National notebook
Notes: Rookie eyes more Wheatland success
Dillon McCowan stands by at Deer Creek Speedway. (heathlawsonphotos.com)
The last time Dillon McCowan brought his Late Model to Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., he opened eyes while mixing it up at the front with some of the nation's best drivers in the 31st annual Show-Me 100 presented by the Missouri Division of Tourism.
The 19-year-old Late Model rookie from nearby Urbana, Mo., thrilled the local fans by winning qualifying heat races each of the first two nights before running sixth in the 100-lap Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series finale. While he didn’t win, McCowan certainly earned respect and showed he belonged.
It meant a ton to his confidence and, while maintaining his lead in the Lucas Oil Midwest LateModel Racing Association Sunoco Rookie of the Year chase, he’s also branched out to run some more national tour events since.
“That weekend definitely opened our eyes and let us know we can do this,” McCowan said. “We can have good runs with these guys and be up in the front. It takes a little luck. We ran out of fuel on white-flag lap. I think we would have ended up crossing the checkers in fifth, but ran out of fuel and ending up barely making it across.
“I was super proud of my guys. They busted their butts and put me a good car out there. It was definitely a fun weekend.”
McCowan returns to Wheatland on Saturday looking to create more memories and momentum at the 17th annual CMH Diamond Nationals presented by Summit Racing Equipment. The co-sanctioned Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and MLRA event pays $15,000-to-win with a diamond ring also going to the winner.
“I’ve definitely been looking forward to this race and we’re excited for it,” McCowan said. “The car’s been running really good here lately. The team is really coming together and I’m ready to get back over there.
“If someone had told me back in January we’d have had the year we’ve had, I don’t know if I’d have believed them. It’s definitely been an amazing year, more than I ever expected. I knew we could do it, but it’s been really good. I’ve been very thankful for the year we’ve had and the help we’ve had.
“My guys have been working hard to put me in the best car out on the track. It’s been really exciting. I’ve been looking forward to this my entire life and here we are now, out living the dream.”
McCowan said his confidence grows a bit more each time he competes with the Lucas Oil Late Model Series drivers. Last weekend, the team made the long haul to Minnesota for the three-night Gopher 50 and he was able to make the big show through a consolation race. He wound up 21st after getting caught up in an accident.
The two-time B-mod champion said veteran Late Model drivers have been nothing but “super cool and welcoming” to him.
“It’s really fun getting to race with those guys and learn. It makes me a better driver,” McCowan said. “They may not know they’re teaching me, but every time we hit the track they’re teaching me something new.”
McCowan also is learning from Tim Douglas, who came aboard as crew chief at the Show-Me 100. Douglas had previously worked with veteran Late Model drivers Jason Papich and Tony Jackson Jr. He helped McCowan grab June victories at Legit Speedway Park in West Plains, Mo. (June 3) and Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Mo. (June 10).
“When Tim came on board, it definitely helped me a lot and helped our program,” McCowan said. “He brings lots of knowledge. He’s been there and done that and has helped me with driving, setup on the car and everything like that.”
McCowan, who has aspirations to someday run the Lucas Oil Late Model Series full-time, said he’s eager to hear his fans cheer on Saturday and calls their support something that’s hard to put a price on.
“The support over there when we go to Wheatland is second to none. That’s our hometown track right there and we definitely like to put on a good show for them," he said. "When they’re out there cheering, it means the world to me. It makes it 10 times more fun to put on a good show for them.” — Lyndal Scranton
Frye's success at BAPS
Coleby Frye had plenty of incentive coming into Saturday’s RKL Paving Smokey Frye Late Model 50 at BAPS Motor Speedway in York Haven, Pa.
It’s an event that Frye holds in high regard. When the Dover, Pa., driver was a regular in the Limited Late Model division, he fell short of cracking victory lane in the prestigious race, which doesn’t sit well with any driver. The race also has extra meaning in that it’s a special event held in honor of his uncle.
