DirtonDirt Dispatches
Dispatches: Sorensen falls short at Oskaloosa
Dustin Sorensen settled for third. (mikerueferphotos.photoreflect.com)
Among notes and quotes around the Dirt Late Model world in late August, including World of Outlaws Late Model Series action in Iowa (look elsewhere for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series coverage in Port Royal, Pa.):
Sorensen falls short
Third-year World of Outlaws Late Model Series driver Dustin Sorensen has flirted with his first victory on the national tour several times, but things have never quite fallen his way.
And so it was Wednesday for the 25-year-old Rochester, Minn., driver when he led laps 12-20 at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, but watched fast qualifier Tyler Erb drive past on the backstretch on the 21st of 35 laps in the tour’s debut at the half-mile oval.
"It was just a little bit too tight getting to the bottom of turn one there and I missed the bottom two laps in a row and Tyler drove around me,” Sorensen said. “But congrats to him. He had a good race car. I kind of got back to him there a couple of times in lapped traffic, and I thought we had a shot, which we probably did if things fell our way.”
Sorensen, who started outside polesitter Dallon Murty and took the lead from him on the 12th laps, ended up third behind Erb and Ethan Dotson of Bakersfield, Calif.
“If I would have ran a perfect race, we probably would have won, but I just missed the bottom down there a couple of times,” Sorensen added. “And then, second sucks, so whenever I got back close to Tyler, I started trying different stuff and Ethan got around me. But hats off to those two. They're two of my good buddies, and they did good tonight.”
Sorensen’s race almost came to a sudden end on the 13th lap when Trey Mills wrecked on the backstretch, his car ending up on its lid. Dennis Erb Jr. was slowing to avoid Mills and Sorsensen nosed under Erb’s car and spun.
The result? Mills climbed out unhurt and Sorensen was restored to the lead by series rules.
“Honestly, just happy that the spin-to-avoid rule is in existence, so I didn't have to go to the back after that deal with Trey,” Sorensen said. “Hope he's OK. That was pretty scary. I saw the whole thing happening, but we were going so fast. I locked up the brakes and spun around to avoid him.” — DIRTVision reports
Streaming schedule
Among upcoming Dirt Late Model special and sanctioned events available via live streaming:
Friday, Aug. 28
• World of Outlaws Late Model Series at Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa (DIRTVision)
• Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rumble by the River prelim at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway (FloRacing)
• Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, Ky. (ArrowVision Live)
• MARS Championship Series at Benton (Mo.) Speedway (FloRacing)
• Wabam Dirt Kings Tour at Plymouth (Wis.) Dirt Track (Watch FYE TV)
• Burlile Performance Ohio Valley Late Model Dirt Series at Mansfield (Ohio) Speedway (Great Lakes Sprints TV)
• Premier non-touring Late Models Yankee Dirt Track Classic at 300 Raceway in Farley, Iowa (RaceON)
• DIRTcar Tri-State Late Model Regional Series at Sweetwater Speedway in Rock Springs, Wyo. (IMCA TV)
• Jay’s Automotive United Late Model Series prelims at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, W.Va. (Hunt the Front TV)
Saturday, Aug. 29
• Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rumble by the River at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway (FloRacing)
• World of Outlaws Late Model Series at Shelby County Speedway in Harlan, Iowa (DIRTVision)
• Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series at Lake Cumberland Speedway in Burnside, Ky. (ArrowVision Live)
• MARS Championship Series at I-55 Federated Raceway Park in Pevely, Mo. (FloRacing)
• Jay’s Automotive United Late Model Series at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, W.Va. (Hunt the Front TV)
• Premier non-touring Late Models Yankee Dirt Track Classic at 300 Raceway in Farley, Iowa (RaceON)
• Burlile Performance Ohio Valley Late Model Dirt Series at Millstream Speedway in Findlay, Ohio (Great Lakes Sprints TV)
• Wabam Dirt Kings Tour at Shawano (Wis.) Speedway (Watch FYE TV)
Ultimate Pro Late Model Series at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, W.Va. (Hunt the Front TV)
• Best Plumber 604 Crate Racing Series at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn. (The Thrill TV)
• DIRTcar Tri-State Late Model Regional Series at Sweetwater Speedway in Rock Springs, Wyo. (IMCA TV)
Sunday, Aug. 30
• Jay’s Automotive United Late Model Series at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, W.Va. (Hunt the Front TV)
• MARS Championship Series at Belle-Clair Speedway in Belleville, Ill. (FloRacing)
• Ultimate Pro Late Model Series at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, W.Va. (Hunt the Front TV)
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