November 25
Cochran Motor Speedway,
Cochran, GA
Sanction: Rogers Dabbs Chevrolet Crate Racin’ USA Series (Gobbler) - $10,000
Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated November 27, 6:19 am)
Whitener rules Cochran, wears CRUSA crown
Gobbler
- Mark Whitener
- Wil Herrington
- Jimmy Thomas
- Tyler Millwood
- Doug Stevens
- Jake Knowles
- Matt Dooley
- Ches Chester
- Mario Gresham
- Allen Styck
- Marty Lunsford
- Mitch Fulford
- Colton Trouille
- Jimmy Sharpe Sr.
- Matthew Taylor
- Logan Palmer
- Jordy Nipper
- Caleb Gay
- Matt Long
- Jimmy Sharpe Jr.
- Andy Bargaehr
- Trey Davis
- Tony Lindsey
Mark Whitener celebrates his $10,000 victory at Cochran.
What won the race: Using a third-to-first move and slipping underneath race-long pacesetter Caleb Gay on lap 18, Mark Whitener of Middleburg, Fla., led the final 33 laps to win Saturday's $10,000 Gobbler at Cochran Motor Speedway. Whitener's sixth Crate Racin' USA victory of the season secures his first career series title.
Quotable: “I think (Ches Chester) thought he had me beat to the corner, but we was side-by-side and I turned (my car) sideways to keep from running him over, but we kinda both slid up the race track,” Whitener said. “We had to fight our way back, but luckily in lapped traffic, I think we found the rubber a little quicker than they did, so it all worked out.”
Key notes: The pole-starting Whitener slipped to fourth on the opening lap after contact with Ches Chester, sending Chester off the track and back to 21st; he rebounded to finish eighth. ... Ninth-starting Wil Herrington took second on the lap-44 restart and finished 0.733 of a second back. ... Jimmy Thomas pursued Whitener from lap 38-43 before giving way to Herrington and rounding out the podium. ... Tyler Millwood improved four positions and finished fourth. ... The third-starting Gay, of Dublin, Ga., led the first 17 laps before being overtaken by Whitener; Gay faded to spin from sixth following contact with Doug Stevens on lap 43 to draw the race's eighth and final caution; Stevens gained six spots and finished fifth while Gay was unable to continue and settled for 18th. ... Logan Palmer clipped the spinning Gay and completed six additional laps with no right-side before pulling off. ... Allen Styck ran as high as second in the early laps before slipping to finish 10th. ... Marty Lunsford recovered to finish 11th after spinning from 13th and bringing out the race's seventh yellow on lap 36. ... Saturday's feature lasted 35 minutes, with 14 competitors completing 50 laps and 15 running at the checkers. ... Originally coined as the Double Gobbler and slated to headline twin $10,000-to-win semifeatures with 24 different cars in each race, the event was reduced to a single feature after receiving 23 entries.
On the move: Mario Gresham of Rome, Ga., started 18th and finished ninth.
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: Final: 1. Mark Whitener (1,874); 2. Mario Gresham (1,646); 3. Jake Knowles (1,606); 4. Jackson Hise (1,378); 5. Dalton Dowdy (994).
Current weather: Clear, 57°F
Car count: 23
Fast qualifier: Mark Whitener
Time: 14.726 seconds
Polesitter: Mark Whitener
Heat race winners: Ches Chester, Mark Whitener
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.