Gumout Racing Series Hartford Race Report 2000-06-23

HARTFORD, MI (June 23)-Craig Dollansky was 28 points behind Gumout Racing Series point leader, Paul McMahan, coming into the weekend. After leading the 30-lap event wire-to-wire, Dollansky now tops the point battle by 12 points.

Dollansky piloted his Karavan Racing Maxim sprinter to his third Weld Racing Dash win, earning him the pole starting position. Jeff Shepard, in the Cat Construction/York Excavating Eagle started outside front row.

Dollansky jumped out into the early lead, followed by Shepard, Randy Kinser, Shane Stewart, and Jason Meyers. Just as the top five crossed the line for lap two, Shepard went too high in turn one, causing the #4J to flip end over end. Shepard walked away unharmed, but his night was over. Paul McMahan slid sideways and stopped at the accident. McMahan's was therefore sent to the tail at the re-start of the event.

The now-23 car field lined up for a complete re-start with a new front row. Stewart, in the Holbrook Motorsports owned 9H, moved into the outside front row starting position in Shepard's absence. Dollansky again took the early lead, while Kinser slid by Stewart to claim second.

Brad Furr spun in turn four to bring out the caution lights on lap two. Bob Bennett slowed to a stop during the yellow due to a flat tire. Both drivers re-entered the race on the tail.

By lap five, Dollansky had established a straightaway lead over Kinser. Blake Feese in the #1F, moved into fifth position, with Kasey Kahne close behind.

As Dollansky entered lapped traffic, a battle began for second position between the #14 of Kinser and the #14M of Meyers. Meyers continuously ducked low in the corners, but Kinser would pull back ahead as the duo entered the straightaways. While battling, the pair of 14's closed the gap on the red #7 of race leader Dollansky. By lap 15, Dollansky's lead was cut to ½ of a straigtaway.

Meyers ducked low one final time to take second away from Kinser. Dicing through lapped traffic, Meyers found himself directly on Dollansky's tail. As Dollansky moved high, Meyers moved low. Kinser and Stewart quickly moved in on Meyers, creating a four car battle for the lead.

As the top four drivers prepared to cross the line for lap 20, the #46 of Robert Huisken, the Hank's Performance Products "B" Feature winner, got into the turn two wall hard. Caution lights were brought out, and action was temporarily stopped.

During the caution, fourth running Shane Stewart was disqualified from the event, due to a muffler loss. Paul McMahan in the United Expressline #U2, was also disqualified for a lost muffler.

As the green flag dropped once again, Dollansky instantly commanded an immense lead. Kahne raced by the #52 of Ronald Laney to take over fourth position. On lap 23, Feese took fifth position away from Laney as well.

Lap 24 saw the leader again with a straightaway lead as he entered lapped traffic. Kahne moved into third position directly behind Meyers. Kinser dropped back to fifth, as Feese charged by for fourth. Feese ducked low to take away third position from Kahne, but surrendered the position as his Engler powered/Maxim chassis ran out of fuel. As the white flag dropped, Kinser passed Feese to re-claim the fourth position. At the checkered, it was all Craig Dollansky. Meyers crossed the line a straightaway short, followed by Kahne, Kinser, and Feese.

Paul McMahan was the night's Huggins Fast Qualifier with a time of 15.965. McMahan was the only driver to time in the 15-second bracket. Blake Feese earned the KSE Hard Charger Award with his move from a tenth place starting position to a fifth place finish.