Volusia Speedway Park
Notes: Roland quickest in Volusia practice
By Mike Warren
World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series
Will Roland zips around Volusia. (jacynorgaardphotography.com)
BARBERVILLE, Fla. — On Wednesday's practice night for the Sunshine Nationals when World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series found high-speed conditions at Volusia Speedway Park, a surprising name topped the charts.
In his first laps at the D-shaped half-mile track, Will Roland of Jasper, Ga., was quickest of 43 cars on the track with a blazing 15.322 second lap, three-tenths quicker than the 15.645-second track record set by Tim McCreadie in February 2018. Obviously the time doesn't count as a record because it's not during official WoO time trials, but it's a good start for the young Georgian heading into Thursday's WoO opener.
“It’ll definitely boost our confidence for tomorrow” Roland said. “The car was great. Too bad it don’t pay nothing. But if we just work on it a little bit more tomorrow and stay up front, my goal is just to come out and make a name for myself.”
Two-time Volusia Speedway Park winner Kyle Strickler was second fastest with a 15.453 second lap. Like Roland, he’s also built confidence for the weekend.
“I love coming to this place,” Strickler said. “We’ve been working really hard this offseason and built a brand new car. It always feels good to unload good on the first day of the season on practice night and to be quick.”
Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., winner of the tour's previous event at Volusia last February, was third quickest in the practice session with a 15.466-second lap.
“We were extremely good tonight,” Madden said. “We got to play around with a few things, and I think we’re really good, and we’re looking forward to the weekend here.”
Among other drivers, youngster Jordan Koehler of Mount Airy, N.C. — whose new teammate Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., is expected to arrive Thursday — was fourth quick with a 15.525 second lap while Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., rounded out the top five with a 15.602 second lap.
Erb's title defense
Dennis Erb Jr’s crew chief, Heather Lyne, said it best after Erb won 2022's WoO championship “We’ve raised the bar, and now we have to clear it.”
The dynamic duo will take their first step toward clearing that bar during the three-night Sunshine Nationals capped by Saturday's $20,000-to-win main event.
Erb couldn’t sit and enjoy his 2022 title for too long, as only 75 days fell between the final night of the World of Outlaws World Finals and the opening race of the season. However, the hard-working approach he and Lyne take toward each race had them ready to prepare for the short offseason.
“It doesn’t take long,” Erb said. “By the time we get home and get everything unloaded and start getting things cleaned up, we’re back at it working hard, getting things freshened up, getting a new car put together. The offseason is really short now, so we don’t have that much time to relax.”
Erb said early in the 2022 season that he had a focus on going out and winning the championship. That fire hasn’t stopped burning for the Illinois driver as he attempts a repeat performance.
“We had a real good year last year,” Erb said. “Things were working good. The car was working good. We finished off on a good note and plan to pick up right where we left off. We’re real confident, and we hope everything works out, but I think we’ll be right there in the battle again.”
With a couple of new Rocket Chassis at his disposal for 2023, he’s looking forward to what’s to come — including a return to his home state and Farmer City Raceway.
“Looking at the 2023 schedule, we’ve got a few new places we’re going to, and we’re always looking forward to that,” Erb said. “We just enjoy going to new places and our normal races we’ve got.”
Odds and ends
Five-time DIRTcar Summer Nationals Bobby Pierce on Oakwood, Ill., on Wednesday made a surprise announcement with his plans to follow the WoO circuit for the first time. ... Among Volusia drivers expected fielding cars for new teams in 2023: Devin Moran with Double Down Motorsports; Hudson O'Neal in the Rocket Chassis house car; Jimmy Owens for Koehler Motorsports; Tanner English for Viper Motorsports; and Max Blair with Briggs Transport. ... Scott Bloomquist is fielding a Rocket Chassis for Florida-based Big Frog Motorsports. ... The Sunshine Nationals include three nights of action for two Crate Late Model divisions, too. The Crate Racin' USA Winter Shootout's three-day program pays $10,000-to-win for Saturday's finale while 602 Crate Late Models chase a $3,000 winner's prize Saturday (preliminary features are scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
