Dirt on Dirt - Whitener defends Emig Memorial, bags $20,000

June 25

Lernerville Speedway,

Sarver, PA

Sanction: RUSH Crate Late Model Series (Bill Emig Memorial) - $20,000

Information provided by: Staff reports (last updated June 26, 4:25 pm)

Whitener defends Emig Memorial, bags $20,000

Bill Emig Memorial

Mark Whitener
Joe Martin
Dillon Brown
Logan Roberson
Michael Duritsky
David Pangrazio
Michael Norris
Colton Flinner
Kyle Lukon
Will Thomas
Justin Kann
Chub Frank
Bryce Davis
Mason Zeigler
Matt Latta
Mike Wonderling Jr.
Jeremy Wonderling
Jason Knowles
Trevor Collins
Ryan Montgomery
Andrew Hennessy
John Waters
Amanda Robinson
Charlie Sandercock
Brady Wonderling
Daryl Charlier

presented by

Photo slideshow

Howie Balis

Mark Whitener poses in victory lane after his $20,000 Bill Emig Memorial victory.

What won the race: Mark Whitener of Middleburg, Fla., repeated his victory in the RUSH Crate Late Model Series-sanctioned Bill Emig Memorial, leading all 50 laps Saturday at Lernerville Speedway to pocket a tour-record $20,000 top prize. He was rarely challenged en route to capturing the race for the second straight year by 0.893 of a second over Joe Martin of Mayport, Pa.

Quotable: “I’ve got one $25,000 victory so this makes the second biggest one I’ve ever had," said the 41-year-old Whitener. “It takes a lot to put these types of events on with sponsors and getting people here. She (RUSH’s Vicki Emig) runs a really good and respectable series. They tech motors, shocks, tires, fuel — everything. It's an awesome series to race. You can come here legally and win, and that’’s where we are. I had an awesome race car and this is awesome. I live 13 hours away, just sit in the seat and drive this thing, so it means a lot of be able to come up here and win this race.”

Key notes: Whitener was in the same car he piloted to a $10,000 victory in last year’s event — an XR1 Rocket car owned by retired state trooper Dirk Neal of Punxsutawney, Pa. The machine is housed Integra Shocks rep Brian Daugherty's shop. … Whitener also received a championship diamond ring from D&V Jewelers valued at $5,000. ... Martin held the runner-up position for the final 20 laps. ... Dillon Brown of Gaffney, S.C., moved into third on a lap-36 restart and finished there. ... Logan Roberson of Waynesboro, Va., finished fourth after gaining that position on lap 47. ... After running in the top five — and as high as second — for the majority of the race, David Pangrazio of Batavia, N.Y., faded in the closing laps and finished sixth. ... Saturday's feature, completed after the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Firecracker 100, was slowed by four incidents, including a 10-minute red flag on lap eight for a multi-car incident on the homestretch. ... The race lasted 35 minutes, with 17 competitors completing all 50 laps.

On the move: After utilizing a provisional starting position, Will Thomas of Sharpsville, Pa., started 26th and finished 10th.

Winner's sponsors: Whitener drove a Dirk Neal-owned Rocket Chassis sponsored by CRW Home Center, Brackman Chevrolet-Buick, Huey Brothers Well Services, Fisher Furniture and Richmond Insurance.

Points chase: Before Lernerville: 1. Logan Roberson (586); 2. Joe Martin (573); 3. Brady Wonderling (544); 4. Jeremy Wonderling (544); 5. Breyton Santee (513).

Current weather: Clear, 86°F

Car count: 56

Fast qualifier: Mark Whitener

Time: 17.730 seconds

Polesitter: Mark Whitener

Heat race winners: Mark Whitener, Michael Norris, Michael Duritsky, David Pangrazio, Joe Martin, Charlie Sandercock

Consolation race winners: Jeremy Wonderling, Amanda Robinson, Trevor Collins

Provisional starters: Brady Wonderling, Will Thomas

Next series race: July 1, Dog Hollow Speedway (Strongstown, PA) $3,000

Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

From staff and series reports

SARVER, Pa. (June 23) — Updates from the RUSH Crate Late Model Series-sanctioned Bill Emig Memorial that includes qualifying on Thursday, heats on Friday and B-mains and the $20,000-to-win feature Saturday at Lernerville Speedway (results unofficial):

Feature

Mark Whitener of Middleburg, Fla., repeated his victory in the RUSH Crate Late Model Series-sanctioned Bill Emig Memorial, leading all 50 laps Saturday at Lernerville Speedway to pocket a tour-record $20,000 top prize. He was rarely challenged en route to capturing the race for the second straight year by 0.893 of a second over Joe Martin of Mayport, Pa.

Consolation results

(12 laps; top two transfer)

First consolation finish: Jeremy Wonderling, Matt Latta, Logan Jaquay, Josh Ferry, Austin Allen, Noah Brunell, Jim Rasey, Jonathan Stockdale, Eli Mayhew, Michael Goudie, Rob Coffaro (DNS) Will Thomas, Mike Laughard.

Second consolation finish: Amanda Robinson, Justin Kann, Aaron Miller, Zachary Kane, R.J. Dallape, Levi Crowl, Andy Michael, Chuck Recker, Cole Petrelle, Chad Sines, Ryan Goudie (DNS) Bo Lockwood, Breyton Santee.

Third consolation finish: Trevor Collins, Ryan Montgomery, Ethan Wilson, Shane Crotty, Ryan Frazee, Ashton Briggs, Braeden Dillinger, Brady Wonderling, Kurt Stebbins, John Boring, Jake Gunn (DNS) Cody Dawson.

Dash results

(6 laps)

Finish: Mark Whitener, David Pangrazio, Michael Norris, Michael Duritsky, Charlie Sandercock, Joe Martin.

Heat race results

(10 laps; top three transfer)

First heat: Mark Whitener, Logan Roberson, John Waters, Jeremy Wonderling, Matt Latta, Josh Ferry, Austin Allen, Eli Mayhew, Noah Brunell, Michael Goudie.

Second heat: Michael Norris, Jason Knowles, Daryl Charlier, Will Thomas, Logan Jaquay, Jim Rasey, Jonathan Stockdale, Rob Coffaro, Mike Laughard.

Third heat: Michael Duritsky, Chub Frank, Colton Flinner, Chad Sines, Cole Petrelle, Aaron Miller, Bo Lockwood, Ryan Goudie, Zachary Kane.

Fourth heat: David Pangrazio, Mike Wondering, Kyle Lukon, Levi Crowl, Amanda Robinson, Justin Kann, R.J. Dallape, Chuck Recker, Andy Michael, Breyton Santee.

Fifth heat: Joe Martin, Mason Zeigler, Andrew Hennessy, Trevor Collins, Braeden Dillinger, Ryan Frazee, Kurt Stebbins, Shane Crotty, Jake Gunn.

Sixth heat: Charlie Sandercock, Dillon Brown, Bryce Davis, Ryan Montgomery, Brady Wonderling, Ethan Wilson, Ashton Briggs, Cody Dawson, John Boring.