Kentucky Driver Claims Selinsgrove’s National Late Model Open for Second Straight Year
SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Aug. 31, 2014 – Darrell Lanigan made sure his stellar 2014 World of Outlaws Late Model Series campaign will be remembered as one of the best ever on the national tour with a dominating victory at Selinsgrove Speedway on Sundayevening.
The two-time series champion and current points leader scored his 15th WoO LMS victory of the season at the historic half-mile oval, tying his own single-season win record set during his championship-winning season in 2012. Lanigan paced every lap ofSunday’s 50-lap A-Main, earning $10,650 for his second straight victory in Selinsgrove’s National Late Model Open.
“This definitely means a lot,” Lanigan said of the record-tying performance that marked his series-leading 68th career WoO LMS victory. “We go every week to win a race so to get that many wins just shows how great a car we have and how hard we’re working. That would be a hell of a record to break.”
Lanigan was never seriously challenged after starting from the pole in his Club 29 Race Car. He crossed the finish line 3.572 seconds ahead of Rocket Chassis house car driver Rick Eckert of York, Pa., who finished second to Lanigan in the National Late Model Open for the second straight year. Shane Clanton of Zebulon, Ga., was third in his Capital Race Car with Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., fourth in his MasterSbilt by Huey ride and 12th-starting Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., fifth in his Rocket.
Lanigan’s impressive victory came on the second night of Selinsgrove’s two-race WoO LMS weekend. In Saturday’s Showdown on Sand Hill, Lanigan set fast time and won his heat race but had to start 23rd in the main event after his car weighed in light at the scales following his heat race victory. He salvaged the night by charging through the field to finish fourth but felt that he had a car capable of winning the event.
“I definitely would’ve liked to have started up front last night because as awesome as this car is, I think we could have got another win,” said Lanigan, who claimed the opening leg of the WoO LMS weekend tripleheader Friday night at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa. “But it is what it is and things happen. I’m just glad they treat everybody fair.”
Lanigan’s biggest challenge in Sunday’s race was negotiating lapped traffic. That proved difficult on multiple occasions, especially as Lanigan attempted to lap hometown driver Jim Yoder during the race’s closing laps. With Eckert steadily cutting into his lead, Lanigan struggled to find a way around Yoder and even made contact with the slower machine inside of five laps remaining. He finally got around Yoder on lap 47 and cruised the remaining distance.
“I was just trying to get away from him there,” Lanigan said of his close call with Yoder. “There was a little bit of contact, but I didn’t mean to get into him. I was trying to get through there and it was getting close.”
Eckert again fell just short of ending his season-long winless streak in WoO LMS action, but continued his streak of solid performances at Selinsgrove. In finishing runner-up to Lanigan for the second straight year, Eckert scored his fourth top-five finish in the four WoO LMS races held over the last two years at the track where he began his Late Model career in the mid-1980s.
“It’s always great to come back and race near home,” said Eckert, who finished third inSaturday’s Showdown on Sand Hill behind Tim McCreadie and Clanton. “Our car was really good. We probably missed a little bit on tire choice, but still we got a second. That’s pretty good.”
Clanton’s third-place effort came in a backup car after his primary mount suffered mechanical issues during hot laps. His backup machine proved up to the challenge, however, as he bagged his second top-three finish in as many nights.
“We had to get Old Faithful here out,” said Clanton, who has improved his performance since debuting a new Capital car in a near victory Aug. 22 at I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Mich. “It’s amazing what all we’ve went through during the year. To struggle as bad as we have and change some stuff on this car like the other car, this one’s as good as the other one. At least we got two good pieces now.”
Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., charged from his 16th starting spot to finish sixth, while McCreadie, also of Watertown, finished seventh after running among the top five early in the race. Hometown driver Dylan Yoder turned in his second solid performance on the weekend with an eighth-place finish, while Selinsgrove veteran Jeff Rine of Danville, Pa., finished one position behind Yoder for the second straight night in ninth. Morgan Bagley of Longview, Texas, rounded out the race’s top 10 finishers.
The race was slowed by two cautions. The first appeared on the first attempt to start the race when outside polesitter Coleby Frye of Dover, Pa., slid high entering the first corner and tagged the wall. He rolled to a stop on the backstretch and retired to the pit area when the yellow waved. The second caution appeared with 27 laps complete when Matt Cochran of Williamsport, Pa., slowed with a flat tire.
The National Late Model Open concluded a Labor Day weekend tripleheader for the WoO LMS that saw Lanigan claim victory Friday at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., and McCreadie win the first leg of Selinsgrove’s doubleheader on Saturday. Sunday’sevent was ran under constant threat of inclement weather with numerous storms moving through the state of Pennsylvania throughout the day and evening. However, the management and staff of Selinsgrove Speedway committed to completing the Sunday’sprogram as planned.
“A special thanks to Charlie Paige and his staff for rushing the show along with the threat of weather,” said WoO LMS Series Director Tim Christman. “Many promoters would’ve cancelled the show when rain fell at 9 in the morning, but Charlie and his staff not only forged ahead but also expedited the program to make sure fans enjoyed a complete show.”
