Strong Night at Elko Yields Podium Finish

After much anticipation and preparation, Elko Speedway just south of Minneapolis was ready to shine in the spotlight on Friday as an abundant amount of dirt transformed the pavement surface.  Marking the inaugural STP World of Outlaws event at the facility, Craig Dollansky and the #7 team were eager to hit the track carrying the Aggressive Hydraulics paint scheme.

A beautiful day with a plethora of sunshine saw 34 drivers sign in for competition at the 3/8-mile.  Following hotlaps when drivers got a feel for the track, a surface that dried out as qualifying progressed meant an early draw was critical as the Eyecon Trail Cameras Maxim went out eleventh and posted the 12th fastest time.  In heat action Dollansky started outside the front row and finished 2nd to transfer into the dash.  Luck of the draw for the dash by way of a 6-pill inversion then put the MobileStar #7 on the pole where the driver from nearby Elk River, Minnesota capitalized on the position winning the 8-lap event.

With the race program moved along due to impending weather approaching the area, ‘The Crowd Pleaser’ started on the pole of the A-Main leading the field to the green.  Jumping out to an early lead, the Big Game backed sprinter ran the bottom until the first caution on lap 11.  Following another yellow on the ensuing restart, Dollansky held off Kerry Madsen who was running the highside until Madsen took the lead on lap 15.

As the main event continued Dollansky stayed right on the #29 of Madsen as the leaders approached lapped traffic.  On lap 30, Dollansky was ready to make a move low but another caution would erase lapped traffic.  With just ten circuits remaining, the Eaton’s Aeroquip Performance Products Maxim lost the runner-up spot to a hard-charging Tim Kaeding who rim-rided to the lead before a red flag four laps later at which point rain showers forced officials to call the event as Dollansky recorded a podium finish in 3rd.

“The groove was changing and we were searching around seeing where the fastest place was,” commented Dollansky.  “About 12 laps into the race our motor laid down so we were fortunate to make it to the end.  We had a decent car all night long and got ourselves in a good spot for the dash but I wish we could have capitalized on it for Aggressive Hydraulics, Eyecon Trail Cameras, MobileStar, Aeroquip, and everyone that supports our team.”

The Eyecon Trail Cameras #7 team will now head south for Knoxville Raceway where racing resumes on Saturday.