GIBSONTON, Fla. (Feb. 7) — Updates and results from Wednesday’s second round of the 48th annual Wieland Winternationals highlighted by a 40-lap, $7,000-to-win Lucas Oil Series-sanctioned Super Late Model feature (results unofficial):
Feature
Powering around the outside of Jonathan Davenport and taking the lead for good on lap 27, fourth-starting Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, led the final 14 laps to top Wednesday's $7,000 second round of the 48th annual Wieland Winternationals at East Bay Raceway Park. Leading twice for 21 laps (12-18, 27-40), Erb secured his 20th career full-field Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series feature victory and his sixth career Winternationals triumph.
Mike Marlar moved through the field on the high side and grabbed the runner-up spot on the final lap, nipping Davenport at the line by 0.204 of a second; Marlar crossed the checkers 2.653 seconds behind Erb. The second-starting Davenport, of Blairsville, Ga., led three times for 18 laps (1-11, 19, 21-26) before rounding-out the podium finishers.
Feature lineup
(40 laps)
Row 1: Jensen Ford, Jonathan Davenport
Row 2: Daulton Wilson, Tyler Erb
Row 3: Ross Robinson, Jimmy Owens
Row 4: Blair Nothdurft, Devin Moran
Row 5: Garrett Alberson, Brandon Overton
Row 6: Clay Harris, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 7: Wil Herrington, Hudson O'Neal
Row 8: Kyle Bronson, Earl Pearson Jr.
Row 9: Daniel Adam, Tim McCreadie
Row 10: Brian Shirley, R.J. Conley
Row 11: Ethan Dotson, Drake Troutman
Row 12: Mike Marlar, Garrett Smith
Consolation results
(10 laps; top two transfer)
First consolation finish: Brian Shirley, Drake Troutman, Chase Junghans, Logan Zarin, Tim Dohm, Jason Milam, Jack Riggs, Kenny Howell, Ryan Payne, Brennon Willard, Mike Benedum, Dean Carpenter, Brian Ledbetter, Blake McClain, Amanda Robinson. Scratched: Tony Jackson Jr., Spencer Hughes, Tanner English, Logan Hitt, Tre Martin
Second consolation finish: R.J. Conley, Mike Marlar, Ashton Winger, Cody Overton, Brandon Weigle, Seth Daniels, Matt Cosner, David McCoy, Chris Hawkins, Jeff Mathews, Tyler Millwood, Danny Snyder, Kerry King, Cory Lawler, Max Blair. Scratched: Haiden Cowan, Terry Casey, Tim Lance, Rod Conley
Third consolation finish: Ethan Dotson, Garrett Smith, Boom Briggs, Dillon McCowan, Jason Riggs, Brenden Smith, Michael Lake, Ross Bailes, Todd Brennan, Brandon Sheppard, Levi Yetter, Brandon Thirlby, Kylan Garner, Trevor Collins. Scratched: Larry Grube, Ryan Gustin, Ricky Thornton Jr., Bob Gardner
Heat race recap
Jensen Ford led all eight laps to win the first heat race by 0.924 of a second over third-starting Blair Nothdurft. Fourth-starting Wil Herrington finished third to grab the final transfer spot into Wednesday’s $7,000-to-win feature. The lone caution flew on lap five when Spencer Hughes spun entering turn one while battling Nothdurft for second, collecting sixth-running Logan Hitt; Hitt needed a tow back to the pits while Hughes continued and settled for eighth. … Daulton Wilson led green-to-checkered to win heat two by 0.505 of a second over Garrett Alberson. Kyle Bronson executed a last-lap pass around Brian Shirley to take the third and final transfer position. … Ross Robinson grabbed the early lead from Clay Harris and led the entire distance to win heat three by 0.516 of a second, with Daniel Adam holding serve and finishing third. The lone caution came out on the second lap when Haiden Cowan and Chris Hawkins made contact in turn two, collecting Terry Casey and sending him spinning; Casey opted not to continue, while Cowan and Hawkins finished seventh and eighth. Tim Lance hit an infield tractor tire on the opening lap and pulled off. … Jonathan Davenport scored a flag-to-flag victory in heat four, winning by 0.863 of a second over third-starting Devin Moran. Winner of Tuesday’s opener, Hudson O’Neal finished third. The lone caution flew on the opening lap when Mike Marlar and Brandon Weigle made contact, sending Weigle spinning and collecting Matt Cosner; all three continued, with Marlar finishing fourth, Weigle in seventh and Cosner eighth. Max Blair scratched from the heat race lineup. … Tyler Erb led all eight laps and narrowly repelled Brandon Overton in the final turn, winning heat five by a scant 0.198 of a second. Fourth-starting Earl Pearson Jr. rounded-out the podium finishers. Ricky Thornton Jr. scratched after losing an engine on his second lap of time trials. … Jimmy Owens cruised to win the sixth and final heat race, winning by 0.389 of a second over Dennis Erb Jr., who was showing smoke in the final laps. Fourth-starting Tim McCreadie finished third and grabbed the final transfer spot. The lone caution came out on the opening lap when Owens and Brandon Sheppard made contact, sending Sheppard spinning and collecting Ryan Gustin; Sheppard and Gustin both sustained heavy nose damage, ending their night.
