IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

February 7, 2009 Dominating Landers Locks Up Pole for UMP DIRTcar Modified Gator Championship BARBERVILLE, FL – February 6, 2009 – Is Jared Landers lucky, or is he just that good? He does have triple 7’s on his car, and his 5‐month‐old son Madden seems to bring bring good fortune when he’s in attendance. Whatever the case might be, Landers powered into Victory Lane on the first qualifying night for the Gator Championship during the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH. The win marked the Batesville, Ark., native’s third victory in the past four nights. Landers started sixth in the A‐main. A tangle between leader Mike Long and Matt Goulden on Lap 3 gave Landers a clear track and he put it to good use. He led the rest of the way, holding a consistent advantage over second‐place running Austin Dillon. Landers, 28, was ecstatic in victory lane, more for drivers who ran well in cars prepared by him than for his victory itself. “I’m just glad to see the guys make the top four with me,” he said. “That makes me more proud than anything.” Landers victory is his third in four days, falling short of a win on Thursday night. The victory allows Landers to claim pole position in Sunday’s Gator Championship, which boasts a $5,000 payday. “I don’t know if I can keep outrunning my guys there,” said Landers in Alltel Wireless Victory Lane. “We’re going to give it our best shot.” Dillon kept the pressure on Landers for most of the 20 lap A‐Main event. Austin Dillon, 18, who also sports a Larry Shaw Race Car prepared by Landers , climbed from the seventh to finish second. “Jared he drives so hard I don’t know what I will have to do to beat him,” Dillon said. Rodney Wing, who’s been a model of consistency these Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH claimed his first podium finish of the event by holding off the hard charging Ty Dillon, Kenny Wallace and Kenny Schrader. “We’re going to be able to breathe easy knowing we’re in the Sunday show,” Wing said. “The car was real good all night. It was actually a back‐up car, but it fits me good.” Ty Dillon, Austin’s brother, set fast time of the night in the fourth qualifying group with a fast lap in the 19‐second range. Ty Dillon showed his strength all night long, especially in the A‐Main where he rocketed from eighth to fourth while battling Schrader and Team Dillon teammate Ryan Gifford. With the field being cut in half to 44 cars entered on the first night of The Gator Championship, heat races featured furious action as drivers tried to gain points throughout the program to earn a spot in the Saturday finale. Michael Long raced to an early lead in heat race, holding off Columbus, Ind., driver Devin Gilpin and Kenny Wallace. Second heat race action saw Rodney Wing fly from the pole and never look back as he bested double dipper and Alltel All‐Star contestant Jared Landers and Ryan Gifford of Welcome, N.C. The third of four heats saw Tim Karrick of Baschor, Kan., make the long haul worth it as he bested World of Outlaws Late Model Series Alltel Ohio Speedweek All‐Star Mike Knight of Ripley, N.Y., and Austin Dillon. Matt Goulden beat out Gary Cook Jr. of Deery Creek, Ill., and Ty Dillon in heat four as Jacob Hawkins and John Henry dueled behind them. Consolation races were claimed by Mike Wedelstadt, with Todd Sherman also transferring from the first B‐main with John Henry claiming the second B‐Main followed by Matt Aukland. The Gator Championship Night 1 Qualifier A‐Main Finish – 20 Laps 1 777 Jared Landers 2 3 Austin Dillon 3 51 Rodney Wing 4 2d Ty Dillon 5 36 Kenny Wallace 6 9X Kenny Schrader 7 29 Ryan Gifford 8 222 Dave Hess Jr 9 64 Gary Cook Jr 10 18H Jon Henry 11 65 Michael Davis 12 24 Brad Waits 13 O1 Todd Sherman 14 41M Brent Mullins 15 12A Matt Auckland 16 X Mike Wedelstadt 17 1d Chris Smith 18 1K Tim Karrick 19 54L Benji Lacrosse 20 10 Michael Long 21 41G Matt Goulden 22 1G Devin Gilpin 23 21 Andy Gordon 24 20 Jacob Hawkins For more on the 38th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH please visit: www.dirtcarnationals.com Through the second night of competition at the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH, the Alltel All‐Star contenders and their text message Letter Codes include: Sprint Cars — Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. (b) Stevie Smith (d) UMP DIRTcar Modifieds — Jared Landers, Batesville, Ark. (a). Austin Dillon Lewisville,NC (c) Fans can vote by visiting www.AlltelAllStar.com or texting their drivers code to 247253. Complete raw results can be viewed by visiting MyLaps.com Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!