The veteran restarts strong to claim a UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit win
BARBERVILLE, Fla. - Feb. 16, 2012 - Craig Dollansky had a bittersweet taste in returning to Volusia Speedway Park.
One year ago, the sprint car ace led 51 features laps only to leave without a top 10. In his return on Wednesday night to the half-mile dirt oval in Barberville, Fla., Dollansky finished eighth in what he deemed a learning night.
In front of a packed crowd on Thursday at the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment, Dollansky wowed the spectators and put the lessons to use by claiming the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions 30-lap feature.
"Last year we were here and led 51 laps and didn't come out with a top-10 finish," he said. "We just had some bad luck. The win here tonight is definitely a momentum builder going into tomorrow night and through the rest of the weekend."
Dollansky, who qualified 13th quickest of the 40 competitors, won his heat race after starting third. That locked him into the feature, which he started eighth.
There was only one caution during the main event and Dollansky capitalized. After driving from eighth to second in the opening nine laps, Dollansky restarted behind polesitter Daryn Pittman on lap 10. By the time the duo reached the flagstand on the ensuing green-flag lap, Dollansky rocketed to the lead off turn four.
"I just should have known with Dollansky behind me, he's probably running the top," Pittman said. "I just probably should have gone ahead and moved up there myself. But when you're leading the race you hate to change what's been working without knowing that something else is better. Sometimes it's a disadvantage to be leading and an advantage to be second, and I think that was one of them."
After the restart, Dollansky led the final 21 laps on a track that became slicker each lap. Pittman was unable to close within more than a handful of car lengths as Dollansky maneuvered throughout traffic without much difficulty.
"We had a restart and got a good run on him on the outside, then just tried to run our race and hold our line," said Dollansky, who also earned the Hard Charger Award. "We got through a few lapped cars and just tried to settle in and get to the end with our tires and fuel load."
Dollansky and the rest of the drivers kick off the World of Outlaws season tomorrow - Friday - with the first of three consecutive nights at Volusia Speedway Park. Those races, combined with the previous two UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions, will determine the overall sprint car champion for the week.
Danny Lasoski - Wednesday's feature winner - qualified third, finished fourth in his heat and ended the night third in the main event. He remains the leader in the chase for the week's sprint car title.
Greg Hodnett finished fourth and Brad Sweet fifth in Thursday's feature. Joey Saldana, Cody Darrah, Sammy Swindell, Sam Hafertepe Jr. and Steve Kinser rounded out the top 10, respectively.
Dollansky, Tim Shaffer, Kinser and Kerry Madsen each claimed a heat race victory. Swindell qualified the fastest with a lap of 13.203 seconds.
Tickets for the rest of the 41st annual UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit can be ordered online by clicking WorldofOutlaws.com/tickets, by calling 877-395-8606 or purchased at the track.
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- Admin Account on Feb 17, 2012
- Article Date: 2/17/2012 by Shawn Miller - World of Outlaws