After a week off for the WoO LMS, Lanigan will attempt to set a new single-season wins mark when the tour heads to Berlin Raceway in Marne, Mich., Sept. 12-13 for the third annual Keyser Manufacturing Down & Dirty Weekend presented by NAPA Auto Parts. Lanigan claimed both of the previous Down & Dirty races at the paved 7/16-mile oval that covers its surface with clay for the event.
For the first time, the Down & Dirty weekend will feature two complete programs this season with Friday’s race paying $8,000 to the winner and Saturday’s paying $10,000. For more information, visit Berlin Raceway’s website at www.berlinraceway.com.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com. Fans can also follow the WoO LMS on Twitter at Twitter.com/WoOLateModels and Facebook atFacebook.com/WorldofOutlaws.
Results of World of Outlaws Late Model Series National Late Model Open at Selinsgrove Speedway (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):
1. (1) Darrell Lanigan/50 $10,650
2. (5) Rick Eckert/50 $5,650
3. (4) Shane Clanton/50 $3,550
4. (3) Austin Hubbard/50 $2,500
5. (12) Chub Frank/50 $2,650
6. (16) Tim Fuller/50 $1,750
7. (7) Tim McCreadie/50 $2,050
8. (6) Dylan Yoder/50 $1,900
9. (9) Jeff Rine/50 $1,300
10. (13) Morgan Bagley/50 $1,650
11. (11) Eric Wells/50 $1,600
12. (23) Clint Smith/50 $1,550
13. (19) Russ King/50 $950
14. (14) Matt Cochran/50 $1,000
15. (20) Chase Junghans/50 $1,500
16. (8) Jim Yoder/49 $800
17. (10) Hayes Mattern/49 $770
18. (17) Jerry Bard/49 $750
19. (21) Jason Schmidt/48 $730
20. (18) Frank Heckenast Jr./48 $1,250
21. (15) Vic Coffey/37 $700
22. (22) Dan Stone/32 $700
23. (24) Boom Briggs/12 $1,250
24. (2) Coleby Frye/1 $750
* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses
Time of Race: 26 Mins. 45 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 3.572 seconds
Yellow Flags: 2 (laps 1 & 27)
Lap Leaders: Lanigan (1-50)
Provisional Starters: Smith (WoO points), Briggs (WoO points)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Dylan Yoder ($500)
WoO LMS Highest Finishing Rookie: Chase Junghans ($250)
Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/
Group A
1. 1-Rick Eckert, York, Pa., 20.326
2. 39-Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y., 20.471
3. 2J-Jeff Rine, Danville, Pa., 20.577
4. 9-Hayes Mattern, Beavertown, Pa., 20.902
5. 14m-Morgan Bagley, Longview, Texas, 21.044
6. 27-Jim Yoder, Selinsgrove, Pa., 21.052
7. F1-Colbey Frye, Dover, Pa., 21.113
8. 119B-Bryan Bernheisel, Jonestown, Pa., 21.245
9. 56-Russ King, Bristonville, Ohio, 21.274
10. 88-Tony Adams, Sunbury, Pa., 21.296
11. 26-Jerry Bard, Shippersburg, Pa., 21.609
12. 4ds-Chad Hollenbeck, Kingsley, Pa., 21.645
13. 11s-Jason Schmidt, Lewistown, Pa., 21.686
14. 23p-Bud Phillips, Susquehanna, Pa., 21.753
15. 0-Larry Baer, Dover, Pa., 21.802
16. 16-Matt Cochran, Williamsport, Pa., 21.857
17. 15-Scott Flickinger, Elliottsburg, Pa., 22.179
18. 93-Pancho Lawler, Glenville, Pa., 22.336
19. 88t-Ernie Millon, Waymart, Pa., 22.766
20. 06-Mike Lupfer, Shermansdale, Pa., no time
Group B
1. 32c-Vic Coffey, Caledonia, N.Y., 20.578
2. 29-Darrell Lanigan, Union, Ky., 20.726
3. 24-Dylan Yoder, Selinsgrove, Pa., 20.936
4. 25-Shane Clanton, Zebulon, Ga., 21.086
5. 11-Austin Hubbard, Seaford, Del., 21.101
6. 1*-Chub Frank, Bear Lake, Pa., 21.107
7. 119-Jim Bernheisel, Jonestown, Pa., 21.139
8. 99jr-Frank Heckenast Jr., Frankfort, Ill., 21.246
9. 44-Clint Smith, Senoia, Ga., 21.303
10. 99b-Boom Briggs, Bear Lake, Pa., 21.320
11. 18-Eric Wells, Hazard, Ky., 21.356
12. 66k-Justin Kann, Hesston, Pa., 21.367
13. 18c-Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan., 21.370
14. 19-Tim Fuller, Watertown, N.Y., 21.396
15. 21d-Dan Stone, Thompson, Pa., 21.455
16. 2-Steve Campbell, Danville, Pa., 21.523
17. 7-D.J. Troutman, Hyndman, Pa., 21.661
18. 4s-Danny Snyder, Green Lane, Pa., 21.989
19. c33-Chris Casner, Mifflintown, Pa., 22.170
DQ 72-Ronald Coleman, Thomasville, Pa., 21.506
Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Eckert, Frye, Rine, Bagley, Bard, King, Baer, Flickinger, Millon, Did not start: Schmidt.
Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): McCreadie, J. Yoder, Mattern, Cochran, Hollenbeck, Adams, B. Bernheisel, Phillips, Lawler, Did not start: Lupfer.
Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): D. Yoder, Hubbard, Wells, Coffey, Stone, Smith, Junghans, Casner, Troutman, J. Bernheisel.
Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Lanigan, Clanton, Frank, Fuller, Heckenast, Kann, Briggs, Campbell, Snyder, Coleman.
B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Bard, King, Schmidt, Hollenbeck, B.Bernheisel, Baer, Phillips, Flickinger, Millon, Adams, Lupfer, Lawler.
B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Heckenast, Junghans, Stone, Kann, Campbell, Smith, Briggs, Snyder, Casner, Coleman, Troutman. Did not start: J. Bernheisel
World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners (awards presented to noted finisher/qualifier or next highest displaying decal):
Ohlins Shocks ($50 cash to fast qualifier): Jeff Rine
Comp Cams ($50 certificate to A-Main winner): Rick Eckert
MSD Ignition ($50 cash to A-Main winner): Darrell Lanigan
Quartermaster ($100 certificate to A-Main winner): Shane Clanton
Wrisco (three sheets of aluminum/certificate to A-Main winner): Darrell Lanigan
STP ($50 cash to 2nd-place finisher in A-Main): Shane Clanton
Penske Racing Shocks ($50 to 3rd-place finisher in A-Main): Dylan Yoder
Roush-Yates ($50 cash to 4th-place finisher in A-Main): Chub Frank
Mobile 1 ($50 cash to 4th-place finisher in A-Main): Chub Frank
JE Pistons ($50 cash to 5th-place finisher in A-Main): Chub Frank
Lincoln Welders ($50 cash to 6th-place finisher in A-Main): Tim Fuller
American Racing Wheels ($50 cash to 7th-place finisher in A-Main): Tim McCreadie
VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash to 8th-place finisher in A-Main): Dylan Yoder
Edelbrock ($50 cash to 9th-place finisher in A-Main): Jeff Rine
Comp Cams ($50 cash to 10th-place finisher in A-Main): Morgan Bagley
Cometic ($50 cash to 12th-place finisher in A-Main): Clint Smith
JRI Shocks ($50 cash to 13th-place finisher in A-Main): Matt Cochran
Superflow Dynos ($50 cash to 14th-place finisher in A-Main): Matt Cochran
Quartermaster ($25 certificate to 15th-place finisher in A-Main): Chase Junghans
JE Pistons (one set of rings certificate to 16th-place finisher in A-Main): Jim Yoder
Roush-Yates ($50 certificate to 18th-place finisher in A-Main): Jerry Bard
Quartermaster ($50 certificate to 19th-place finisher in A-Main): Frank Heckenast Jr.
Arizona Sports Shirts ($100 certificate to 20th-place finisher in A-Main): Frank Heckenast Jr.
Mobil 1 (20% off gift certificate to 20th-place finisher in A-Main): Frank Heckenast Jr.
JE Pistons (one set of rings certificate to 21st-place finisher in A-Main): Vic Coffey
Roush-Yates ($50 certificate to 22nd-place finisher in A-Main): Dan Stone
MSD Ignition ($25 cash to 24th-place finisher in A-Main): Colbey Frye
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO driver): Austin Hubbard
Reliable Painting award (one free tire): Chase Junghans
2014 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Aug. 31 – 34 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):
1. Darrell Lanigan 4,846
2. Rick Eckert 4,562 (-284)
3. Tim McCreadie 4,512 (-334)
4. Morgan Bagley 4,310 (-536)
5. Chub Frank 4,266 (-580)
6. Eric Wells 4,248 (-598)
7. Shane Clanton 4,242 (-604)
8. Frank Heckenast Jr. 4,108 (-738)
9. Clint Smith 4,020 (-826)
10. Chase Junghans 3,848 (-998)
11. Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs 3,684 (-1,162)
12. Tim Fuller 3,052 (-1,794)
Rookie of the Year Standings as of Aug. 31 (34 A-Mains completed; best 25 races counted)
1. Frank Heckenast Jr. 3,312
2. Chase Junghans 3,130 (-182)
3. Boom Briggs 3,012 (-300)
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: American Racing Custom Wheels (Official Custom Wheel), Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), Lincoln Welder (Official Welder), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), VP Racing Fuel (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and McCarthy’s One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning (Raye Vest Memorial Pill Draw Award); in addition to contingency sponsors: Butlerbuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Mobil 1, MSD, Ohlins Shocks, QuarterMaster, Penske Shocks, Roush Yates Performance Parts, Superflow Dynos and Wrisco Aluminum; along with manufacturer sponsors Capital Race Cars, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, Jake’s Carts, Racing Electronics, Rocket Chassis, and TNT Rescue.