Heat race results
(Eight laps; top three transfer)
First heat finish: Jensen Ford, Blair Nothdurft, Wil Herrington, Amanda Robinson, Tony Jackson Jr., Chase Junghans, Drake Troutman, Spencer Hughes, Jason Milam, Mike Benedum, Dean Carpenter, Brian Ledbetter, Logan Hitt.
Second heat finish: Daulton Wilson, Garrett Alberson, Kyle Bronson, Brian Shirley, Tim Dohm, Ryan Payne, Logan Zarin, Tanner English, Kenny Howell, Jack Riggs, Brennon Willard, Blake McClain. Scratched: Tre Martin
Third heat finish: Ross Robinson, Clay Harris, Daniel Adam, R.J. Conley, Cody Overton, Seth Daniels, Haiden Cowan, Chris Hawkins, Danny Snyder, Cory Lawler, Terry Casey, Tim Lance.
Fourth heat finish: Jonathan Davenport, Devin Moran, Hudson O'Neal, Mike Marlar, Ashton Winger, David McCoy, Brandon Weigle, Matt Cosner, Tyler Millwood, Jeff Mathews, Kerry King, Rod Conley. Scratched: Max Blair
Fifth heat finish: Tyler Erb, Brandon Overton, Earl Pearson Jr., Jason Riggs, Garrett Smith, Brenden Smith, Dillon McCowan, Michael Lake, Kylan Garner, Larry Grube, Brandon Thirlby. Scratched: Ricky Thornton Jr.
Sixth heat finish: Jimmy Owens, Dennis Erb Jr., Tim McCreadie, Ethan Dotson, Boom Briggs, Ross Bailes, Levi Yetter, Trevor Collins, Todd Brennan, Brandon Sheppard, Ryan Gustin. Scratched: Bob Gardner
Pre-race notes
Wednesday’s weather conditions are almost identical to Tuesday’s with brilliantly sunny skies and a high temperature of around 70. … The car count numbers 75 for the second straight night. … The heats and B-mains for Monday’s rained-out show will be contested following a short break upon the completion of Wednesday’s regularly-scheduled program. … Brandon Overton of Evans, Ga., Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., and Cody Overton of Evans, Ga., are among those competing in Wednesday’s action after sitting out on Tuesday. Gustin, who won his first-ever Lucas Oil Series feature during last year’s Winternationals, arrived today with his Todd Cooney-owned car and is parked at the extreme back of the pit area. … Marlar’s Skyline Motorsports teammate, Tyler Bruening of Decorah, Iowa, has his trailer parked in the pit area, but he’s uncertain if he’ll unload to race before next week’s World of Outlaws-sanctioned DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. … Mike Spatola of Manhattan, Ill., also has his trailer in the pits but isn’t unloaded for the second consecutive night. … As Wednesday’s hot laps began, Mark Whitener of Middleburg, Fla., and his crew were bolting an engine in his No. 5 machine. He plans to make his first start of the week on Thursday. … Jeff Mathews of Brandon, Fla., has his Rocket Chassis patched up for Wednesday’s competition. He had to straighten some front frame rails and make other repairs after slamming the turn-one wall hard during Tuesday’s time trials. … Chase Junghans of Manhattan, Kan., registered his seventh-place finish in Tuesday’s feature driving his team’s Rocket Chassis. He said the MB Customs car he ran in last month’s Wild West Shootout in Vado, N.M., was part of a testing arrangement he made with the Jimmy and Chris Mars-owned manufacturer and he’s unsure when, or if, he will enter it in another event. … Ross Bailes of Clover, S.C., clocked the overall fastest lap in the time trials for Monday’s rained-out show that closed Tuesday’s program on a rubbered surface after a heat-race accident forced his Hatcher Racing team to make extensive repairs to the Longhorn car’s rear deck and right-front suspension. … Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., pulled out of of Tuesday’s feature early to save his equipment. He opted not to enter the Monday program’s time trials because he had planned to sit out the week’s opener anyway if it had not been washed out. … Good to see Lucas Oil Series marketing director Wayne Castleberry back walking around the pit area this week. He missed the tour’s earlier Speedweeks events while undergoing medical treatment.
