Volusia Speedway Park
Red-hot Francis claims Volusia's UMP opener
Steve Francis earned $7,000 in Volusia's opener. (stlracing.com)
BARBERVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 20) – Steve Francis began the 41st UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment with a vintage performance, overpowering longtime rival Rick Eckert with a late-race pass to capture Monday night’s 30-lap UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned feature at Volusia Speedway Park.
The 44-year-old standout from Ashland, Ky., snapped a three-year victory drought at the half-mile oval – and continued his rebound from a rare winless 2011 season – in impressive fashion. He advanced from the seventh starting spot to grab the lead from Eckert of York, Pa., on lap 25 with a do-or-die charge around the outside.
Francis earned $7,000 for the triumph, which came by 0.575 of a second over Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill. Erb, who started fourth and ran in the top five throughout the distance and slipped by Eckert exiting turn four on the final lap to grab the runner-up paycheck.
Eckert settled for a third-place finish after racing off the outside pole starting spot to lead laps 1-24. Eighth-starter Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., who won the DIRTcar UMP-sanctioned opener of last year’s DIRTcar Nationals, placed fourth and 15th-starter Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., was fifth.
Francis, who steered his Barry Wright Race Cars house car into second place with a lap-21 pass of Erb, took advantage of a restart on lap 23 to make his decisive move. He tossed his machine to the top of the racetrack in turns one and two when the green flag flew and carried the momentum past Eckert’s Team Zero by Bloomquist mount on lap 25.
“The cushion was all the way out there in the parking lot someplace off two, so (on the restart) all we had to do was run wide-open into (turn) one and all the way across the corners and then pedal all the way down the backstraightaway,” said Francis, whose last victory at Volusia came in a World of Outlaws Late Model Series event on Feb. 14, 2009. “I could see Rick drive back up and under me, so then I had to do the same thing in three and four – run wide-open around the top and pedal all the way down the frontstraightaway. After a lap I was able to get ahead of him.
“The racetrack had two good lanes in it. You just had to be elbows up for the top, or elbows way down for the bottom. You just had to make your mind up which you were going.
“Rick gave me a good line on the outside,” he added. “He didn’t crowd me nowhere – he let me have my line, and I let him have his down there until I felt like I was cleared of him and I could turn back to the bottom. After that I just pedaled down there to make sure we had a good, clean finish.”
Eckert felt that the race’s second and final caution flag, on lap 23, contributed to his demise. It was a lengthy caution period due to the removal of the car driven by Larry Wight of Phoenix, N.Y., who also brought out the race’s first caution two laps earlier.
“We ran so many laps around there until they got the truck hooked up to (Wight’s) car, the moisture bled back enough that the whole racetrack was good again,” said Eckert, who owns seven career wins at Volusia but none since 2006. “Them guys in second and third (Francis and Erb) had to make a move and they did, and it worked for ‘em. I would’ve done the same thing if I was in their position.”
“There was no use following me with the whole racetrack being good. I was sort of a sitting duck after getting the lead that early.”
Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., finished sixth after surviving a lap-eight slap of the turn-two wall while battling for position with Frankie Heckenast Jr. of Orland Park, Ill. Local talent Dillon White of Daytona Beach, Fla., placed seventh; Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., tumbled from a pole position start to eighth at the checkered flag; Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., hustled forward from the 21st starting spot to finish ninth; and Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., rounded out the top 10 in NASCAR star Clint Bowyer’s car.
Francis' victory continues his resurgence since taking over the Barry Wright house car during the offseason. Following his winless season in 2011, the veteran driver has been red-hot out of the gate in 2012, scoring two victories last week in the Dart Winternationals at East Bay Raceway Park in Gibsonton, Fla. With his win Monday, Francis has scored three wins in seven starts this season.
Monday’s race kicked off a week’s worth of action at the half-mile oval that will include two more $7,000-to-win UMP events, a $10,000-to-win UMP event and two $10,000-to-win races for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series.
