Craig Dollansky was breathless in victory lane on Saturday night after capturing the Ironman 55 at hot and humid I-55 Raceway, but he still managed to crack a smile as he celebrated his seventh World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series win of the season.
“I am absolutely spent,” said Dollansky, of Elk River, Minn., as he tried to lift the 55-pound trophy. “Fifty-five laps is a long time out there and the track was just so fast all night long since they had about 3 inches of rain here the day before. It also was about 95 degrees plus the humidity just made this a tough one. I can’t thank my team and everyone behind this car enough. Jason (Sides) got around us on a restart when I chose the top line but I thought I could cross over and get back by him down the backstretch. Luckily for us, we had a caution come out before the lap was completed and allowed us to get back out front. Then we had to hold off Brad Sweet and Jason Meyers, too. Meyers is one of the best in the business and won this race last year.”
Meyers tried feverishly in the closing laps to catch Dollansky’s Big Game Treestands Maxim to duplicate his spectacular last-lap pass for the second year in a row. Dollansky proved to be too strong for the 2010 World of Outlaws champion, but Meyers was relieved of one small thing in victory lane.
“It would have been nice to win but at least I don’t have to hoist that 55 pound dumbbell over my head,” Meyers said with a chuckle. “We had a great car here tonight and man was that a workout. By far the toughest one I have ever had in the gym or a race car. We’ll take the second and gear up for Knoxville. Thanks to all the fans that came out tonight, too. It was a workout for them as well just sitting in this heat.”
In what seemed to be déjà vu from last year, Meyers and Lucas Wolfe had a spirited battle in the closing laps. Instead of going for the checkers, the two drivers were fighting for the runner-up spot. As in 2010, Wolfe watched Meyers’ DDNi/GLR Investments/Allstar Performance KPC cross the line ahead of him.
“It was another great run for this team tonight,” said Wolfe, who finished in the top three in the Allebach Maxim for the third consecutive race. “We’re getting really close to that first win. If you keep running up front, eventually you’ll find yourself in position to win one of these things. We just have to keep being there.”
Rounding out the Top 5 in the long and grueling race were Kerry Madsen and Donny Schatz.
With the Ironman 55 in their rearview mirrors, the Outlaws now head to Knoxville, Iowa, for the 51st Goodyear Knoxville Nationals, which begins on Wednesday.
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