By Jeff Werderman
WEST UNION, Iowa (July 20) – Darin Duffy took the JR Motorsports Hawkeye Dirt Tour for IMCA Modifieds win at the Fayette County Speedway.
Duffy had to fight through lapped traffic, a late race caution and pressure from one of the top rookie contend¬ers in the Modified ranks for the Tuesday night checkers. The victory paid $1,000 and put Duffy on the ballot for the 2011 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational.
Nate Caruth grabbed the early race lead in the 30-lapper and opened a comfortable lead, but was never quite able to pull away. Behind him, Jeff Waterman and Mike Jergens dueled door-to-door for second place.
Duffy worked from his ninth place starting position and interrupted that battle for second. By lap nine, Duffy had snuck by Jergens for second and began to close in on Caruth.
Duffy worked the low line to take the lead on lap 11. Two laps later, Jergens used the same line to slip by Ca¬ruth and the chase was on.
As Duffy began negotiating lapped traffic, Jergens narrowed the gap a couple of car lengths at a time. Despite some two-wide battles between back runners, Duffy was able to find narrow gaps to squeeze through and hold Jergens at bay.
The caution flag waved on lap 25 and gave Jergens, the top rookie in points for IMCA’s ButlerBuilt North Cen¬tral Region, his chance.
Jergens put his nose under Duffy a couple times over the final five laps, but Duffy was the first to the finish line.
Jergens finished second. Waterman, Caruth, and Vern Jackson rounded out the top five.
Ed Thomas took hard charger honors, gaining 13 places to finish 12th. Ron Pope, Mark Elliott and Greg Cox were all involved in an early crash that relegated each to the pits.
Josh Foster, the tour point leader coming into the event, was not able to attend the NAPA of West Union-sponsored show after sustaining a non-racing injury that will sideline him for a few weeks.
Next up for the Hawkeye Dirt Tour is a trip to Upper Iowa Speedway in Decorah on Thurs¬day, July 29.
Feature results – 1. Darin Duffy, Hazleton; 2. Mike Jergens, Plover; 3. Jeff Waterman, Quincy, Ill.; 4. Nate Caruth, Ames; 5. Vern Jackson, Waterloo; 6. Rich Smith, Davenport; 7. Richie Gustin Jr., Gilman; 8. Justin O'Brien, West Union; 9. Mike Burbridge, Delhi; 10. Mark Schulte, Delhi; 11. Jason Snyder, Dunkerton; 12. Ed Thomas, Waterloo; 13. Ronn Lau¬ritzen, Jesup; 14. Kurt Krauskopf, Decorah; 15. Riley Emmel, Estevan, Sask.; 16. Dennis Betzer, Central City; 17. Toby Hartman, Ryan; 18. David McClain, Potosi, Wis.; 19. Ron Pope, Mason City; 20. Jeff Morris, Long Grove; 21. Mark Elliott, Webster City; 22. Greg Cox, Altoona; 23. Jimmy Gustin, Marshalltown; 24. Shawn Ryan, Waterloo; 25. Kent Cros¬key, Polk City; 26. Rick Speck, Gar¬win.
Heat winners were Duffy, O’Brien and Morris.
WEST UNION, Iowa (July 20) – Darin Duffy took the JR Motorsports Hawkeye Dirt Tour for IMCA Modifieds win at the Fayette County Speedway.
Duffy had to fight through lapped traffic, a late race caution and pressure from one of the top rookie contend¬ers in the Modified ranks for the Tuesday night checkers. The victory paid $1,000 and put Duffy on the ballot for the 2011 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational.
Nate Caruth grabbed the early race lead in the 30-lapper and opened a comfortable lead, but was never quite able to pull away. Behind him, Jeff Waterman and Mike Jergens dueled door-to-door for second place.
Duffy worked from his ninth place starting position and interrupted that battle for second. By lap nine, Duffy had snuck by Jergens for second and began to close in on Caruth.
Duffy worked the low line to take the lead on lap 11. Two laps later, Jergens used the same line to slip by Ca¬ruth and the chase was on.
As Duffy began negotiating lapped traffic, Jergens narrowed the gap a couple of car lengths at a time. Despite some two-wide battles between back runners, Duffy was able to find narrow gaps to squeeze through and hold Jergens at bay.
The caution flag waved on lap 25 and gave Jergens, the top rookie in points for IMCA’s ButlerBuilt North Cen¬tral Region, his chance.
Jergens put his nose under Duffy a couple times over the final five laps, but Duffy was the first to the finish line.
Jergens finished second. Waterman, Caruth, and Vern Jackson rounded out the top five.
Ed Thomas took hard charger honors, gaining 13 places to finish 12th. Ron Pope, Mark Elliott and Greg Cox were all involved in an early crash that relegated each to the pits.
Josh Foster, the tour point leader coming into the event, was not able to attend the NAPA of West Union-sponsored show after sustaining a non-racing injury that will sideline him for a few weeks.
Next up for the Hawkeye Dirt Tour is a trip to Upper Iowa Speedway in Decorah on Thurs¬day, July 29.
Feature results – 1. Darin Duffy, Hazleton; 2. Mike Jergens, Plover; 3. Jeff Waterman, Quincy, Ill.; 4. Nate Caruth, Ames; 5. Vern Jackson, Waterloo; 6. Rich Smith, Davenport; 7. Richie Gustin Jr., Gilman; 8. Justin O'Brien, West Union; 9. Mike Burbridge, Delhi; 10. Mark Schulte, Delhi; 11. Jason Snyder, Dunkerton; 12. Ed Thomas, Waterloo; 13. Ronn Lau¬ritzen, Jesup; 14. Kurt Krauskopf, Decorah; 15. Riley Emmel, Estevan, Sask.; 16. Dennis Betzer, Central City; 17. Toby Hartman, Ryan; 18. David McClain, Potosi, Wis.; 19. Ron Pope, Mason City; 20. Jeff Morris, Long Grove; 21. Mark Elliott, Webster City; 22. Greg Cox, Altoona; 23. Jimmy Gustin, Marshalltown; 24. Shawn Ryan, Waterloo; 25. Kent Cros¬key, Polk City; 26. Rick Speck, Gar¬win.
Heat winners were Duffy, O’Brien and Morris.