DIRTcar Nationals: (1) Steve Francis, (2) Dennis Erb Jr., (3) Rick Eckert, (4) Billy Moyer, (5) Jimmy Mars, (6) Darrell Lanigan, (7) Dillon Wood, (8) Josh Richards, (9) Tim McCreadie, (10) Jonathan Davenport, (11) Jason Feger, (12) Frank Heckenast Jr., (13) J.R. Hotovy, (14) Ryan Unzicker, (15) Brady Smith, (16) Scott Bloomquist, (17) Morgan Bagley, (18) Brian Shirley, (19) Larry Wight, (20) Gregg Satterlee, (21) Don O'Neal, (22) Chub Frank, (23) Shannon Babb, (24) Shane Clanton, (25) Donnie Moran. Fast qualifier (among 73 cars): Moyer, 15.141 seconds. Heat race winners: Richards, Eckert, Heckenast, Erb, Clanton, Davenport. Consolation race winners: Wight, Babb, McCreadie. Provisional starter: Unzicker.
Preliminary results (unofficial):
Redraw and provisional starter
Josh Richards will start from the pole of tonight's main event after a redraw among heat race winners. Defending World of Outlaws champion Rick Eckert will join Richards up front while Frank Heckenast Jr. and Dennis Erb Jr. will share the second row. Shane Clanton will start fifth with Jonathan Davenport sixth. ... Reigning UMP DIRTcar national champion Ryan Unzicker will use the UMP provisional to start from the tail of the 25-car field. ... The 30-lap main event is coming up after the open-wheel modified feature.
Third consolation
Recovering from a disappointing heat race, Tim McCreadie charged forward and scored the victory. Morgan Bagley topped early leader Jack Sullivan and Eric Wells in a close battle for the final transfer spot.
Finish (top 10): Tim McCreadie, Morgan Bagley, Jack Sullivan, Eric Wells, Bobby Pierce, Tyler Bruening, Billy Ogle Jr., Chuck Julien, Freddie Carpenter, Pat Doar.
Second consolation
Brady Smith took the lead on the start and held off Chub Frank for the victory. Frank looked under Smith multiple times early in the race, but faded late. He held off John Blankenship in the closing laps to earn the final transfer position.
Finish (top 10): Brady Smith, Chub Frank, John Blankenship, Greg Johnson, Billy Moyer Jr., Stacy Boles, Jason McBride, John Garvin, Eric Jacobsen, Tim Isenberg.
First consolation
Larry Wight led the entire distance for the win while Shannon Babb charged through the field and overtook Mike Marlar on a late restart to grab the other transfer finish.
Finish (top 10): Larry Wight, Shannon Babb, Mike Marlar, Duke Whiseant, Scott James, Billy Decker, John Lowrey, Tim Isenberg, Phil Ausra, Jared Landers.
Sixth heat
Taking advantage of a turn-one miscue by polesitter Jason Feger, third-starting Josh Richards grabbed the lead on the opening lap and led the entire distance to finish ahead of Feger and Donnie Moran. The path was cleared for Richards to take the lead when Feger slid high in front of second-starting Moran entering turn one. Moran and Feger battled for second as Richards drove away, with Feger edging ahead at the finish. They'll both join Richards in the feature. The pace was slowed when Billy Ogle Jr. went for a spin in turn two. Charlie Sandercock brought out the second caution when he got into the wall with six laps complete.
Finish: Josh Richards, Jason Feger, Donnie Moran, Eric Wells, Tyler Bruening, Ryan Unzicker, Billy Ogle Jr., Shelby Miles, Chris Nash. Scratched: Clint Smith, Jeff Beyers.
Fifth heat
Polesitter Jonathan Davenport pulled ahead of fellow front-row starter Gregg Satterlee on the start and opened a comfortable advantage in winning the caution-free prelim. Gregg Satterlee took the runner-up finish, leading third-place finisher Don O'Neal by about the same distance he trailed Davenport. The top three all make the feature. Tim McCreadie, who topped the group in qualifying, made an early charge on the high side, but faded to sixth by the finish.
Finish: Jonathan Davenport, Gregg Satterlee, Don O'Neal, Bobby Pierce, Jack Sullivan, Tim McCreadie, Pat Doar, Morgan Bagley, Duane Harbough, Freddie Carpenter, Todd Frank.
Fourth heat
Second-starting Dennis Erb Jr. moved to the lead on the start and cruised to a commanding victory in the caution-free race. Polesitter Dillon Wood held turned back a challenge from Brian Shirley early in the race and pulled away to finish in the second position. Shirley finished third to also make the feature lineup.
Finish: Dennis Erb Jr., Dillon Wood, Brian Shirley, Stacy Boles, Eric Jacobsen, Tim Lance, Jim Yoder, Chad Hollenbeck, Michael Morris, Justin Rattliff.
