August 25
Volusia Speedway Park,
Barberville, FL
Sanction: Florida Late Model Challenge Series - $1,000
Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated August 27, 8:32 am)
David Whitener grabs Florida tour victory
- David Whitener
- Bud Chancey
- Richard Ferry
- Trevor Taylor
- Jimmy Waldrop
- Kyle Chappell
- Shan Smith
- Brian Smith
- John Bledsoe
- Brandon Smith
- Donnie Padgett
- Mark Steube
- Chuck Jackson
- Candie Kuhn
- Nevin Gainey
- Caleb McGillivray
- Jonathan Thomas
- Roger Thomas
- Gordon Peck
- Hamp Conley
- Jeremy Knoll
- Bug Rose
- Lisa O'Connor
What won the race: Taking advantage of a caution just beyond midway, fifth-starting David Whitener of Middleburg, Fla., passed leader Bud Chancey on the restart and pulled away to win his first career Florida Late Model Challenge Series feature. Whitener dominated action in the second half of Saturday’s race, winning by 4.182 seconds ahead of Chancey for a $1,000 payday at Volusia Speedway Park. Polesitter Richard Ferry finished third.
Quotable: “(Bud) Chancey (showed) me (a faster line),” winner David Whitener said. “I was trying to hold the bottom down there because I thought I had a little bit of grip. Whenever he passed me on the outside and turned by (number) 5 around, I had to try it the next lap, and it stuck.”
Key notes: Whitener said he called his brother Mark before the race to help with his car’s setup. “I was on the phone with (Mark) trying to make this hot rod go faster. He was up there (racing) at Waycross (Ga.).” … Bud Chancey had a straightaway lead when the mid-race caution came out, giving Whitener a shot at the lead. … Nevin Gainey started second and led a handful of laps early before retiring with an overheating engine. … Eleven drivers completed all 25 laps. … A crash on a restart on lap five resulted in Roger Thomas’s No. 23 parked on top of Hamp Conley’s No. 46c, eliminating the pair from contention. … There have been four different winners in five series events. … Whitener became the tour’s third different winner at Volusia this season. … The series returns to Volusia on Oct. 27 and Nov. 10.
On the move: Jimmy Waldrop rallied from 24th to finish fifth.
Winner's sponsors: Whitener’s winning No. 5 is sponsored by United Land Clearing, CWI Maintenance, Burkins Chevrolet and Carter Trucking.
Points chase: After five events, Nevin Gainey and Shan Smith are tied atop the series standings with 345 points, followed by Brian Smith (327), Trever Taylor (322) and David Whitener (320).
Car count: 24
Heat race winners: Bud Chancey, Shan Smith, Nevin Gainey
Next series race: November 21, Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL) $1,000
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.