The Pride of Grundy Center Leads Hawkeye Dirt Tour Points

Joel Rust leads the 2016 Hawkeye Dirt Tour point standings after two races. Rust looks to set an HDT record Thursday night in Algona, IA.

Rust could become the first every IMCA Modified driver to win three consecutive Hawkeye Dirt Tour feature events when the tour visits the Kossuth County Speedway in Algona, IA.

The Grundy Center native kicked off the 2016 Hawkeye Dirt Tour season by winning the HDT season opener at the Benton County Speedway. Rust had to transfer out of a B-Main to put his #26J on to the A-Main starting grid. He passed fellow B-Main transfer Todd Shute (Des Moines, IA) with 13 laps left to take over the lead and race to to the win.

At his home track in Marshalltown, Rust had to battle Brian Irvine (Oelwein, IA) side-by-side for most of the 30-lap main event for the race win. He was able to get back around Irvine coming off the final corner and beat him to the finish line for the Marshalltown Speedway win.

"We kind of went into the first Hawkeye Dirt Tour race in Vinton seeing how it would go," Rust told Waterloo Broadcasting. "After the win, there was no doubt we were going to run Marshalltown."

Rust became only the second driver to win consecutive HDT events and the first to win the first two events of a season. Jay Noteboom won two straight at Farley and Marshalltown in September during the 2012.

"Now with the two wins, I think, we need to really start thinking about running the rest of the tour," Rust added.

"I don't think we are really nervous going into Algona," the Grundy Center driver admitted. "We're more excited to see what happens. Having only been to Algona one other time, and in a sport mod a few years back, we're definitely anxious to get back there.

"It would be pretty sweet to take the third win, but honestly, I never would have thought we would have picked up our first two (HDT wins) back-to-back."

The 2015 defending IMCA Modified National Champion Chris Abelson (Sioux CIty, IA) sits second, but now Rust and the rest of the HDT competitors will be racing in his backyard. Corey Dripps (Reinbeck, IA), Brian Irvine (Oelwein, IA), and Kyle Brown (State Center, IA) round out the top five.

The third race of the 2016 HDT season is set for Thursday, June 9, 2016 at Kossuth County Speedway in Algona, IA. The HDT modifieds will then travel to West Liberty Raceway for a Tuesday, June 14 affair joining the Deery Brothers Summer Series.

HAWKEYE DIRT TOUR POINT STANDINGS
As of June 7, 2016

1. Rust, Joel - Grundy Center IA 80
2. Abelson, Chris - Sioux City IA 67
3. Dripps, Corey - Reinbeck IA 61
4. Irvine, Brian - Oelwein IA 60
5. Brown, Kyle - State Center IA 60
6. Docekal, Joe - Dysart IA 58
7. Cordes, Troy - Dunkerton IA 58
8. Shryock, Kelly - Fertile IA 50
9. Elliott, Mark - Webster City IA 49
10. Gustin, Richie Jr. - Gilman IA 48
11. Lauritzen, Ronn - Jesup IA 48
12. Brown, David - Kellogg IA 46
13. Berry, Tom Jr. - Boone IA 45
14. Van Genderen, Mike - Newton IA 43
15. Maitland, Ryan - Waterloo IA 42
16. Shute, Todd - Des Moines IA 39
17. Snyder, Tony - Readlyn IA 38
18. Murray, Jacob - Hartford IA 37
19. Roberts, Nick - La Crosse WI 36
20. DeMey, Shane - Denison IA 36