Bethany, MO – 305 Sprint Car driver Dakota Hendrickson is beginning to make a habit of starting at the back and working his way forward. For the third Feature in a row the Omaha teen has started the race at the tail of the field and raced his way forward, this time getting to third place after a heat race mistake. The track was extremely rough since the fairgrounds received a reported five inches of rain in the proceeding 48 hours.
Hendrickson shot to the lead in the first heat race of the Winged 305 Sprint Cars at the Northwest Missouri State Fair in Bethany Sunday night. The Omaha youngster dashed to a straightaway lead after nine and three-quarter laps. As Hendrickson was negotiating turn four to take the checkered flag his Dead Down Wind #4 hooked a rut, executed a wild wheel stand, and bicycled to a stop within a few feet of the finish line. As the Feature line up was determined by heat race finishing positions, Hendrickson had to start the Feature race at the rear of the field.
However, the 16-year-old Omaha teen stayed focused and worked his way up to third place by the end of the 20-lap Feature. “I just can’t believe I hooked that rut in turn four coming for the checkers in the heat race. It was rough there each time, but every other lap the car bounced through it fine. Once again, I think we could have been in contention for the win had we started up front” said Hendrickson.