Gondik Law Speedway
Jensen overtakes Laursen for Superior victory
By Jerry O'Brien
DirtonDirt.com correspondent
Jensen celebrates his first Dart win. (Ken Johnson)
SUPERIOR, Wis. (Aug. 15) — Eighth-starting Joey Jensen of Forest Lake, Minn., overtook Steve Laursen of Cumberland, Wis., on a late-race restart and drove away the final 10 laps at Superior Speedway to capture his first-ever victory on the Dart Challenge Series. Jensen earned $3,000 for winning the 40-lap feature on the WISSOTA-sanctioned tour.
Laursen bolted into the lead from the outset, but A.J. Diemel of Navarino, Wis. — piloting the Bob Richardson-owned No. 2 — edged ahead after a side-by-side battle. The frontrunners began lapping slower cars through the� midpoint of the race, and Laursen went back ahead with 15 laps remaining. Laursen pulled away before Diemel made contact with Tom Nesbitt amid traffic and spun, sending Diemel to the rear. Laursen led Rick Hanestad of Boyceville, Wis., Jensen and John Kaanta of Elk Mound, Wis., back to the green, and another caution appeared for Aaron Lillo's turn-one spin. That set up Jensen's winning pass.
Dart Challenge @ Superior: (1) Joey Jensen, (2) Steve Laursen, (3) John Kaanta, (4) Rick Hanestad, (5) Brent Larson, (6) Jerry Redetzke, (7) Darrell Nelson, (8) Adam Hensel, (9) Joel Cryderman, (10) A.J. Diemel, (11) Lance Matthees, (12) Pat Doar, (13) Eric Breeschoten, (14) Harry Hanson, (15) Todd Gehl, (16) Tim McMann, (17) Aaron Lillo, (18) Don Copp, (19) Cory Jorgenson, (20) Jeff Provinzino, (21) Kevin Carlson, (22) Tom Nesbitt, (23) Kyle Peterlin, (24) Greg Hill, (25) Kelly Estey. Heat race winners (among 27 cars): Provinzino, Laursen, Hanestad. Consolation winner: Hanson. Provisional starter: Estey.
