New Zealand news 2006-12-27

Racing series	WOO
Date	2006-12-26

Craig Dollansky knew he had his work cut out for him on Tuesday night at Western Springs Speedway in his final start race of a four race stint in New Zealand.

Driving the Salter Cartage #7USA, the native of Elk River, Minnesota who finished a career best second in the World of Outlaws Championship point standings in 2006, lined up in the third row for the 20-lap Feature race on the tight quarter-mile. Having won three races on quarter-mile tracks during the Outlaws season, including at Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway, Silver Dollar (Calif.), and Tri-State (Ind.) Speedway, Dollansky was more than ready for the challenge.

In preliminary action, Dollansky finished fifth in a tough second heat race, after lining up seventh. He followed that up with a commanding wire-to-wire win in the third heat of the night. By virtue of the points accumulated in these events, he started sixth in the finale.

In the feature, he passed Dean Brindle for the fifth spot on the third lap. He was up to third on the fifth lap, as he set his sights Allan Wakeling, an eight-time champion in New Zealand, as well as American Ricky Logan who started on the pole and led the first half of the race.

Dollansky got around Wakeling on the sixth circuit to move into second, as he chased down Logan. The pass for the lead and the win came on the 13th lap as Dollansky would hold off Logan and Wakeling, for his second win in New Zealand, in an event that took just over 7 ½ minutes to complete.

Dollansky, who has finished in the Top-five in World of Outlaws points three-straight seasons and five times in his career, also won at Western Springs Speedway on December 2. He backed that up with a third-place finish at the quarter-mile on December 10, and he also scored a fifth on December 17 at Powerbuilt Speedway in Christchurch.

Dollansky will now return home to prepare for a run at the World of Outlaws title in 2007. In 2006, he racked up an impressive six A-Feature wins, along with two preliminary feature triumphs, to go along with 33 Top-Five finishes in A-Feature competition.

The 2007 World of Outlaws season opens on February 9 at Volusia Speedway Park with the DIRTcar Nationals presented by Mopar Speed Shop.

-credit: woo