December 13
All-Tech Raceway,
Ellisville, FL
Sanction: Unsanctioned Crates (604) (XR 604 Crate Nationals second prelim) - $5,000
Information provided by: Track reports (last updated December 13, 11:45 pm)
Whitener rallies for $5,000 All-Tech victory
XR 604 Crate Nationals second prelim
- Mark Whitener
- Tyler Erb
- Randy Weaver
- Layton Sullivan
- Kyle Hardy
- Dylan Perry
- Jordy Nipper
- Will Roland
- Mason Zeigler
- Michael Page
- Chip Brindle
- Wil Herrington
- Beckham Malone
- Mark Underwood Jr.
- Logan Zarin
- Austin Yarbrough
- Allen Styck
- Chris Stowe
- Jesse Sobbing
- Colby Quick
- Josh Henry
- Cameron Saunders
- Donnie Shipp
- Cade Nelson
- Mack McCarter
- Cla Knight
- Austin Storm
- A.J. Diemel
- Jackson Hise
- Nathan Bray
Mark Whitener (5) passes Layton Sullivan (2) en route to winning $5,000.
What won the race: Taking command when Randy Weaver jumped the turn-three cushion on a lap-28 restart, 16th-starting Mark Whitener of Middleburg, Fla., led the final three laps to win Friday's second XR 604 Crate Nationals prelim at All-Tech Raceway. Whitener took the checkers 0.471 of a second ahead of Tyler Erb for the $5,000 payday and his 15th overall victory of the season.
Quotable: “As you can see, man you can race all over … I came from 16th, you know we were bobbing and weaving,” Whitener said. “This is a bad-ass racetrack, I’m glad I live in Florida right here … in this deal you kinda get penalized to be fast, I guess. I don’t understand how (passing points) works, you gotta have a college degree and I don’t understand it. If I don’t start up front after that, I don’t even know.”
Key notes: Whitener notched his second 604 Crate victory of the week after topping Saturday's $20,000 Showdown on the Coast at Brunswick, Ga.'s Golden Isles Speedway. ... The 11th-starting Erb, of New Waverly, Texas, took the runner-up spot on a lap-29 restart. ... Third-starting Randy Weaver led laps 6-27 before hopping the turn-three cushion on lap 28 and fading as low as fifth, then rebounding to third on the lap-29 restart. ... Ninth-starting Layton Sullivan trailed Weaver from laps 9-24 before settling for fourth. ... Dylan Perry led the opening five laps from the pole before slipping to sixth. ... Mason Zeigler improved 11 positions and placed ninth. ... The race was slowed by seven incidents, the largest coming on lap three and necessitating a 10-minute red flag after Will Roland spun from 13th, collecting Jackson Hise, A.J. Diemel and Austin Storm. The resulting contact sent Hise upside down, as it took track officials several minutes to right his car back onto all four wheels. ... Hise was OK, but he retired along with Diemel. ... Storm continued until slowing to draw the race's fourth caution on lap eight, then pulled off. ... Roland rebounded to finish eighth. ... Mack McCarter spun from eighth to draw the first yellow flag on lap three, collecting Cla Knight. Both continued, with Knight retiring on lap 11 and McCarter pulling off on the 14th circuit. ... Josh Henry slowed to cause the lap-28 slowdown, setting up Whitener's winning pass on the restart before Austin Yarbrough spun on the following lap for the final caution. ... The second 30-lap prelim lasted 46 minutes, with 18 starters running at the finish. ... Nathan Bray, borrowing a ride owned by Kale Green, broke a driveshaft during pace laps. ... Russell Erwin and Luke Cooper were among non-qualifiers. ... The top-20 point earners between Thursday and Friday prelims are guaranteed a starting spot in Saturday's 60-lap, $100,000-to-win finale; the final four starters will transfer through one of Saturday's consolations.
On the move: Kyle Hardy of Stephens City, Va., started 21st and finished fifth.
Winner's sponsors: Whitener’s Cody Jett-owned Longhorn Chassis is powered by an H&R Racing Engine and sponsored by Southeast Ship Repair, Whitener’s Tractor Service, Johnny Doan Plumbing, Ocala Restaurant Supply, Jett Concrete Works, ML Motorsports, Angry Elephant Tattoo and Piercing, Baker Farms, RaceCar Engineering, ETG, Chad Tuten at Boswell Oil, VP Racing Fuels, FK Rod Ends, Penske Racing Shocks, Swift Springs and Hoosier Racing Tire.
Points chase: XR 604 Nationals after Friday: 1. Mark Whitener (1,020.5); 2. Kyle Hardy (1,012.5); 3. Michael Brown (1,005.5); 4. Ross Bailes (1,005); 5. Layton Sullivan (999.5); 6. Michael Page (995.5); 7. Kyle Bronson (994.5); T8. Cody Overton (991); T8. Corey Neil Jr. (991); T10. Tyler Erb (990.5); T10. Cole Exum (990.5).
Current weather: Overcast, 57°F
Car count: 101
Polesitter: Dylan Perry
Heat race winners: Randy Weaver, Austin Yarbrough, Nathan Bray, Dylan Perry, Jesse Sobbing, Jordy Nipper
Consolation race winners: Logan Zarin, Kyle Hardy
Next series race: Dec. 14, All-Tech Raceway, finale ($100,000)
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.