Third heat
Moving from third to first on the final lap, fourth-starting Rick Eckert edged J.R. Hotovy and Jimmy Mars in a close finish to take the win. The pole-starting Hotovy grabbed the lead when fellow front-row starter Billy Moyer Jr. jumped the cushion in the first turn and appeared to be headed toward a heat victory. But the fifth-starting Mars and Eckert closed late in the race. Using the bottom groove, Eckert snuck by both Mars and Hotovy in the final corner. Hotvy and Mars settled for second and third and will also transfer to the feature. A caution slowed the pace when Lance Matthees spun with two laps complete.
Finish: Rick Eckert, J.R. Hotovy, Jimmy Mars, Brady Smith, Chub Frank, John Blankenship, Billy Moyer Jr., Greg Johnson, Jason McBride, Kent Robinson, Lance Matthees, Mike Hammerle.
Second heat
Polesitter Frank Heckenast Jr. moved out front on the start and held off fourth-starting Billy Moyer for the win. Moyer, the fastest qualifier, charged to second early in the eight-lap prelim, but couldn't find a way around the high-running Heckenast. Darrell Lanigan finished third with a wringled right-rear quarter-panel from a lap-one bunch up. He'll join Heckenast and Moyer in the main event. The race was slowed by a pair of first-lap cautions. The first was for John Lobb, while debris caused the second.
Finish: Frank Heckenast Jr., Darrell Lanigan, Billy Moyer, Dan Stone, Larry Wight, Jared Landers, Mike Marlar, Tim Isenberg, Mason Ziergler, Tyler Carpenter, Don Gordon, John Lobb.
First heat
Benefitting from a four-car inversion, Shane Clanton started from the pole and led every lap to take the win over Steve Francis. Scott Bloomquist, the group's fast qualifier, started fourth and picked up one spot to finish in the third and final transfer position. Bloomquist challenged Francis midway through the eight-lapper, but faded in the closing laps. The race's only caution appeared with one lap complete when Donald Beyers spun in turn two.
Finish: Shane Clanton, Steve Francis, Scott Bloomquist, Duke Whiseant, Brandon Sheppard, Scott James, John Lowrey, Danny Mitchell, Shannon Babb, Phil Ausra, Donald Beyers. Scratched: Chuck Jullen.
Time trials
Still looking for his first victory during this year’s Speedweeks, Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., was the fastest of 73 qualifiers for Monday’s opening round of Volusia Speedway Park’s UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment.
Moyer a two-time winner during last year’s DIRTcar Nationals, posted a lap of 15.141 seconds around Volusia’s half-mile oval, topping the second of six qualifying groups. Other group fast qualifiers: Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn.; Rick Eckert of York, Pa.; Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill.; Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y.; and Eric Wells of Hazard, Ky.
The top two rows of the upcoming six heat races will be inverted, putting all group fast timers on the outside of the second row. The eight-lap heats will each transfer three drivers to the night’s $7,000-to-win UPM DIRTcar main event.
Pre-race notes
Along with the 73 entries, there are roughly 10 more Late Models in the pit area that have elected skip Monday’s action. ... Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., who usually pilots the MasterSbilt Race Cars house car, is driving the Moring Motorsports No. 1 MasterSbilt this week. He was among the fastest cars in hot laps. ... Eric Wells of Hazard, Ky., was the fastest car in hot laps. ... Drivers complained of trouble getting park in Volusia’s pit area earlier today. Billy Moyer Jr. of Batesville, Ark., said his team waited in line for more than three hours before getting parked. ... Among drivers making their Volusia debuts: Jim Yoder of Selinsgrove, Pa.; Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill.; Morgan Bagley of Longview, Texas; Shelby Miles of Bloomington, Ind.; John Lowrey of Bakersfield, Calif.; and Michael Norris of Sarver, Pa. ... Three Canadian drivers have entered the event: Chatham, Ontario teammates Don Gordon and Jim Fletcher and Charlie Sandercock of Belleville, Ontario. ... Volusia’s DIRTcar Nationals is the sixth and final event the 2012 Georgia-Florida Speedweeks. ... Tonight’s action will also include racing for open-wheel modifieds. Jared Landers of Batesville, Ark., plans to complete in both divisions.
