BEAVER DAM RACEWAY REPORT - World of Outlaws: June 29, 2013
By Nicholas Dettmann
BEAVER DAM, Wis. - It was for Jim.
Craig Dollansky won for the fifth time in his career at
Beaver Dam Raceway on Saturday in the STP World of Outlaw Sprint Cars’ Jim “JB”
Boyd Memorial. But it was Dollansky's first career triumph since the event
began to honor Boyd a few years ago and that made this triumph all too
humbling.
"This one is for Jim Boyd," Dolansky said,
fighting back emotions. "He meant so much to so many people."
To Dollansky, Boyd meant a lot more to him.
For 10 years, the Boyd family was instrumental in Dollanky's
development, on and off the race track. Dollansky drove for the Boyd family,
beginning in 1999.
"This is for them," Dollansky said.
“Jim Boyd was just a great person and an inspiration for me
and an awesome individual,” he added. “He passed away a few years back. He’s
gone but not forgotten.”
Daryn Pittman, the series points leader, finished second.
Tim Kaeding was third, followed by Donny Schatz and Paul McMahan to round out
the top five. Schatz was also the night's KSE Hard Charger Award winner,
improving nine spots from his starting position.
The night's fast qualifier was Jason Sides, his first of the
season, with a time of 13.115 seconds around the one-third mile oval.
"We just came up a little bit short," said
Pittman, who owns the track record here (11.275 in 2001).
"We're running a lot of seconds," he added.
"We just feel like we're going to win another race here real quick."
Dollansky was in awe after winning Saturday's race, which
was also his fifth of the season. He had come so close a couple times since his
last victory at Beaver Dam in 2005.
"Just a great family," Dollansky said. "I'm
so glad we were finally able to win this thing for them."
Cody Darrah, the polesitter for the "A" main, led
the first 13 laps. Dollansky took the lead for the next handful of laps until
Pittman passed him on the back straight on lap 18. Just one lap later,
Dollansky passed Pittman and led the rest of the race.
"It was a hard-fought race," Dolansky said.
Dollansky has had great success at Beaver Dam throughout his
career. In 24 career starts, he now has 18 top-five finishes, including the
five victories. The victory was the 58th of his career in the
series. Right away, this victory shot right up to the top of memorable victories
for Dollansky. And it may be a hard one to out-do.
Jim Boyd was a great friend just to talk to. Whenever
Dollansky needed guidance, Boyd was there to help. Dollansky learned so much
how to be a good person before a good race car driver.
As the laps ticked away, closer and closer to the 40th and
final lap, Dollansky's car began to get tight. With all the mayhem going on
around him, about 20 cars at 900 horsepower packed onto the track, Dollansky,
once again, sought Boyd's help. He felt Boyd's presence and that helped ease
the nerves to hold on for the coveted victory.
This year was the World of Outlaw's 20th visit to the track.
On May 5, 1996, Dave Blaney, who's gone on to compete in more than 600 NASCAR
touring series races, won the inaugural visit.
Last year's winner, Kraig Kinser, finished 15th after being
involved in an accident with Sammy Swindell just past the midway point of the
race.
Other notable finishes were Bill Balog, the five-time Bumper
to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Car champion, in 11th. Balog won the "B"
main after having some mechanical problems during his heat race. Mike Kertscher,
the May winner with the IRA Series at Beaver Dam, was 17th.
Steve Kinser, the winningest driver in World of Outlaw
Sprint Car history, finished 10th after finishing third last year.
Beaver Dam's Jeremy Schultz was 19th.
Pittman had to work his way to runnerup after starting
seventh. Pittman made a couple runs at Dollansky, but to no avail.
"The cars were pretty equal," Pittman said.
"I was really good on the bottom (in Turns) 1 and 2 when I hit it right. I
had to kick myself a little. I passed him twice under the green flag and in the
very next corner, I made terrible corners.
"He did a good job. He's been really fast the last
month or two."
The finish for Pittman was a bit of redemption after
struggling June 28 at LaSalle (Ill.) Speedway. He finished 14th.
"We had a really good car," he said. "We just
got beat."
In the support races, Joseph Bongiorno won the legends
"A" main. Joe Johnson, the division points leader, finished second,
followed by Eric Barth, Brandon Schmitt, the 2012 track champion, and Brian
Peterson. Peterson, Barth and Mike Mueller won the division's heat races.
Tim Brannam won the Wisconsin-Illinois Mini-Sprints'
"A" main, followed by Nick Petska, Jim Scanlon, who won the April
race at Beaver Dam, Mike Neau and Doug Johnson. Petska and Johnson won the heat
races.
Dollansky's nickname is the "Crowd Pleaser."
Mission accomplished.
"You know that family supported me for a long time,"
Dollansky said of the Boyds. "… This one is for them."
RESULTS
World of Outlaws
Fast qualifier: Jason Sides (13.115 seconds)
Heat winners: David Gravel, Daryn Pittman, Joey Saldana,
Kerry Madsen
Dash winner: Cody Darrah
"B" main winner: Bill Balog
Feature
1, Craig Dollansky; 2, Daryn Pittman; 3, Tim Kaeding; 4,
Donny Schatz; 5, Paul McMahan; 6, James McFadden; 7, David Gravel; 8, Cody
Darrah; 9, Jason Sides; 10, Steve Kinser; 11, Bill Balog; 12, Chad Kemenah; 13,
Joey Saldana; 14, Kerry Madsen; 15, Kraig Kinser; 16, Bill Rose; 17, Mike
Kertscher; 18, Sammy Swindell; 19, Jeremy Schultz; 20, Jason Solwold; 21, Wayne
Modjeski; 22, Brian Brown; 23, Todd King; 24, Paul Nienheiser.
KSE Hard Charger Award: Donny Schatz (+9 positions)
Wisconsin-Illinois Mini-Sprints
Heat winners: Nick Petska, Doug Johnson
Feature
1, Tim Brannam; 2, Nick Petska; 3, Jim Scanlon; 4, Mike
Neau; 5, Doug Johnson; 6, Nicholas Daywalt; 7, Kyle Koch; 8, Adam Schroeder; 9,
Matt White; 10, Mark Heinert; 11, Jeff Schmidt; 12, Kyle Daywalt.
Legends
Heat winners: Mike Mueller, Brian Peterson, Eric Barth
Feature
1, Joseph Bongiorno; 2, Joseph Johnson; 3, Eric Barth; 4,
Brandon Schmitt; 5, Brian Peterson; 6, Michael Mueller; 7, James Bucher; 8,
William Lehmann; 9, Hal Russell; 10, Matthew Streekstra; 11, Christopher Flick;
12, Warren Ropp; 13, Nelson Stewart; 14, Craig Peekenschneider; 15, Austin
Wiese; 16, Mark Ritger; 17, Kim Clover; 18, Francesca Hoch; 19, Johnny Kringas;
20, Scott Wiegele; 21, Anthony Jagoditsh; 22, Kevin Schutz; 23, Marlena Boyd;
24, James Sommers; 25, Nathan Chitko.
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