February 4
East Bay Raceway Park,
Gibsonton, FL
Sanction: Crate Racin’ USA Winter Series (Winternationals) - $2,500
Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated February 5, 9:08 pm)
Whitener grabs $2,500 Crate victory at East Bay
Winternationals
- Mark Whitener
- Kyle Lukon
- Cory Hedgecock
- Ashton Winger
- Kyle Hardy
- Frankie Lloyd
- Jake Rainey
- Dylan Knowles
- Jake Knowles
- Jeremy Shaw
- Logan Roberson
- Jason Welshan
- Chris Bragg
- Garrett Mosley
- Drew Kennedy
- Joseph Joiner
- Richie Stephens
- Kerry King Sr.
- Phillip Cobb
- Keith Nosbisch
- Nevin Gainey
- Colton Leyendecker
- Mack McCarter
- Todd Cooney
- Tyler Riggs
Mark Whitener celebrates Thursday's Crate Racin' USA victory at East Bay Raceway Park.
What won the race: Slipping by fellow front-row starter Joseph Joiner on the 14th lap, pole-starting Mark Whitener of Middleburg, Fla., led the rest of Thursday’s 30-lapper at East Bay Raceway Park on the Crate Racing’ USA Winter Shootout. Whitener took the checkers 2.566 seconds ahead of Kyle Lukon in the first of three weekend events.
Quotable: “We showed up today and I knew we had a fast race car," said Whitener, thanking Lance Wright for assisting his Barry Wright Race Car. "Hopefully we'll get another victory tomorrow and Saturday and we can carry on to Volusia next week."
Key notes: Whitener had competed in East Bay Super Late Model action a week earlier in a Dale Mosley-owned car. ... Joseph Joiner, who built comfortable leads in the first half of the race, was trying to regain the point from Whitener when he got into the turn-three wall on the 25th lap, drawing the race's second-to-last caution. ... Kyle Lukon of Burgettstown, Pa., finished second in his East Bay debut. ... Nevin Gainey, who inherited the seventh-heat victory upon Chad Tuton's disqualification, spun at the initial start of the main event. ... Todd Cooney slowed for a lap-seven yellow. ... On the ensuing restart Kerry King and Gainey spun. ... Keith Nosbisch drew a lap-14 yellow. .... Richie Stephens spun on the 25th lap for the final yellow.
On the move: Tail-starting Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, Tenn., finished third; he took a provisional after a consolation race wreck.
Winner's sponsors: Whitener’s Barry Wright Race Car is sponsored by Carter Trucking & Logging, P&S Transportation, Mosley Ranch Timber, Michael Moore Construction & Roofing, Edwards Jones Investments, Baker Farms, ML Motorsports, Ocala Restaurant Supply and Massey Towing & Recovery.
Points chase: After East Bay Thursday: Jason Welshan (340); 2. Dylan Knowles (328); 3. Jake Knowles (318); 4. Mark Whitener (282); 5. Cory Hedgecock (278).
Current weather: Clear, 48°F
Car count: 78
Fast qualifier: Mark Whitener
Time: 15.995 seconds
Polesitter: Mark Whitener
Heat race winners: Richie Stephens, Jeremy Shaw, Ashton Winger, Joseph Joiner, Dylan Knowles, Kyle Lukon, Nevin Gainey, Mark Whitener
Consolation race winners: Logan Roberson, Colton Leyendecker, Jason Welshan, Garrett Mosley
Provisional starters: Cory Hedgecock
Next series race: February 5, East Bay Raceway Park (Gibsonton, FL) $2,500
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.