Eric Spangler earns first World of Outlaws win
LAKE CITY, Mich. – August 26, 2016 – Eric Spangler earns his first World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series victory Friday night, for the first night of the Keyser Manufacturing Great Lakes Shootout weekend at Merritt Speedway. The Lake City, Mich. native revved his engine all the way to victory lane in front of his home crowd.
The four-time track champion battled a stout 24-car field against the series’ superstars. Spangler led all 25 laps to capture the win and a $6,000 purse. His No. 27 Spangler Heating & Cooling/ Cyclo Products MasterBilt car led the field into the green flag. Setting the pace on the 3/8-mile oval, he never looked back in the caution-free Craftsman Club® feature.
“Wow…great,” said Spangler in front of a packed crowd. “We just picked up this bare frame two weeks ago. Me and my dad put a new motor in it, and we brought this out three weeks later for a feature win. [The car] was fast right out of the box.”
In a fast-paced feature, those who followed Spangler jockeyed for position. In the opening laps, Josh Richards took his shot at a podium spot from fourth position, using the middle groove to set up an eventual pass on fellow Outlaw Brandon Overton in turn two of the race’s second lap. Greenville, Mich. native Nick Kurtz joined the party less than five laps later, also breaking into the podium.
Nearing the halfway point, Kurtz overtook Richards to take sole possession of second place in his No. 79 Classic Auto Repair/ Universal Graphic Solutions Barry Wright machine. Thereon, the podium separated itself from the field by more than a 1.6-second margin.
“It’s something I didn’t expect,” said Kurtz about passing Richards. “These guys are the best in the country and anytime you can run side-by-side with them, it’s a good night. We have something to definitely build on next year.”
In order to fend-off Richards in closed-quarters, Kurtz used the lapped traffic to his advantage. Kurtz kept two-or-more cars in-between Richards – until the final few laps in the race. Richards managed to close the gap to one second in his No. 1 Valvoline/ Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket car, but ran out of the real-estate he needed to make a move.
“These locals are just tough watching them,” Richards said. “They know how to get around this track. It’s so different than what we’re used to. It’s so small. Eric was running the top there and we were following him. I kind of moved down but not far enough, and then Nick drove by on the bottom. We just needed 50 or 100 more laps to catch them. They were doing a great job.”
Richards ended the program padding his stats. He won his 25th heat race in 34 shows. Notably, he recorded his ninth consecutive top five finish over the span of nearly one month. As for outsiders to the series, Spangler’s victory was the first from a non-series driver since June 25.
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World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series Statistical Report; August 26, 2016; Merritt Speedway; Lake City, Mich.
A-Main (25-laps):1. 27- Eric Spangler [1] [$6,675]; 2. 79- Nick Kurtz [5] [$3,000]; 3. 1- Josh Richards [4] [2,800]; 4. 76- Brandon Overton [2] [$2,500]; 5. 25- Shane Clanton [8] [$2,300]; 6. 17M- Dale McDowell [9] [$1,400]; 7. 21JR- Billy Moyer Jr. [3] [$2,300]; 8. 14- Bill Bray [12] [$1,200]; 9. 14m- Morgan Bagley [6] [$1,850]; 10. C9- Steve Casebolt [20] [$1,600]; 11. 7- Rick Eckert [7] [$1,550]; 12. 18- Eric Wells [11] [$1,400]; 13. 87- Rich Neiser [18] [$800]; 14. 1*- Chub Frank [16] [$1,375]; 15. 1x- Greg Gokey [21] [$750]; 16. 3M- Dona Marcoullier [17] [$700]; 17. 25B- Chris Brindley [14] [$660]; 18. 99B- Boom Briggs [10] [$640]; 19. 3- Curtis Spalding [22] [$620]; 20. 99jr- Frank Heckenast Jr. [19] [$1,150]; 21. 91- Tyler Erb [13] [$1,100]; 22. 2c- Joey Coulter [23] [$600]; 23. 3s- Brian Shirley [15] [$1,150]; 24. 33B- Dave Bowen [24] [$600]
Last-Chance Showdown Group No. 1 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. 3- Curt Spalding; 2. 99jr- Frank Heckenast Jr.; 3. 1x- Gordy Gokey; 4. 52- Brad Harden; 5. 2- Travis Stemler; 6. 41- Jason Playter Jr.; 7. 3T- Jeremy Tulick; 8. 18H- Merv Hudson; 9. 9k- Dale Kaake; 10. 5- Jacques Julin; 11. M14- Btandon Thirlby; 12. 1w- Michael LuBerda Jr.; 13. 33B- Dave Bowen (DNS)
Last-Chance Showdown Group No. 2 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. 87- Rich Neiser; 2. C9- Steve Casebolt; 3. 3- Curt Spalding; 4. 21s- Steven Hilicker; 5. 2c- Joey Coulter; 6. 21H- Bob Hammar; 7. 7E- Adam Erickson; 8. 33- Bobby Timmer; 9. 28- Sammy Epling; 10. 20A- Brian Abernethy; 11. 26-Scot Church; 12. 29- Chad Finley