All of that motivation was on display when the race went green. Frye had the quickest car, and despite a throttle issue the last 10 laps of the 50-Lap affair, he held on for a decisive and satisfying 4.42-second victory in the Creekside Late Model division.
“We’re glad we got the Limited 50 win,” Frye said. “I ran Limited Late Models for a couple of years before we went full Super Late Model racing. I’m not sure if I was good enough to win it back then, and/or, there was a lot more competition.
“When I started racing, I felt like the field was a little more stacked with guys who could win compared to today. It’s a good bucket list deal, it’s my uncle’s race, and we definitely wanted to win that. It was a good night overall.”
Joe Lusk started on the pole, but it was outside front-row starter Jake Moser surging to the front from his fourth position to take the first-lap lead. As for Frye, who started fifth, he methodically made his way to the front. Frye has won long-distance races in the past and was worried more about laying down consistent laps. He was up to third by the second circuit and was in the runner-up spot by the completion of Lap 4.
“Cameron Benyou bought that car off me last year and raced it a little bit,” Frye said. “It was just a struggle, and we couldn’t hit the set up for him. So, I went and practiced it, and we got it better. Then, he said we might as well race it.
“We raced it twice last year and won twice. So, they decided we wanted to run it a couple of races this year. The car is pretty good, and when the car is good, you just have to take your time. If you turn better lap times than everybody else, you should be OK.”
Frye, 38, was better than OK. He stalked Moser for one lap before blasting out front to take over the top spot on the fifth circuit.
The rest of the race belonged to Frye. Although things got a little dicey in the closing stages when he had throttle issues and almost got into the rear of a lapped car. Still, nothing was going to stop Frye on this night. He feathered the throttle and remained in front of his competition to take the victory. Chad Smith, Matt Adams, Tommy Slanker, and Jared Miller completed the top five.
“The car was really good all night, but we had a couple of hurdles to get through,” Frye said. “We had a carburetor issue after time trials ... the secondary kept sticking open. We ran the heat race with just a two barrel, and luckily, we came forward and won it.
“The last 10 laps of the feature, the throttle was sticking again, and I almost got into the one lapped car because I was pushing the brake pedal, and it wasn’t slowing down. I had to take it easy at the end, because I didn’t want to wreck.
“We were half throttle the last 10 laps. Luckily, we didn’t stick wide open, because I don’t know if we could’ve kept racing if it was stuck wide open. It wasn’t idling down, so it made it interesting.” — Kalida Landis
Odds and ends
Series points leader Ashton Winger of Hampton, Ga., enters the final four DIRTcar Summer Nationals races needing two victories to top his six-race victory total from 2021. Thursday's race is at Butler Motor Speedway in Quincy, Mich. ... Winchester (Va.) Speedway and Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway have posted bonuses for July 15-16 Super Late Models specials, Winchester's Junior Boone Memorial ($5,025-to-win) and Hagerstown's Frank Sagi Tribute ($5,000-to-win). A $1,500 bonus goes to a driver that can sweep both features or, if Winchester's Saturday winner finishes second through fifth Sunday at Hagerstown, the driver will receive $500. Additionally, Winchester's winner is guaranteed a starting spot in Hagerstown's feature event. ... After joining the Lucas Oil Series for Saturday's Diamond Nationals at Lucas Oil Speedway, MLRA competitors make up a rainout at I-70 Speedway in Odessa, Mo., with a Sunday makeup race. The Firecracker 40 pays $7,000-to-win. ... Clarksville (Tenn.) Speedway hosts one of the season's richest races for 602 Crate Late Models on Saturday, July 15, with a $6,000-to-win purse up for grabs. The J.R. Knight Memorial pays an extra $2,000 if the winning car is powered by a Quicksilver powerplant.
Correction: Fixes that Dillon McCowan had a single victory at Legit Speedway Park; he was disqualified after an apparent June 17 victory.
