Outlaws sprinting to Clay County
By Steve Allspach, Journal sportswriter | Posted: Thursday, September 06, 2007
The world, appropriately, is coming to Spencer, home of the world's largest county fair -- the Clay County version.
The new 3/8-mile auto racing facility at the Clay County Fairgrounds will be christened next Wednesday with a "World of Outlaws'' Sprint Car event that will pay $10,000 to the winner.
Driver Craig Dollansky, who is married to Spencer native Julie Slaymaker, played an instrumental role in luring the event to Spencer.
Dollansky, currently seventh in points on the Outlaws circuit, claimed his third feature Saturday night at Skagit Speedway in Burlington, Wash.
The Elk River, Minn., resident drives the No. 7 Maxim sprinter.
Sprint Car racing in Iowa is synonymous with the Knoxville Nationals so the Spencer show should be a real treat for Northwest Iowa racing fans.
Reserved tickets are $35, general admission is $30 and pit passes are $40. More ticket information can be obtained by telephoning 712-262-4740.
Legendary drivers Donny Schatz, Joey Saldana, Danny Lasoski and Steve Kinser rank 1-2-3-4 in Outlaws points with Schatz winning 14 times, Saldana 10 and Kinser nine.
Several drivers tested the new track Tuesday and pronounced the facility safe and sound for winged sprinters, who can muster speeds beyond 100 miles per hour.
"America's Racin' Vacation'' in Boone is off to a roaring start with championship events winding up this weekend.
Appropriately, the biggest race thus far in the 25th running of the IMCA Super Nationals in Boone was won by Boone McLauglin of Mediapolis Monday night.
McLaughlin won the top-level Deery Brothers Summer Series Late Model feature, pocketing $2,000 in the process. Qualifying continues all week with an emphasis on the Modifieds division.
In the Tuesday Sprint Car feature, Curt Lund of Redwood Falls, Minn., claimed the 20-lapper. Minnesota drivers dominated the race, but Justin Jacobsma of Hull gunned home ninth among the 22 starters with 22nd going to Jay Goosman of Hinton.
The Saturday calendar calls for main events in the Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, Stock Cars and Northern SportMods divisions, along with the much-anticipated Harris Auto Racing Race of Champions for the Modifieds.
The Boone event has drawn more than 100 entries from 16 states and the total purse is an estimated $275,000 and nearly $60,000 in contingency awards will be distributed as well by IMCA sponsors.
Seven previous Modifieds champs are back for more, including Wayne Graybeal, Benji LaCrosse, Rich Lewerek, John Logue, David Murray Jr., Ron Pope and Darren Williams.
With the regular season wrapping up at Park Jefferson, Denny Moore, the track promoter, has scheduled a grand finale Sept. 13-14-15, the 21st South Dakota Nationals.
The three-day event is designated the Bill Kirk Memorial in remembrance of the late stock car driver who was popular among fans for many years.
Bill's son, Dirk, finished third in the final IMCA Modifieds division this season with 519 points, just two back of Chris Mills and 13 behind champion Reese Coffee of Hinton, who wound up with 532 points.
Handsome payoffs await feature winners.
The IMCA Modifieds division pays $3,000 to win, while the IMCA Sportmods winner earns $1,500 and the IMCA Stock Cars champ gets $1,250.
The Hobby Stocks ($500), B-Mods ($500) and Hornets ($125) champs will also pay rewarding dividends. The total purse is $30,000.
The activities kick off with qualifying heats and the popular Minivan Olympics on the first night of the event.
Admission for adults is $5 the first night, $10 the second and $13 on the final night. Kids are free the first two nights and admitted for $3 on championship night.
Along with Coffee, the other 2007 champs at Park Jeff are Chris Abelson (IMCA Modifieds), James Brower (IMCA Stock Cars), John Cain (IMCA Hobby Stocks), Geoff Olson (PJ B-Mods), Adam Ellis (Hornets) and Marlis Boggs (Novice Hornets).
Abelson also remains in first place in the national Northern SportMod point standings with 1,194. Tim Jorgenson is second with 1,169 points through Aug. 29.
Harvey Vande Weerd of Alton is 10th (1,117) and R.J. Merchant of Sioux City 11th (1,100). Vande Weerd was second (640) in points to Abelson (678) at Park Jeff.
