From Inside Line Promotions
BILLINGS, Mont. (September 9, 2016) — Danny Lasoski understands the value of patience.
The former World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series champion was patient during the 14-hour trek to Montana this week and he relied on patience Friday at Billings Motorsports Park, where Lasoski charged from ninth and used a late-race pass in traffic to win the opening night of the Dan Laber Memorial.
Lasoski, who hadn’t competed at the 3/8-mile dirt oval in more than a decade, was also the hard charger for passing the most cars in the 25-lap main event. He became the fourth different winner during four NSA Shootout races this season.
“It was worth it,” he said of the long haul to Montana. “Thanks to (Billings Motorsports Park Owner) Mike Quigley for inviting us. We can’t wait for tomorrow now.”
While polesitter Jake Bubak took the lead on the opening lap, Lasoski was running 10th after the first circuit. However, he quickly maneuvered into third place on Lap 11 as fellow veteran sprint car driver Sammy Swindell, who had advanced from sixth to second place in the opening laps of the main event, brought out the only caution of the race for a blown right rear tire.
Lasoski passed Trey Starks for the runner-up position a lap after the restart, but he didn’t begin to close on Bubak until they hit traffic in the closing laps.
Lasoski was on Bubak’s rear bumper exiting turn two with three laps remaining. A lap later Lasoski went to the top groove in turns one and two as Bubak was slowed while trying to lap Bill Boyce.
While Lasoski narrowly grabbed the lead down the backstretch Boyce slid up to the outside line. Lasoski darted to the middle between Boyce and Bubak in turn four and found the lead as the white flag was waved.
Lasoski was able to get to the bottom groove in turn one first on the final lap as he powered to his first victory of the season driving for Mark Burch Motorsports.
“I didn’t know which way was best,” he said. “I was just basically going where they weren’t. We found a spot from the center of turns three and four off (the corner) where guys were slipping and we were getting pretty good. Once we started railing the top it was really working good for us.”
Bubak, who officially led the first 23 laps of the feature, finished second.
“I hesitated and when you’re racing with guys like Seth Bergman and Aaron Reutzel and Danny Lasoski they’re going to jump on you when you do that,” he said. “I had a good time and I enjoyed coming here.”
Aaron Reutzel, who claimed the NSA Shootout race at Billings Motorsports Park in July, rounded out the podium.
“Luckily the bottom slowed down just enough about halfway through the race in (turns) three and four where you had a top and a bottom,” he said. “I found the line there and got up there and tried to make the top work for a couple of laps. It allowed Danny to get back by me. I got Danny on that restart and almost got to second and then I missed the bottom and allowed Danny to get back by me and then he drove right to the lead and I almost followed him through.”
Seth Bergman recorded a fourth-place result and Starks placed fifth.
Swindell kicked off the night by setting quick time during qualifying before Bubak and Dennis MacEachern each won a heat race.
Kelly Miller, who finished eighth, has a 33-point lead over Starks in the event standings heading into the finale on Saturday.
The midwest modifieds class was won by Jake Dimond, who maneuvered from his eighth starting position to take the lead from polesitter Bill Carey on a restart on Lap 7 en route to the trip to Victory Lane.
A caution with two laps remaining set up a green-white-checkered finish and an opportunity for Dennis Hurd to steal the win. Hurd took the lead entering turn three on the restart, but Dimond’s momentum propelled him back into the top spot exiting turn four as the white flag waved.
“We started midpack so we had our work cut out for us,” he said. “The restarts didn’t both me too much. I knew I had plenty of motor. I just stayed on the high side and kept it wide open. It was pretty fun knowing there were a lot of big dogs around. It was a pretty proud moment.”
Hurd ended second with Cody Kuglin finishing third, 15th-startin Steven Stephenson fourth and Carey fifth.
Saturday’s event, which will again feature sprint cars and midwest modifieds, will wrap up the NSA Shootout. It is the final sprint car race of the season at Billings Motorsports Park. The front gates are scheduled to open at 5:30 p.m. with racing beginning around 7 p.m.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children ages 7 to 11. Children ages 6 and younger get in free.
NSA Shootout Race Report: Round 5 at Billings Motorsports Park in Billings, Mont., on Sept. 9, 2016
Qualifying: 1. 99SS-Sammy Swindell 12.882; 2. 55-Aaron Reutzel 13.025; 3. 1M-Danny Lasoski 13.070; 4. 8R-Trey Starks 13.076; 5. 23-Seth Bergman 13.105; 6. 3-J.J. Hickle 13.138; 7. 27DD-David Hoiness 13.174; 8. 98-Joe Ramaker 13.219; 9. 9X-Jake Bubak 13.287; 10. 19-Dennis MacEachern 13.298; 11. 2JR-Kelly Miller 13.441; 12. 97-Matthew Dusseault 13.461; 13. 12-Jerry Brey 13.485; 14. 2-Kyle Evans 13.544; 15. 1-Bill Boyce 13.560.
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 9X-Jake Bubak (2); 2. 23-Seth Bergman (4); 3. 99SS-Sammy Swindell (6); 4. 2JR-Kelly Miller (1); 5. 1M-Danny Lasoski (5); 6. 27DD-David Hoiness (3); 7. 12-Jerry Brey (7); 8. 1-Bill Boyce (8).
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 19-Dennis MacEachern (2); 2. 3-J.J. Hickle (4); 3. 98-Joe Ramaker (3); 4. 8R-Trey Starks (5); 5. 55-Aaron Reutzel (6); 6. 97-Matthew Dusseault (1); 7. 2-Kyle Evans (7).
Feature (25 Laps): 1. 1M-Danny Lasoski (9); 2. 9X-Jake Bubak (1); 3. 55-Aaron Reutzel (7); 4. 23-Seth Bergman (4); 5. 8R-Trey Starks (5); 6. 3-J.J. Hickle (2); 7. 27DD-David Hoiness (11); 8. 2JR-Kelly Miller (10); 9. 19-Dennis MacEachern (3); 10. 12-Jerry Brey (13); 11. 98-Joe Ramaker (8); 12. 1-Bill Boyce (15); 13. 2-Kyle Evans (14); 14. 99SS-Sammy Swindell (6); 15. 97-Matthew Dusseault (12). Laps Led: Jake Bubak 1-23; Danny Lasoski 24-25.
(Drivers opened the night by qualifying. The fastest qualifier earned 50 points with each subsequent position dropping by one point. Heat races were inverted by six with the heat race winner receiving 50 points and each subsequent position dropping by three points. The top six in combined qualifying and heat race points advanced to the feature redraw.)