Qualifying
Top four will invert for heat races by group
First group
Scott Bloomquist (0), Mooresburg, Tenn., 15.356
Steve Francis (15), Ashland, Ky., 15.447
Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill., 15.474
Shane Clanton (25), Fayetteville, Ga., 15.637
Duke Whiseant (A1), Texarkana, Ark., 15.86
Scott James (81), Lawrenceburg, Ind., 15.927
John Lowrey (8), Bakersfield, Calif., 16.025
Danny Mitchell (18), Clarksburg, W.Va., 16.049
Phil Ausra (15), Dowagiac, Mich., 16.197
Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 16.209
Chuck Julien (57), Apopka, Fla., 17.015
Alan Fink (15), Brewerton, N.Y., 17.015
Donald Beyers (27), Pana, Ill., 17.828
Second group
Billy Moyer (21), Batesville, Ark., 15.141
Darrell Lanigan (29), Union, Ky., 15.412
Frank Heckenast Jr. (99jr), Frankfort, Ill., 15.566
Larry Wight (91), Phoenix, N.Y., 15.616
Steve Isenberg (9), Marshfield, Wis., 15.822
Mike Marlar (5), Winfield, Tenn., 15.832
Dan Stone (21D), Thompson, Pa., 15.863
Billy Decker (91), Unadilla, N.Y., 15.955
John Lobb (28), Frewsburg, N.Y., 16.122
Mason Zegier (25z), Chalk Hill, Pa., 16.232
Jared Landers (5), Batesville, Ark., 16.248
Tyler Carpenter (8), Parkersburg, W.Va., 16.377
Don Gordon (33), Chatham, Ontario, 18.989
Third group
Billy Moyer Jr. (21jr), Batesville, Ark., 15.46
Greg Johnson (49), Bedford, Ind., 15.925
Brady Smith (2), Solon Springs, Wis., 15.425
Rick Eckert (24), York, Pa., 15.317
J.R. Hotovy (13), Covert, Mich., 15.509
Lance Matthees (90), Winona, Minn., 16.032
John Blankenship (23), Williamson, W.Va., 15.653
Kent Robinson (7r), Bloomington, Ind., 15.78
Chub Frank (1*), Bear Lake, Pa., 15.671
Jimmy Mars (28), Menomonie, Wis., 15.551
Mike Hammerle (16), St. Charles, Mo., 16.767
Jason McBride (77), Carbondale, Ill., 16.706
Fourth group
Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 15.203
Dillon Wood (1w), New Smyrna Beach, Fla., 15.477
Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 15.485
Eric Jacobsen (5), Seacliff Beach, Calif., 15.584
John Garvin (J4), Sarver, Pa., 15.771
Justin Rattliff (16), Campbellsville, Ky., 15.851
Stacy Boles (11b), Clinton, Tenn., 15.96
Michael Norris (72), Sarver, Pa., 15.976
Chad Hollenbeck (4DS), Kingsley, Pa., 16
Jim Yoder (27), Selinsgrove, Pa., 16.076
Tim Lance (48), Brimfield, Ill., 16.106
Jim Fletcher (33), Chatham, Ontario, 18.602
Fifth group
Tim McCreadie (39), Watertown, N.Y., 15.345
Don O'Neal (1), Martinsville, Ind., 15.489
Gregg Satterlee (22), Rochester Mills, Pa., 15.499
Jonathan Davenport (15), Blairsville, Ga., 15.574
Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 15.682
Pat Doar (11), New Richmond, Wis., 15.685
Jack Sullivan (1s), Greenbrier, Ark., 15.725
Ron Davies (71d), Warren, Pa., 15.816
Morgan Bagley (14m), Longview, Texas, 15.884
Freddie Carpenter (c4), Parkersburg, W.Va., 16.189
Duane Harbaugh (87), Hedgesville, W.Va., 16.305
Todd Frank (21), Green Bay, Wis., 16.522
Sixth group
Eric Wells (18), Hazard, Ky., 15.469
Josh Richards (1), Shinnston, W.Va., 15.561
Donnie Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 15.605
Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., 15.684
Terry Casey (42), New London, Wis., 15.775
Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 15.785
Shelby Miles (76), Bloomington, Ind., 15.845
Ryan Unzicker (24), El Paso, Ill., 15.932
Billy Ogle Jr. (201), Knoxville, Tenn., 16.006
Charlie Sandercock (57), Belleville, Ontario, 16.24
Chris Nash (54), Kalamazoo, Mich., 18.382
Clint Smith (44), Senoia, Ga., no time
Jeff Beyers (27), Pana, Ill., no time