Time trials
Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Jensen Ford (15k), Johnson City, Tenn., 14.281
2. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 14.320
3. Ross Robinson (7), Georgetown, Del., 14.340
4. Spencer Hughes (19m), Meridian, Miss., 14.366
5. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 14.374
6. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 14.502
7. Blair Nothdurft (76n), Renner, S.D., 14.508
8. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 14.511
9. Daniel Adam (75), Wade, N.C., 14.563
10. Wil Herrington (14x), Hawkinsville, Ga., 14.570
11. Tim Dohm (6T), Cross Lanes, W.Va., 14.596
12. Seth Daniels (s21), Jackson, Ohio, 14.623
13. Tony Jackson Jr. (25), Lebanon, Mo., 14.630
14. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 14.647
15. Haiden Cowan (214), Rincon, Ga., 14.672
16. Amanda Robinson (4), Georgetown, Del., 14.739
17. Tanner English (96v), Benton, Ky., 14.744
18. R.J. Conley (71c), Wheelersburg, Ohio, 14.760
19. Logan Hitt (2*), Buckhannon, W.Va., 14.762
20. Logan Zarin (1z), Moon Township, Pa., 14.766
21. Cody Overton (97), Evans, Ga., 14.797
22. Drake Troutman (7T), Hyndman, Pa., 14.819
23. Ryan Payne (12R), Pennsboro, W.Va., 14.828
24. Chris Hawkins (usa1), Neosho, Mo., 14.882
25. Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 14.884
26. Jack Riggs (81J), Nolensville, Tenn., 14.895
27. Cory Lawler (93), Hanover, Pa., 14.901
28. Mike Benedum (25B), Salem, W.Va., 15.018
29. Blake McClain (15), Coldwater, Miss., 15.045
30. Terry Casey (42), New London, Wis., 15.084
31. Jason Milam (82B), Guntown, Miss., 15.099
32. Brennon Willard (3), Lebanon, Mo., 15.171
33. Tim Lance (48), Brimfield, Ill., 15.235
34. Dean Carpenter (51), Coldwater, Miss., 15.256
35. Kenny Howell (21), Inez, Ky., 15.444
36. Danny Snyder (4s), Green Lane, Pa., 15.672
37. Brian Ledbetter (07), Stanley, N.C., 16.102
38. Tre Martin (21m), Sissonville, W.Va., no time
Group B
1. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 14.221
2. Tyler Erb (1T), New Waverly, Texas, 14.276
3. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 14.352
4. Hudson O’Neal (1), Martinsville, Ind., 14.368
5. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 14.434
6. Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill., 14.479
7. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 14.482
8. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 14.495
9. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 14.554
10. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 14.589
11. Earl Pearson Jr. (46), Jacksonville, Fla., 14.634
12. Tim McCreadie (39), Watertown, N.Y., 14.644
13. Ashton Winger (12), Hampton, Ga., 14.663
14. Jason Riggs (81), College Grove, Tenn., 14.674
15. Ethan Dotson (174), Bakersfield, Calif., 14.678
16. Brandon Weigle (47w), Middlebourne, W.Va., 14.684
17. Garrett Smith (10), Eatonton, Ga., 14.731
18. Boom Briggs (99B), Bear Lake, Pa., 14.794
19. David McCoy (187), Franklin, N.C., 14.808
20. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 14.812
21. Ross Bailes (6H), Clover, S.C., 14.818
22. Jeff Mathews (33), Brandon, Fla., 14.832
23. Michael Lake (27), Uniontown, Pa., 14.848
24. Ryan Gustin (30), Marshalltown, Iowa, 14.850
25. Matt Cosner (66c), Ridgeley, W.Va., 14.883
26. Dillon McCowan (8), Urbana, Mo., 14.896
27. Bob Gardner (4G), East Peoria, Ill., 14.961
28. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 14.970
29. Larry Grube (29), Mauldin, S.C., 14.980
30. Trevor Collins (11c), Seaford, Del., 14.991
31. Tyler Millwood (31), Kingston, Ga., 15.016
32. Kylan Garner (128), Neosho, Mo., 15.063
33. Todd Brennan (20B), Zanesville, Ohio, 15.119
34. Kerry King (K&B), Delmar, Del., 15.171
35. Brandon Thirlby (69), Traverse City, Mich., 15.229
36. Levi Yetter (9), Cabot, Pa., 15.499
37. Rod Conley (71R), Wheelersburg, Ohio, 15.632
Wednesday’s schedule
(All times local)
1:30 p.m. - Pits cleared
2 p.m. - Pits open
2-4:45 p.m. - Tech and registration
5 p.m. - Grandstands open
5 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
5:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Late Model qualifying (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Feature events
- Late Models (40 laps)
Postponed from Monday, Feb. 5
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)