Duffy takes top line to top check in Tipton Karl Performance Hawkeye Dirt Tour feature
TIPTON, Iowa (June 11) – Darin Duffy made sure the race was for second place in Tuesday’s Karl Performance Hawkeye Dirt Tour presented by XSAN main event at Cedar County Raceway.
Duffy went upstairs for the lead on the fifth circuit, kept Ronn Lauritzen at bay in traffic and led to the end of the 30-lap IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified feature.
The series victory, Duffy’s career fourth, paid $1,000. He was already qualified for the 2013 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot.
Lauritzen, hard charger Richie Gustin, Jacob Murray and Ryan Dolan completed the top five. Forty-three cars vied in the third installment of the 2013 tour.
Mitch Morris and Kelly Meyer drew the front row starts. Morris was the early leader with Lauritzen and Duffy quick to challenge. After Duffy got by, Morris and Lauritzen went back and forth over the second spot for half a dozen laps.
Duffy caught up with the back of the pack on lap 12 but his advantage was erased by the only caution of the race on lap 16.
After staring 20th, Gustin worked his way to third by lap 18, chasing Lauritzen on the inside line while Duffy worked the high groove. Racing was two and three-wide much of the way throughout the field but Duffy negotiated his way through and never let Lauritzen get too close.
Gustin had some stories to tell after getting to the track just minutes before his “B” feature went green. A flat tire and broken trailer hub left Gustin and his crew on the extremely late side.
Brian Harris of Davenport was the Deery Brothers Summer Series winner at Cedar County. The victory was the third straight for the IMCA Late Model tour point leader.
Next up for the Hawkeye Dirt Tour is the Thursday, June 20 show at Lee County Speedway, where NASCAR favorite Ken Schrader joins the Modified field in another $1,000 to win event.
Pit gates and the grandstand at Donnellson both open at 5:30 p.m. Hot laps are at 7 p.m. and racing starts at 7:30 p.m.
Feature results – 1. Darin Duffy, Urbana; 2. Ronn Lauritzen, Jesup; 3. Richie Gustin, Gilman; 4. Jacob Murray, Hartford; 5. Ryan Dolan, Lisbon; 6. Dan Chapman, Clarence; 7. Kyle Brown, Kellogg; 8. Kelly Meyer, Big Rock; 9. Scott Hogan, Vinton; 10. Jerry Luloff, Independence; 11. Cayden Carter, Oskaloosa; 12. Ray Cox Jr., Maquoketa; 13. Mark Schulte, Delhi; 14. Dan Klatt, Wheatland; 15. Joel Beal, Milan, Ill.; 16. Jeff Waterman, Quincy, Ill.; 17. Ryan DeShaw, Dyersville; 18. Mitch Morris, Eldridge; 19. Mike Van Genderen, Newton; 20. Tony Von Dresky, Long Grove; 21. Zach Less, Hopkinton; 22. Patrick Flannagan, Cedar Rapids; 23. Jimmy Gustin, Marshalltown; 24. Joel Bushore, Boone.
1st heat (top two) – 1. Lauritzen; 2. Klatt; 3. Waterman; 4. Schulte; 5. Dereck Thompson, Freeport, Ill.; 6. Luloff; 7. Beal; 8. Murray; 9. Richie Gustin.
2nd heat – 1. Dolan; 2. Meyer; 3. Chapman; 4. Hogan; 5. Jimmy Gustin; 6. Kyle Brown; 7. Terry Rentfro, Bettendorf; 8. Justin Rix, Olin; 9. Brian Webb, Davenport.
3rd heat – 1. DeShaw; 2. Von Dresky; 3. Bushore; 4. Flannagan; 5. Leon Wilson, Hopkinton; 6. David Brown, Kellogg; 7. Jesse Hoeft, Forest City; 8. A.J. Fike, Galesburg, Ill.; 9. Josh Starr, Tipton.
4th heat – 1. Cox; 2. Carter; 3. Jake Bowman, Maquoketa; 4. Tyler Madigan, Peosta; 5. Todd Reed, Park View; 6. T.J. Patz, East Moline, Ill.; 7. Todd Dykema, Davenport; 8. Devon Havlik, Iowa Falls.
5th heat – 1. Duffy; 2. Morris; 3. Matt Werner, Kalona, Ill.; 4. Van Genderen; 5. Mark Elliott, Webster City; 6. Racer Hulin, Laurel; 7. Dusty Kraklio, Durant; 8. Less.
1st “B” feature (top four) – 1. Van Genderen; 2. Hogan; 3. Luloff; 4. Richie Gustin; 5. Bowman; 6. Kraklio; 7. Waterman; 8. Rentfro; 9. Fike; 10. Patz; 11. Wilson.
2nd “B” feature – 1. Chapman; 2. Murray; 3. Flannagan; 4. Kyle Brown; 5. Hulin; 6. Werner; 7. Reed; 8. Thompson; 9. Hoeft; 10. Havlik; 11. Webb.
3rd “B” feature – 1. Schulte; 2. Bushore; 3. Beal; 4. Jimmy Gustin; 5. Madigan; 6. Elliott; 7. Starr; 8. David Brown; 9. Dykema; 10. Rix; 11. Less.
Provisionals – Waterman and Less.
Category: Hawkeye Dirt Tour, Iowa, Series