Carter convincing in Karl Performance Hawkeye Dirt Tour win at Benton County
VINTON, Iowa (May 7) – Cayden Carter held off a succession of heavy-hitting veterans in winning Tuesday’s Karl Performance Hawkeye Dirt Tour presented by XSAN opener at Benton County Speedway.
A week and a half shy of his 18th birthday, the second-year IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified speedster started outside pole and was scored first on all but one of 30 circuits in the $1,000 to win main event.
J.D. Auringer was inches ahead at the end of lap 19, but Carter was back in front for good the next time around.
Scott Hogan caught Auringer for second following the final restart of the race, with seven laps to go. But neither had anything for Carter, who took the checkers nearly half the straightaway ahead of Hogan.
Colt Mather and Mark Schulte completed the top five.
Auringer improved a dozen places from his original starting spot. Schulte was a plus 13 on the night.
His series career first victory puts Carter on the ballot for this fall’s Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. He’d withstood early race challenges from Patrick Flannagan and Richie Gustin.
Nick Roberts started 10th, took the lead on the 12th of 15 laps and led to the checkers in the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod feature.
Benji Irvine won the caution-free 15-lapper for IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks despite a brief excursion off the track on the second set of turns with two laps to go.
Tyler Whalen earned the Mach-1 Sport Compact feature win.
The Hawkeye Dirt Tour makes its first-ever visit to Spencer and the Clay County Speedway next Thursday, May 16. That feature also pays $1,000 to win.
Pit gates open at 4 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. Hot laps are at 6:30 p.m. with racing to follow.
Feature Results
Modifieds – 1. Cayden Carter, Oskaloosa; 2. Scott Hogan, Vinton; 3. J.D. Auringer, Evansdale; 4. Colt Mather, Webster; 5. Mark Schulte, Delhi; 6. Racer Hulin, Laurel; 7. Josh Rogotzke, Sanborn, Minn.; 8. Mike Van Genderen, Newton; 9. Ronn Lauritzen, Jesup; 10. Jake Bowman, Maquoketa; 11. Jerry Luloff, Independence; 12. Zach Less, Hopkinton; 13. Patrick Flannagan, Cedar Rapids; 14. Jacob Murray, Hartford; 15. Richie Gustin, Gilman; 16. Joel Bushore, Boone; 17. Jimmy Gustin, Marshalltown; 18. Kyle Krampe, Baxter; 19. Mike Burbridge, Delhi; 20. Ed Thomas, Waterloo; 21. Matt Bonine, Onawa; 22. Joe Docekal, Dysart; 23. Jeff Waterman, Quincy, Ill.; 24. Kyle Brown, Kellogg; 25. Vern Jackson, Waterloo; 26. Tyler Droste, Waterloo; 27. Jerry Dedrick, Vinton.
Heat winners were Rogotzke, Jimmy Gustin and Brown.
Hobby Stocks – 1. Benji Irvine, Cedar Falls; 2. Nathan Ballard, Marengo; 3. Justin Wacha, Vinton; 4. Andy Coffman, Des Moines; 5. Vince Buchholz, Waterloo; 6. Paul Nagle, Nevada; 7. Justin Stander, Vinton; 8. Jamie Songer, Ankeny; 9. Andrew Torkelson, Lisbon; 10. Dustin Tapp, Nevada; 11. Leah Wroten, Independence; 12. Brian Happel, Vinton; 13. Chris Luloff, Independence; 14. Nick Welch, Cedar Falls; 15. Kyle Parizek, Belle Plaine.
Northern SportMods – 1. Nick Roberts, Des Moines; 2. Danny Dvorak, Vinton; 3. Jenae Gustin, Marshalltown; 4. Joel Rust, Grundy Center; 5. Brennen Chipp, Waterloo; 6. Kurt Moeding, Mason City; 7. Jim Buhlman, Cedar Falls; 8. Matt Webb, Des Moines; 9. Ryan King, Marshalltown; 10. Johnathon Logue, Boone; 11. Brad Iverson, Grinnell; 12. Dave Schulze, Keystone; 13. Tom Rawlins, Kellogg; 14. Sam Wieben, Dysart; 15. Curt Hilmer, Dysart; 16. Kevin Hurst, Janesville; 17. Dakota Sellers, Vinton; 18. Damon Murty, Chelsea; 19. Levi Chipp, Latimer; 20. Ross Kitner, Dysart; 21. Bob Ebaugh, Raymond.
Sport Compacts – 1. Tyler Whalen, Riverside; 2. Merv Chandler, Urbana; 3. Bill Whalen Jr., Riverside; 4. Travis Losenicky, Garrison; 5. A.J. Whitten, Cedar Rapids; 6. Zach Marmann, Elkader.
Category: Hawkeye Dirt Tour, Iowa
