The fourth of five scheduled events at Eldora Speedway was next for the Big Game Treestands #7 team, this occasion carried even more popularity and stature however as 'The Crowd Pleaser' laid eyes on the Kings Royal and looked to carve his name in the history books.
Another strong field of 49 sprinters signed into the pit area for the 28th running of the prestigious event. Qualifying time trials would see Dollansky stop the clocks at 13.871 seconds, not good enough to make the heat race inversion. Unlike normal World of Outlaws events, the Kings Royal uses a unique format that inverts the top 18 into six heats meaning the Aggressive Hydraulics Maxim would start fifth in the fourth heat. With only the top three finishers transferring directly into the feature Dollansky was on the hammer from the start as he nearly assumed the lead by the exit of turn two. Dollansky would close in on Lucas Wolfe for second but end up finishing 3rd to transfer.
As the field lined up for the 40-lap, $50,000-to-win, Kings Royal A-Main, the Karavan Trailers #7 started outside of row eight. When the green flag dropped 'The Crowd Pleaser' slingshotted through the middle of the track passing seven cars by just the second turn. Dollansky then closed in on Ed Lynch Jr. for seventh before a caution came on lap 11. When racing continued, Lynch Jr. flipped in turn two, moving the #7 up to seventh for the restart. After losing two positions on a track that was becoming very abrasive, Dollansky lined up nineth by a lap 28 caution and used a great restart to move past three cars. With passing at a premium on the rubber-down track the Big Game Treestands #7 would hold the 6th position in the remaining laps and record a strong top-ten finish.
"We didn't get qualified very well either night," commented Dollansky. "But considering what we went through and where we had to start each night we ended up with some decent finishes. It wasn't what we hoped for but we're now focused on Lernerville."
The Big Game Treestands #7 team wastes no time getting back on the gas as racing resumes on Tuesday at Lernerville Speedway for the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup Twin 30's.
- Craig Dollansky Racing on Jul 18, 2011
- Article Date: 7/18/2011 by Reid VanEck