|
SUBJECT: First night, of two day race. World of Outlaw Sprints racing in the Harvest Classic at Calistoga Speedway, Calistoga,CAStory by: Gaye Carmichael
(Calistoga, CA, 9/01/07) Danny "The Dude" Lasoski of Dover, MO, picks up his fourth victory of the Harvest Classic at Calistoga Speedway. It wasn't just a win, it was a huge dominant night for Lasoski and the Dennis Roth team, with Lasoski scoring second quick time in qualifying, racing his Heat race, the Dash and the twenty-five lap "A" Feature event, scoring all laps in each race in the lead, lapping any one who got in the way for a perfect run while racing the World of Outlaw Sprints sixty-first "A" feature of the season on this half-mile oval in Sonoma County, California.
"It really went well for us tonight. It means a lot that Dennis and Theresa (Roth) are here. They believe in us (the team) and I appreciate them very much.. It was a good track and I hope they keep it like this for tomorrow night's race. We'll go back to the same set up and see what we can do. We love these fast half miles." said Lasoski.
The WoO Sprints traveled 469 miles from their last race in Cottage Grove, OR to compete over this Labor Day Weekend in the two day event, not knowing when they might once again compete here, as the WoO Sprint 2008 schedule, released at the Knoxville Nationals in Iowa, does not have Calistoga Speedway listed on the schedule.
Sharing "Victory Lane", with Lasoski, was Roger Crockett, who is currently from Medford, OR. Crockett racing for the Henderson Motorsports Team, qualified tenth fast in time trials, won a flag to flag victory in his Heat race, then scored all laps in the Dash and all laps in the "A" feature, racing behind Lasoski, in second place all the way to the checkered.
"The car was really good all night. To finish second with these guys (the WoO Sprints) is really something. I gave it 100% and we get another shot at it tomorrow (the second and final night of the Harvest Classic)" said Crockett.
Racing the Karavan #7, Craig Dollansky of Elk River,MN, was in third place and under fire almost through out the "A" feature, as Joey Saldana (IN) charged after Dollansky, lap after lap, even swapping spots at one time, looking to move forward. The checkered flag ended any more attempts for the lead, with Dollansky crossing the line to earn the third place on the podium.
"We really had a good car tonight. We'll work a little bit more on the car and come back tomorrow and see what tomorrow brings." said Dollansky.
Saldana was a strong runner and ended the race in fourth.
Thirty cars signed in for competition in this event. Randy Hannagan of San Jose, CA, drove the quickest lap in qualifying, clocking in a 17.028 second lap. Hannagan was the first driver out on the track, to time in, setting the pace, that needed to be beat, but at the end, it was Hannagan's time at the top of the runs.
The first caution flew out just after the fifth lap scored, when Jason Meyers, coasted around the back side of the track, trying to make his way to infield work center. Meyers had a torsion bar problem. A second yellow flew as the race tried to restart with Jeremy Campbell going into the work area. A little later, Jerry McCarl also went into the work area. Campbell or McCarl were unable to return to the race. Meyers, a lap down, was able to return to the race.
Racing mostly under green flag conditions, the pace was fast, with Lasoski lapping slower traffic from the eleventh lap. Behind the very front runners, racing seventh and eighth, a battle for position was underway. Donny Schatz, racing seventh had Steve Kinser looking for a way around. The two drivers diced it up as the laps counted down with Kinser, powering by Schatz on the white flag lap.
Lasoski, Crockett and Dollansky took home top honors with Saldana finishing in fourth, followed by Tim Shaffer (PA), Daryn Pittman (OK), Steve Kinser (IN), Donny Schatz (ND), Ronnie Day (CA), Jason Solwold (WA), Hannagan, Chad Kemenah (OH), Brent Kaeding (CA), Jason Sides (TN), Jac Haudenschild (OH), Kerry Madsen (NSW), Paul McMahan (TN), Jason Meyers (CA), Brooke Tatnell (NSW), Chad Hillier (WA), Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (TX), Jonathan Allard (CA), Jeremy Campbell (MI) and Terry McCarl (IA).
The "B" Main, Dash and Heat race finishes, are as follows:
"B" Main: Hafertepe, Jr., Campbell, B. Kaeding, Madsen, Tatnell, Hillier, Terry Bruce, Jr. (KS), Taylor Malsam (WA), Jeff Griffin (CA), Tim Kaeding (CA), (Top six driver's transfer into the "A" feature. The top four finishers, will get their times back for line up in the "A" and the bottom two will tag the rear of the field.)
Dash: Lasoski, Crockett, Dollansky, Shaffer, Saldana, Day,
Pittman, Kinser, Kemenah, Hannagan.
Heat #1: Crockett, Pittman, Hannagan, Kemenah, Haudenschild, Solwold, B. Kaeding, Campbell, Henderson.
Heat #2: Lasoski, Day, Sides, Allard, Kinser, McMahan, T.Kaeding, Madsen, Bruce, Jr., Griffin.
Heat #3: Dollansky, Shaffer, Schatz, Saldana, Meyers, McCarl, Tatnell, Hillier, Malsam.
####
shuckaducka
|
