Post by Webmaster on Jun 23, 2012 15:39:24 GMT -5
Fitzgerald in right place at right time twice for Evenson Iron Man checkers at Summit
By: IMCA.com
ELKO, Nev. (June 14) – Dan Fitzgerald was in the right place at the right time twice Thursday night at Summit Raceway.
The first time, he avoided getting caught in the pileup that engulfed more than half of the IMCA Modifieds starting the Evenson Iron Man Challenge Series main event.
The second time was at the finish, when Fitzgerald was at the front of what remained of the field to earn a $1,000 check.
Fitzgerald, another former Western Region champion enjoying winner’s circle success on the second annual tour, was on the outside of row two for the early restart that preceded the multi-car tangle. While he escaped the fracas, the front-running pair of Brian Ungaro and Don Baisch, and 11 more drivers weren’t so fortunate.
Once the track was cleared and the race restarted, Fitzgerald was challenged by hard-charging Chase Hansen, who’d made an impressive run to second all the way from the 21st starting spot.
Fitzgerald ran the lower line while Hansen followed a higher groove. Both made contact with the same lapped car on the last lap, with Fitzgerald regaining control in time to take the checkers.
“This tour brings out a lot of really talented drivers,” noted Fitzgerald. “To win one of these races, you have to drive well and get your setup right.”
Wade Taylor, Aaron Spangler and Riley Simmons rounded out the top five. Defending series champion Zane DeVilbiss was sixth and point leader Robert Miller was seventh.
Taylor also came out of a “B” feature and improved 14 positions for third. Simmons made the top five from 16th.
Bert Beech took the initial green flag dead last and ended in eighth.
Summit was the only venue on the Iron Man Challenge Series slate to host a single tour event. Fitzgerald also had an Iron Man win to his credit last season and was already on the ballot for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational.
The win was Fitzgerald’s first of 2012 and IMCA career 161st. He’s won at least one sanctioned feature every season since his regional rookie of the year campaign in 1997.
Feature results – 1. Dan Fitzgerald; 2. Chase Hansen; 3. Wade Taylor; 4. Aaron Spangler; 5. Riley Simmons; 6. Zane DeVilbiss; 7. Robert Miller; 8. Bert Beech; 9. Justen Yeager; 10. Richard Anderson; 11. Brian Ungaro; 12. Jeff Olschowka; 13. Cory Sample; 14. Shawn LaRocque; 15. Dustin Hansen; 16. Bobby Steensen; 17. Joe Hood; 18. Kevin Turner; 19. Larry Rogers; 20. Don Baisch; 21. Ron Moser; 22. Lee Bosch; 23. Dan Lee; 24. Rick Spangler.
1st heat (top three) – 1. Miller; 2. Baisch; 3. Turner. 2nd heat – 1. Anderson; 2. LaRocque; 3. Ungaro. 3rd heat – 1. DeVilbiss; 2. Moser; 3. Rogers. 4th heat – 1. Yeager; 2. Fitzgerald; 3. Aaron Spangler.
1st “B” feature (top six) – 1. Sample; 2. Olschowka; 3. Taylor; 4. Steensen; 5. Chase Hansen; 6. Dustin Hansen. 2nd “B” feature – 1. Hood; 2. Simmons; 3. Rick Spangler; 4. Bosch; 5. Lee; 6. Beech.
By: IMCA.com
ELKO, Nev. (June 14) – Dan Fitzgerald was in the right place at the right time twice Thursday night at Summit Raceway.
The first time, he avoided getting caught in the pileup that engulfed more than half of the IMCA Modifieds starting the Evenson Iron Man Challenge Series main event.
The second time was at the finish, when Fitzgerald was at the front of what remained of the field to earn a $1,000 check.
Fitzgerald, another former Western Region champion enjoying winner’s circle success on the second annual tour, was on the outside of row two for the early restart that preceded the multi-car tangle. While he escaped the fracas, the front-running pair of Brian Ungaro and Don Baisch, and 11 more drivers weren’t so fortunate.
Once the track was cleared and the race restarted, Fitzgerald was challenged by hard-charging Chase Hansen, who’d made an impressive run to second all the way from the 21st starting spot.
Fitzgerald ran the lower line while Hansen followed a higher groove. Both made contact with the same lapped car on the last lap, with Fitzgerald regaining control in time to take the checkers.
“This tour brings out a lot of really talented drivers,” noted Fitzgerald. “To win one of these races, you have to drive well and get your setup right.”
Wade Taylor, Aaron Spangler and Riley Simmons rounded out the top five. Defending series champion Zane DeVilbiss was sixth and point leader Robert Miller was seventh.
Taylor also came out of a “B” feature and improved 14 positions for third. Simmons made the top five from 16th.
Bert Beech took the initial green flag dead last and ended in eighth.
Summit was the only venue on the Iron Man Challenge Series slate to host a single tour event. Fitzgerald also had an Iron Man win to his credit last season and was already on the ballot for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational.
The win was Fitzgerald’s first of 2012 and IMCA career 161st. He’s won at least one sanctioned feature every season since his regional rookie of the year campaign in 1997.
Feature results – 1. Dan Fitzgerald; 2. Chase Hansen; 3. Wade Taylor; 4. Aaron Spangler; 5. Riley Simmons; 6. Zane DeVilbiss; 7. Robert Miller; 8. Bert Beech; 9. Justen Yeager; 10. Richard Anderson; 11. Brian Ungaro; 12. Jeff Olschowka; 13. Cory Sample; 14. Shawn LaRocque; 15. Dustin Hansen; 16. Bobby Steensen; 17. Joe Hood; 18. Kevin Turner; 19. Larry Rogers; 20. Don Baisch; 21. Ron Moser; 22. Lee Bosch; 23. Dan Lee; 24. Rick Spangler.
1st heat (top three) – 1. Miller; 2. Baisch; 3. Turner. 2nd heat – 1. Anderson; 2. LaRocque; 3. Ungaro. 3rd heat – 1. DeVilbiss; 2. Moser; 3. Rogers. 4th heat – 1. Yeager; 2. Fitzgerald; 3. Aaron Spangler.
1st “B” feature (top six) – 1. Sample; 2. Olschowka; 3. Taylor; 4. Steensen; 5. Chase Hansen; 6. Dustin Hansen. 2nd “B” feature – 1. Hood; 2. Simmons; 3. Rick Spangler; 4. Bosch; 5. Lee; 6. Beech.