Post by Admin on Nov 18, 2019 14:27:26 GMT -8
LANEY, DOTSON DELIVER NIGHT TWO DUEL QUALIFYING FEATURE WINS
Ethan Dotson was one of the big winners at the 22nd Annual Duel Qualifying
(Photo Credit: Instant Images)
22nd Annual Duel in the Desert concludes Saturday
Quick Californians Cody Laney and Ethan Dotson collected IMCA Modified checkers on night two of the Duel In The Desert.
Laney caught Tim Ward for the led with six laps left in Friday's first qualifier at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track while Dotson went to the top shelf on the final turn and passed Jeff Taylor for the win in the nightcap.
Both victories were good for $777.
Ward, Jake O'Neil and Ricky Thornton Jr. completed the top four behind Laney. Defending race winner Jason Hughes and five-time Duel winner Jeremy Payne chased Dotson and Taylor across the stripe.
The battle for the lead in the first qualifier was being waged half a straightaway ahead of the rest of the field by midway. Laney had closed in lapped traffic before falling off the pace, then survived contact with a lapped car before reeling in Ward again.
Ward was half a car length ahead when the 19th of 25 circuits was scored; Laney took the higher line around the leader, then held off all challengers following a caution with three laps remaining. Thornton had started 21st and was in and out of fourth before securing the final transfer spot.
Taylor drew the pole start for the second qualifier and ran ahead of a multi-car tussle over the runner-up spot much of the way. The top four cars had broken away before a caution with eight laps to go.
Dotson caught Payne for second on lap 20 and reeled in the leader before staging his last-turn heroics.
He'll make his bid to become the first driver to win IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey's and Duel In The Desert main events the same year on Saturday.
Joe Docekal raced from fourth starting to first finishing in winning the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod qualifier and $500.
Eleventh starting Kevin Johnson, Tom Fraser, Cory Hemphill, Arie Schouten and 23rd starting Matt Loft rounded out the top six.
Final-night main events pay $7,777 to the Modified winner and $1,777 to the Northern SportMod winner. Also scheduled are Wild West Tour Top 20 Showdowns for both divisions.
More than 300 cars have seen action at the 22nd annual Duel, including an event record 102 Northern SportMods.
For more information and complete results, please visit LVMS online at
www.lvms.com
