BARBERVILLE, Fla. — Joey Saldana won the 30-lap All Star Circuit of Champions sprint-car feature on the second night of the DIRTcar Winternationals Thursday at Volusia Speedway Park.
Coming off a 22-win season in 2009, it was the Brownsburg Bullet’s first checkered flag of the New Year.
Saldana started fifth in the Kasey Kahne Racing No. 9, but was up to second as Greg Hodnett led the first lap.
Saldana took to the inside of turn three to pass Hodnett for the lead on the second lap. Hodnett came back at Saldana in turns one and two, but settled into second. Tony Stewart Racing teammates Donny Schatz and Steve Kinser battled for fourth.
The leader was stuck behind a lapped car on the backstretch as Hodnett powered back into the lead. Saldana returned the pass exiting turn four.
The action slowed on lap eight when Doug Esh stopped with a flat tire. Hodnett shredded a left-rear tire one lap later. Schatz stopped in turn three when the right-front wheel came off his sprinter.
Craig Dollansky was up to second and closed on Saldana after his miscue with a lapped car in turn one. A fuel stop was needed on lap 17 with Saldana still in front.
Lucas Wolfe passed Danny Lasoski for fourth on the restart as Saldana pulled away from Dollansky. Sam Haftertepe, Jr. then took fifth from Lasoski.
Lance Dewease’s blown tire brought the field under yellow with eight laps go, but Saldana was up to the challenge as he pulled away again.
Saldana survived one final caution flag to hold off Dollansky for the victory.
“We had a really good car all night,” Saldana said. “We got the bottom working for us in the heat race, so once we got into the feature that is how we got the lead. It was like a light switch went on. That is also how Hodnett got a run on me, but I was probably being too cautious with the lapped cars. It was really easy to get your car in trouble the way the cushion was. My car was good, but I did not want to do anything stupid in our second race of the season.”
Kinser, Wolfe and Hafertepe completed the top five.