Elliott repeats Hawkeye Dirt Tour success at Mighty Howard County Fair
CRESCO, Iowa (June 21) – His Mighty Howard County Fair feature win got Mark Elliott on track to winning the JR Motorsports Hawkeye Dirt Tour championship in 2011.
He’s half way to a repeat of those events in 2012.
Elliott topped the IMCA Modified feature at Cresco Speedway Thursday night. The $1,000 victory came ahead of point leader Richie Gustin, Ryan Dolan, Darin Duffy and Jeremy Mills and in front of a predictably packed house for the county fair special.
Tied for seventh in point standings coming into the night, Elliott started inside row four and was part of a crowd chasing Dolan early on. He passed Gustin and Jeff Waterman to take over second following a lap four restart, then began challenging Dolan for the front following a caution five laps later.
The front pair encountered lapped traffic midway through the 30-lapper with Gustin and Jay Noteboom close behind. A bobble by Dolan gave Elliott and Gustin the opportunity they hoped for and both zoomed by on lap 18.
There was no catching Elliott from that point and Gustin had to settle for second, five car lengths off the pace. Dolan dueled with Darin Duffy the last seven circuits before cementing third and Mills made his way into the top five with six to go.
Elliott is the fifth different winner in as many tour events so far this season. He was already on the ballot for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational.
Drawing winners of $100 bonuses from the fair board were Gustin, Dolan, Waterman, Tim Murty, Jason Snyder, Chris Snyder, Jason Schoenberger, Noteboom, Mike Van Genderen and Ed Thomas. Recipients were determined by feature finish.
Round six takes the JR Motorsports Hawkeye Dirt Tour and the Fuel The Thunder 2 documentary series to Buena Vista Raceway for another $1,000 to win feature on Tuesday, June 26.
Pit gates open at 5 p.m., the grandstand opens at 6 p.m. and hot laps are at 6:45 p.m. with racing to follow.
Feature results – 1. Mark Elliott, Webster City; 2. Richie Gustin, Gilman; 3. Ryan Dolan, Lisbon; 4. Darin Duffy, Hazleton; 5. Jeremy Mills, Garner; 6. Mark Schulte, Delhi; 7. Jeff Waterman, Quincy, Ill.; 8. Rich Smith, Davenport; 9. Ronn Lauritzen, Jesup; 10. Tim Murty, Tama; 11. Ray Cox Jr., Maquoketa; 12. Jason Snyder, Dunkerton; 13. Jeff Ignaszewski, Wells, Minn.; 14. Chris Snyder, Raymond; 15. Jason Schoenberger, Russell, Kan.; 16. Dennis Betzer, Central City; 17. J.J. Wise, Manly; 18. Jay Noteboom, Hinton; 19. Shawn Ryan, Waterloo; 20. Larry Hall, Rochester, Minn.; 21. Garry Hall, Rochester, Minn.; 22. Mike Van Genderen, Newton; 23. Ed Thomas, Waterloo.
1st heat – 1. Van Genderen; 2. Dolan; 3. Waterman; 4. Gustin. 2nd heat – 1. Duffy; 2. Lauritzen; 3. Mills; 4. Schoenberger. 3rd heat – 1. Elliott; 2. Noteboom; 3. Ryan; 4. Ignaszewski.
Category: Hawkeye Dirt Tour, Iowa, News, Series
