Hansen handles IMCA Hawkeye Dirt Tour foes at I-35
MASON CITY, Iowa (May 28) – The heavyweights of the JR Motorsports Hawkeye Dirt Tour slugged it out on Memorial Day and the first driver to the finish line at I-35 Speedway was Mike Hansen.
Holding off a tenacious J.J. Wise over the last half of the 30-lapper, Hansen earned $1,000 for the win and put his name on the ballot for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational this September.
Wise ended his night in second, just a car length off the pace. Levi Nielsen, Brad Dirks and Jeremy Mills, the Sunday winner at Mason City and highest finishing Fuel The Thunder driver, completed the top five.
Shane Monson improved a dozen spots and Rob Rose as a plus 13 on the night to finish sixth and seventh, respectively.
Mark Schulte led early from his outside row one start. Hansen took the initial green from fifth and was side-by-side with Schulte before the fifth lap was scored.
They’d trade the lead on each of the next two circuits; yellow flags came out on both the ninth and 10th laps and Hansen took charge following the second restart while Schulte got shuffled out of the top five.
Nielsen, Dirks and Wise were running close behind Hansen when what proved to be the final caution came out on lay 14. Hansen, Wise and Dirks pulled away before Nielsen worked his way into third.
Wise caught up with Hansen at the 20-lap mark, showing his nose before Hansen motored away again.
Game to the finish, Wise was right behind Hansen when the white flag came out. Mills made a strong run of his own late in the contest to crack the top five.
Forty-three cars were in Mason City for the second of 13 events on the 2012 HDT slate.
Up next is the Tuesday, June 5 show when filming for the Fuel The Thunder documentaries resumes at Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City. Pit gates open at 4:30 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. Hot laps start at 6 p.m. with racing to follow.
Feature Results – 1. Mike Hansen, Alton; 2. J.J. Wise, Manly; 3. Levi Nielsen, Mason City; 4. Brad Dirks, Clarence; 5. Jeremy Mills, Garner; 6. Shane Monson, Clear Lake; 7. Rob Rose, Center Point; 8. Jay Noteboom, Hinton; 9. Mark Schulte, Delhi; 10. Richie Gustin, Gilman; 11. Darin Duffy, Hazleton; 12. Alex Hansen, Kensett; 13. Ronn Lauritzen, Jesup; 14. Rich Smith, Davenport; 15. Ryan Dolan, Lisbon; 16. Mark Elliott, Webster City; 17. Jimmy Gustin, Marshalltown; 18. Josh Foster, Mt. Pleasant; 19. Kelly Meyer, Big Rock; 20. Jeff Waterman, Quincy, Ill.; 21. Troy Cordes, Dunkerton; 22. Keith Schmitz, Thornton; 23. Jeff Ignaszewski, Wells, Minn.; 24. Curt Badker, Clear Lake.
Heat winners were Mills, Nielsen, Duffy, Schulte and Hansen. Schmitz and Elliott won the “B” features.
