American Sprint Car driver Craig Dollansky began his New Zealand speedway summer campaign with an emphatic win in the Feature Race at Auckland’s Western Springs last night (December 1).
The Minnesota driver, racing a Ron Salter-fielded Maxim, grabbed the lead at the start of the 25-lap race and never lost it, despite two yellow flag periods which closed up the field.
In the early running, he led from fellow American Jason Statler in another Salter team Maxim, and Hamilton driver Dean Brindle in another Salter car.
American Ricky Logan ran fourth, ahead of current NZ champion Jamie McDonald and Aucklander Allan Wakeling.
By the first restart, on lap nine, McDonald ran third behind the two Americans, and Logan and Brindle were squabbling over fourth place.
McDonald began closing on Statler, and Logan broke free of Brindle and charged at McDonald.
After a restart with 10 laps to run, several battles broke out for the minor placings, with McDonald finally getting the better of Statler and Logan prevailing in a tussle with Wakeling.
Dollansky scored an untroubled win – though McDonald made some ground in the closing few laps – and lead home the NZ champion.
Statler was third, followed by Brindle, Logan and Wakeling.
The second international Sprint Car meeting is at the Springs on December 8 when Joey Saldana is expected to join the US contingent.
See this week’s Auto Trader magazine for a detailed illustrated report of Saturday’s Springs Speedway meeting.
Photo caption: Multiple NZ champion Allan Wakeling’s new Australian-built Cool Sprint Car.
