ALGONA, Iowa (July 4) – Rookie Dustin Smith took the Fourth of July win when the JR Motorsports Hawkeye Dirt Tour traveled to Algona Raceway for the Firecracker 30 special.
The $1,000 IMCA Modified victory put Smith on the ballot for the 2012 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. He’s the sixth different winner in as many tour events this season.
Ryan Watnem, Mark Elliott, defending series champion Mike Jergens and point leader Ryan Dolan rounded out the top five.
Jason Briese and Watnem led the field to the start of the 30-lap feature. Watnem won the race to the first corner and paced the field from the point.
Smith and Kurt Krauskopf battled for second before a caution tightened the field on lap 11. Smith used the ensuing restart to make his move on the leader while Watnem and Krauskopf, then Elliott and Dolan all tussled over second.
That four-way dogfight allowed Smith to open up some breathing room before the final caution of the contest waved on lap 21.
Jergens jumped into the fray during the final nine laps but no one had anything for Smith before the checkers flew.
Smith’s brother David recorded a milestone of his own Monday night, winning for the 100th time in his IMCA Sunoco Stock Car career.
Next up for the JR Motorsports Hawkeye Dirt Tour is a visit to Hancock County Speedway at Britt on Thursday, July 21. The ‘Prelude to The Night of 1,000 Stars’ event sees NASCAR star Ken Schrader join the top guns of the Hawkeye Dirt Tour.
Feature results –
1. Dustin Smith, Lake City;
2. Ryan Watnem, Humboldt;
3. Mark Elliott, Webster City;
4. Mike Jergens, Plover;
5. Ryan Dolan, Lisbon;
6. Rob Hughes, Humboldt;
7. Mark Schulte, Delhi;
8. Ronn Lauritzen, Jesup;
9. Josh Ruby, Lakota;
10. Kurt Krauskopf, Decorah;
11. Austin Wolf, Algona;
12. Jeff Ignaszekski, Wells, Minn.;
13. Jason Briese, Cleghorn;
14. Jeff Waterman, Quincy, Ill.;
15. Dennis Betzer, Central City;
16. Joe Schmit, Britt;
17. Larry Herring, Lone Tree;
18. Kevin Stoa, Albert Lea, Minn.;
19. Brad Boyer, Monument, Colo.;
20. Jeff Hunter, Henderson, Colo.;
21. Jeff Feaster, Humboldt;
22. Justin Sackett, Moville;
23. Loren Pesicka Jr., Burt.
1st heat (top four) – 1. Feaster; 2. Smith; 3. Wolf; 4. Briese. 2nd heat – 1. Elliott; 2. Watnem; 3. Stoa; 4. Schulte. 3rd heat – 1. Dolan; 2. Sackett; 3. Hughes; 4. Krauskopf.
The $1,000 IMCA Modified victory put Smith on the ballot for the 2012 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. He’s the sixth different winner in as many tour events this season.
Ryan Watnem, Mark Elliott, defending series champion Mike Jergens and point leader Ryan Dolan rounded out the top five.
Jason Briese and Watnem led the field to the start of the 30-lap feature. Watnem won the race to the first corner and paced the field from the point.
Smith and Kurt Krauskopf battled for second before a caution tightened the field on lap 11. Smith used the ensuing restart to make his move on the leader while Watnem and Krauskopf, then Elliott and Dolan all tussled over second.
That four-way dogfight allowed Smith to open up some breathing room before the final caution of the contest waved on lap 21.
Jergens jumped into the fray during the final nine laps but no one had anything for Smith before the checkers flew.
Smith’s brother David recorded a milestone of his own Monday night, winning for the 100th time in his IMCA Sunoco Stock Car career.
Next up for the JR Motorsports Hawkeye Dirt Tour is a visit to Hancock County Speedway at Britt on Thursday, July 21. The ‘Prelude to The Night of 1,000 Stars’ event sees NASCAR star Ken Schrader join the top guns of the Hawkeye Dirt Tour.
Feature results –
1. Dustin Smith, Lake City;
2. Ryan Watnem, Humboldt;
3. Mark Elliott, Webster City;
4. Mike Jergens, Plover;
5. Ryan Dolan, Lisbon;
6. Rob Hughes, Humboldt;
7. Mark Schulte, Delhi;
8. Ronn Lauritzen, Jesup;
9. Josh Ruby, Lakota;
10. Kurt Krauskopf, Decorah;
11. Austin Wolf, Algona;
12. Jeff Ignaszekski, Wells, Minn.;
13. Jason Briese, Cleghorn;
14. Jeff Waterman, Quincy, Ill.;
15. Dennis Betzer, Central City;
16. Joe Schmit, Britt;
17. Larry Herring, Lone Tree;
18. Kevin Stoa, Albert Lea, Minn.;
19. Brad Boyer, Monument, Colo.;
20. Jeff Hunter, Henderson, Colo.;
21. Jeff Feaster, Humboldt;
22. Justin Sackett, Moville;
23. Loren Pesicka Jr., Burt.
1st heat (top four) – 1. Feaster; 2. Smith; 3. Wolf; 4. Briese. 2nd heat – 1. Elliott; 2. Watnem; 3. Stoa; 4. Schulte. 3rd heat – 1. Dolan; 2. Sackett; 3. Hughes; 4. Krauskopf.
