JOE BARBOZA / SPECIAL TO THE PVT Pahrump's Jon Jensen earned his first IMCA Modified victory of the year Saturday night at Death Valley Raceway. Advertisement

AMARGOSA VALLEY -- Pahrump's Jon Jensen jumped from his pole position Saturday night and held off aggressive charges by Dan Fitzgerald, Ryan Cotrell and Ronnie Williams to earn his first IMCA modified victory of the year at Death Valley Raceway.

The 25-year-old Jensen beat the Las Vegas school teacher Fitzgerald by only a few feet in the 25-lap feature event to gain his victory at the one-third mile dirt track situated between Death Valley and Lathrop Wells off Highway 373.

"I was nervous getting started," said Jensen, whose rookie year was 2000. "We made some changes to the car. I have been changing the setup for the track conditions the last couple of races. We got everything right this time."

Jensen said his plan was to get his alcohol-burning, 550-horsepower modified into the lead and stay out front.

"It's always a big accomplishment to beat Fitzgerald and some of the guys who have been racing longer than I have," he said. "I got the jump on the start and stayed out front."

Fitzgerald, who came into the event leading the IMCA modified points standings at DVR and Mohave Valley Raceway (south of Bullhead City, Ariz.), mounted a consistent rally before falling short.

"The checkered flag was flying over us like a blanket," said Fitzgerald of the close finish.

Dan Snowden won the super stock feature, while Steve Summer zipped to the classic coupe main event, Mike Lynsinger rallied to win the mini stock main, Mark Dillie took the Dwarf car feature and Anthony Sharron took the micro sprint main.

DVR returns for its ninth race of the season May 17. Racing is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

Further information can be found on the Web site, www.deathvalleyraceway.homestead, or by calling 775-209-5291.

Results

Mini stocks (20 laps) - 1. Mike Lysinger; 2. Frankie England; 3. Keith Young; 4. Chad Broadhead; 5. Anthony Broadhead; 6. Michael Brown; 7. Stacy Stinson; 8. Steve Figgins; 9. John Dearborn; 10. Kelly Bailey; 11. Marvin Hatton; 12. Cassandra Martin; 13. Jabez Broadhead.

Classic coupes (20 laps) - 1. Steve Summers; 2. Randall Boren; 3. James Ralleo; 4. Richard Grimm; 5. Jim Castaneda; 6. Bob Ferrill; 7. Terry Hiser.

IMCA modifieds (25 laps) - 1. Jon Jensen; 2. Dan Fitzgerald; 3. Ryan Cotrell; 4. Ronnie Williams; 5. Jason Pike; 6. Joe Kent; 7. Rick Durica; 8. Erick Shenberger.

Super stocks (20 laps) - 1. Dan Snowden; 2. Anthony Debiase; 3. Dale Daffern; 4. Tom Baird; 5. Merlin Whitson; 6. Jerry Buesig.

Dwarf cars - 1. Mark Dillie; 2. Rick Rochell; 3. James Schuette; 4. Bobby Meek; 5. Scott Kelley; 6. Troy Seymore; 7. Cecillia Dillie.

Micro sprints (20 laps) - 1. Anthony Sharron; 2. Eddie Sharron; 3. Randy Knipschild; 4. Jim Parker; 5. Erroll Sharron; 6. Robert Yates; 7. Eugene Sharron; 8. Juan Talvera.