Journal sports writer Steven Allspach may be reached at 712-293-4207 or e-mail steven.allspach@lee.net
The new 3/8-mile auto racing facility at the Clay County Fairgrounds will be christened next Wednesday with a "World of Outlaws'' Sprint Car event that will pay $10,000 to the winner.
Driver Craig Dollansky, who is married to Spencer native Julie Slaymaker, played an instrumental role in luring the event to Spencer.
Dollansky, currently seventh in points on the Outlaws circuit, claimed his third feature Saturday night at Skagit Speedway in Burlington, Wash.
The Elk River, Minn., resident drives the No. 7 Maxim sprinter.
Sprint Car racing in Iowa is synonymous with the Knoxville Nationals so the Spencer show should be a real treat for Northwest Iowa racing fans.
Reserved tickets are $35, general admission is $30 and pit passes are $40. More ticket information can be obtained by telephoning 712-262-4740.
Legendary drivers Donny Schatz, Joey Saldana, Danny Lasoski and Steve Kinser rank 1-2-3-4 in Outlaws points with Schatz winning 14 times, Saldana 10 and Kinser nine.
Several drivers tested the new track Tuesday and pronounced the facility safe and sound for winged sprinters, who can muster speeds beyond 100 miles per hour.
"America's Racin' Vacation'' in Boone is off to a roaring start with championship events winding up this weekend.
Appropriately, the biggest race thus far in the 25th running of the IMCA Super Nationals in Boone was won by Boone McLauglin of Mediapolis Monday night.
McLaughlin won the top-level Deery Brothers Summer Series Late Model feature, pocketing $2,000 in the process. Qualifying continues all week with an emphasis on the Modifieds division.
In the Tuesday Sprint Car feature, Curt Lund of Redwood Falls, Minn., claimed the 20-lapper. Minnesota drivers dominated the race, but Justin Jacobsma of Hull gunned home ninth among the 22 starters with 22nd going to Jay Goosman of Hinton.
The Saturday calendar calls for main events in the Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, Stock Cars and Northern SportMods divisions, along with the much-anticipated Harris Auto Racing Race of Champions for the Modifieds.
The Boone event has drawn more than 100 entries from 16 states and the total purse is an estimated $275,000 and nearly $60,000 in contingency awards will be distributed as well by IMCA sponsors.
Seven previous Modifieds champs are back for more, including Wayne Graybeal, Benji LaCrosse, Rich Lewerek, John Logue, David Murray Jr., Ron Pope and Darren Williams.
With the regular season wrapping up at Park Jefferson, Denny Moore, the track promoter, has scheduled a grand finale Sept. 13-14-15, the 21st South Dakota Nationals.
The three-day event is designated the Bill Kirk Memorial in remembrance of the late stock car driver who was popular among fans for many years.
Bill's son, Dirk, finished third in the final IMCA Modifieds division this season with 519 points, just two back of Chris Mills and 13 behind champion Reese Coffee of Hinton, who wound up with 532 points.
Handsome payoffs await feature winners.
The IMCA Modifieds division pays $3,000 to win, while the IMCA Sportmods winner earns $1,500 and the IMCA Stock Cars champ gets $1,250.
The Hobby Stocks ($500), B-Mods ($500) and Hornets ($125) champs will also pay rewarding dividends. The total purse is $30,000.
The activities kick off with qualifying heats and the popular Minivan Olympics on the first night of the event.
Admission for adults is $5 the first night, $10 the second and $13 on the final night. Kids are free the first two nights and admitted for $3 on championship night.
Along with Coffee, the other 2007 champs at Park Jeff are Chris Abelson (IMCA Modifieds), James Brower (IMCA Stock Cars), John Cain (IMCA Hobby Stocks), Geoff Olson (PJ B-Mods), Adam Ellis (Hornets) and Marlis Boggs (Novice Hornets).
Abelson also remains in first place in the national Northern SportMod point standings with 1,194. Tim Jorgenson is second with 1,169 points through Aug. 29.
Harvey Vande Weerd of Alton is 10th (1,117) and R.J. Merchant of Sioux City 11th (1,100). Vande Weerd was second (640) in points to Abelson (678) at Park Jeff.
Journal sports writer Steven Allspach may be reached at 712-293-4207 or e-mail steven.allspach@lee.net
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