Hibbing Raceway
Hanson earns $4,000 in Hibbing AMSOIL event
By Jerry O'Brien
DirtonDirt.com correspondent
Harry Hanson
HIBBING, Minn. (Sept. 2) — Harry Hanson of Eveleth, Minn., became the first two-race winner on the AMSOIL Late Model Series with a victory in the 31st annual Labor Day Shootout at Hibbing Raceway. Hanson, who earned $4,000 for the 40-lap victory, won a July 27 event at ABC Raceway in Ashland, Wis.
Nelson finished second at Hibbing followed by local racer George Ledin, Terry Casey and Jodi Olson.
Hanson got the jump on the polesitting Ledin at the outset with Nelson, Bob Reed and Darin Meierotto giving chase. Nelson surged into second and set out after Hanson as Ledin held on to third.
Hanson's lead grew to a dozen car lengths as did Nelson's margin over the battle for third. Further back, cars who benefitted from a first-lap scramble moved up and Joel Cryderman and Kyle Peterlin were battling for the ninth spot.
Hanson was eyeing the back of the pack when Todd Gehl suddenly slowed exiting turn two and rolled slowly to a halt. This first caution flag erased Hanson's lead and put Nelson on his bumper.
Hanson went back to work and at the halfway mark he was leading Reed, Nelson, Olson and Ledin. Rod Hafeman's turn-one spin brought out the final caution, and Hanson stayed in control the rest of the way as most racers stuck with the low groove.
The third-running Reed tried a late-race move in the middle of the track and dropped back to seventh at the finish.
Notebook
Hanson's No. 7 is sponsored by Mr. Nick's Corner Bar, Extreme Graphics, Liquid Larry's and Schmidt Beer. ... The first attempted start of the feature saw a mid-pack scramble that knocked Aaron Lillo, Nick Musel and Steve Vesel out of action. Brent Larson had heavy damage but continued. ... Veteran Bob Reed, who missed virtually the entire season because of health problems, was cleared by doctors a week earlier and ran seventh in his No. 41. ... Veteran racer Pete Wohlers came out of retirement to race a car owned by Bobby Carlson, who recently traded a super stock division car for a Late Model. Wohlers showed some rust and failed to make the feature. ... Among other drivers failing to make the feature: Tim McMann, Caley Emerson, Jeff Provinzino, Danny Young, Jeff Broking and Dustin Hapka and Pat Doar. ... Unoffically, Darrell Nelson took the AMSOIL Series points lead. Tom Nesbitt held the points lead entering the race and finished 13th.
