row starts. Wise gained an early two car length advantage, then pulled away with Dolan and Watnem in pursuit before a lap eight caution for debris.
Working the low line, Watnem stole second from Dolan as the eighth starting Christensen became a player, cracking the top three before midway.
Christensen moved into second on lap 21 and began trying the low side in his bid for the lead.
The second and last yellow waved with five laps left. Dolan was running in the top five at the time and was forced pitside with the flat tire.
Wise and Christensen battled for the lead on the restart, with Christensen working his way underneath for the lead and eventual win.
Watnem worked past Wise for second. Hughes ran steadily toward the front all night to finish fourth while Noteboom ran in the top five all night.
Christensen is the seventh different winner in as many series events this season. Next up for the tour is the Wednesday, Aug. 3 date at Buena Vista County Raceway in Alta.
Feature results –
1. Clayton Christensen, Spencer;
2. Ryan Watnem, Humboldt;
3. J.J. Wise, Manly;
4. Rob Hughes, Humboldt;
5. Jay Noteboom Hinton;
6. Mark Elliott, Webster City;
7. Keith Schmitz, Thornton;
8. Ronn Lauritzen, Jesup;
9. Ken Schrader, Concord, N.C.;
10. Jeff Waterman, Quincy, Ill.;
11. Mark Schulte, Delhi;
12. Josh Ruby, Lakota;
13. Jeff Ignaszewski, Wells, Minn.;
14. Ryan Dolan, Lisbon;
15. Curt Badker, Clear Lake;
16. Clint Hatlestad, Glencoe, Minn.;
17. Troy Swearingen, Thompson;
18. Keith Pittman, Waterloo;
19. Joe Schmit, Britt;
20. Kurt Krauskopf, Decorah;
21. Austin Wolf, Algona;
22. Dennis Betzer, Central City;
23. Larry Herring, Lone Tree.
1[SUP]st[/SUP] heat (top four) – 1. Noteboom; 2. Lauritzen; 3. Ignaszewski; 4. Wise. 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] heat – 1. Dolan; 2. Krauskopf; 3. Wolf; 4. Swearingen. 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] heat – 1. Schmitz; 2. Watnem; 3. Hughes; 4. Christensen.
Christensen slipped underneath J.J. Wise with four laps left in the 30-lapper to gain the $1,000 IMCA Modified victory and qualify for the 2012 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot.
Ryan Watnem also caught Wise before taking the checkers. Rob Hughes and Jay Noteboom rounded out the top five while Mark Elliott pared Ryan Dolan’s lead in the standings to a single point with his sixth place finish.
Dolan saw a strong run end with a flat tire late in the contest. He got back on the track and salvaged 14[SUP]th[/SUP] place. NASCAR visitor Ken Schrader was ninth.
Dolan and Wise drew the front row starts. Wise gained an early two car length advantage, then pulled away with Dolan and Watnem in pursuit before a lap eight caution for debris.
Working the low line, Watnem stole second from Dolan as the eighth starting Christensen became a player, cracking the top three before midway.
Christensen moved into second on lap 21 and began trying the low side in his bid for the lead.
The second and last yellow waved with five laps left. Dolan was running in the top five at the time and was forced pitside with the flat tire.
Wise and Christensen battled for the lead on the restart, with Christensen working his way underneath for the lead and eventual win.
Watnem worked past Wise for second. Hughes ran steadily toward the front all night to finish fourth while Noteboom ran in the top five all night.
Christensen is the seventh different winner in as many series events this season. Next up for the tour is the Wednesday, Aug. 3 date at Buena Vista County Raceway in Alta.
Feature results –
1. Clayton Christensen, Spencer;
2. Ryan Watnem, Humboldt;
3. J.J. Wise, Manly;
4. Rob Hughes, Humboldt;
5. Jay Noteboom Hinton;
6. Mark Elliott, Webster City;
7. Keith Schmitz, Thornton;
8. Ronn Lauritzen, Jesup;
9. Ken Schrader, Concord, N.C.;
10. Jeff Waterman, Quincy, Ill.;
11. Mark Schulte, Delhi;
12. Josh Ruby, Lakota;
13. Jeff Ignaszewski, Wells, Minn.;
14. Ryan Dolan, Lisbon;
15. Curt Badker, Clear Lake;
16. Clint Hatlestad, Glencoe, Minn.;
17. Troy Swearingen, Thompson;
18. Keith Pittman, Waterloo;
19. Joe Schmit, Britt;
20. Kurt Krauskopf, Decorah;
21. Austin Wolf, Algona;
22. Dennis Betzer, Central City;
23. Larry Herring, Lone Tree.
1[SUP]st[/SUP] heat (top four) – 1. Noteboom; 2. Lauritzen; 3. Ignaszewski; 4. Wise. 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] heat – 1. Dolan; 2. Krauskopf; 3. Wolf; 4. Swearingen. 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] heat – 1. Schmitz; 2. Watnem; 3. Hughes; 4. Christensen.