Qualifying Group No. 1: 1. 17M- Dale McDowell, 13.156; 2. 21JR- Billy Moyer Jr., 13.407; 3. 27- Eric Spangler, 13.428; 4. 7- Rick Eckert, 13.440; 5. 76- Brandon Overton, 13.573; 6. 99B- Boom Briggs, 13.552; 7. 1x- Greg Gokey, 13.739; 8. 3M- Dona Marcoullier, 13.821; 9. 91- Tyler Erb, 13.861; 10. 33B- Dave Bowen, 13.891; 11. 99jr- Frank Heckenast Jr., 13.891; 12. M14- Brandon Thirlby, 13.962; 13. 2- Travis Stemler, 13.997; 14. 52- Brad Harden, 14.032; 15. 18H- Merv Hudson, 14.057; 16. 41- Jason Playter Jr., 14.379; 17. 3T- Jeremy Tulick, 14.451; 18. 25B- Chris Brindley, 14.725; 19. 1w- Michael LuBerda Jr., 14.831; 20. 5- Jacques Julin, 15.231
Qualifying Group No. 2: 1. 18- Eric Wells, 13.413; 2. 14M- M organ Bagley, 13.468; 3. 1- Josh Richards, 13.584; 4. 25- Shane Clanton, 13.678; 5. 79- Nick Kurtz, 13.768; 6. 14- Bill Bray, 13.771; 7. 3s- Brian Shirley, 13.843; 8. 1*- Chub Frank, 13.888; 9. 2c- Joey Coulter, 13.949; 10. 29- Chad Finley, 13.954; 11. C9- Steve Casebolt, 13.958; 12. 87- Rich Neiser, 14.015; 13. 3- Curt Spalding, 14.141; 14. 21s- Steve Hilliker, 14.276; 15. 20A- Brian Abernethy, 14.507; 16. 28- Sammy Epling, 14.517; 17. 21H- Bob Hammer, 14.555; 18. 7e- Adam Erickson, 14.565; 19. 33- Bobby Timmer, 14.580; 20. 26- Scot Church, 14.657
Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): 1. 76- Brandon Overton; 2. 27- Eric Spangler; 3. 17M- Dale McDowell; 4. 91- Tyler Erb; 5. 99jr- Frank Heckenast Jr.; 6. 18H- Merv Hudson; 7. 2- Travis Stemler; 8. 1x- Greg Gokey; 9. 1w- Michael LuBerda Jr.; 10. 3T- Jeremy Tulick; 11. 9K- Dale Kaake
Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): 1. 21JR- Billy Moyer Jr.; 2. 7- Rick Eckert; 3. 99B- Boom Briggs; 4. 25B- Chris Brindley; 5. 52- Brad Harden; 6. 3M- Dona Marcoullier; 7. M14- Brandon Thirlby; 8. 33B- Dave Bowen; 9. 41- Jason Playter Jr.; 10. 5. Jacques Julin
Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): 1. 1- Josh Richards; 2. 79- Nick Kurtz; 3. 18- Eric Wells; 4.3s- Brian Shirley; 5. C9- Steve Casebolt; 6. 3- Curt Spalding; 7. 2c- Joey Coulter; 8. 21H- Bob Hammer; 9. 33- Bobby Timmer; 10. 20A- Brian Abernethy
Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): 1. 25- Shane Clanton; 2. 14M- Morgan Bagley; 3. 14- Bill Bray; 4. 1*- Chub Frank; 5. 87- Rich Neiser; 6. 21s- Steven Hilliker; 7. 29- Chad Finley; 8. 7E- Adam Erickson; 9. 26- Scot Church; 10. 28- Sammy Epling
World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners (awards presented to noted finisher/qualifier or next highest displaying decal):
Comp Cams – $50 Product certificate: Eric Spangler
MSD – $50 Cash: Eric Spangler
QuarterMaster – $100 Product certificate: Eric Spangler
Wrisco Aluminum – 3 Sheets of aluminum: Eric Spangler
Penske Shocks – TBD Product certificate: Nick Kurtz
JE Pistons – $50 Cash: Billy Moyer Jr.
VP Racing Fuels – $50 Cash: Steve Casebolt
Edelbrock – $50 Cash: Morgan Bagley
Comp Cams – $50 Cash: Steve Casebolt
Morton Buildings – $50 Cash: Rick Eckert
Cometic Gasket – $50 Cash: Eric Wells
JRI Shocks – $50 Cash: Chub Frank
SuperFlow – $50 Cash: Chub Frank
QuarterMaster – $25 Product certificate: Greg Gokey
JE Pistons – Set of rings: Dona Marcoullier
QuarterMaster – $50 Product certificate: Tyler Erb
Arizona Sport Shirts – $100 Product certificate: Frank Heckenast Jr.
JE Pistons – Set of rings: Tyler Erb
MSD – $25 Cash: Eric Spangler
QA1 – $50 Cash: Brandon Overton
Bonus Bucks – $500 Cash: Eric Spangler
Rookie Bonus – $250 Cash: Billy Moyer Jr.
Craftsman Bonus – $100 Cash: Eric Spangler
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Josh Richards
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Brandon Overton
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Shane Clanton
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Billy Moyer Jr.
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Morgan Bagley
2016 World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series Point Standings as of August 26 – 34 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/residence/points/deficit to leader):
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Residence | Points | Trail By |
| 1 | 1 | Josh Richards | Shinnston, WV | 4852 | 0 |
| 2 | 25 | Shane Clanton | Zebulon, GA | 4592 | 260 |
| 3 | 7 | Rick Eckert | York, PA | 4458 | 394 |
| 4 | 76 | Brandon Overton | Evans, GA | 4316 | 536 |
| 5 | 3S | Brian Shirley | Chatham, IL | 4260 | 592 |
| 6 | C9 | Steve Casebolt | Richmond, IN | 4198 | 654 |
| 21JR | Billy Moyer Jr. | Batesville, AR | 4198 | 654 | |
| 8 | 1* | Chub Frank | Bear Lake, PA | 4180 | 672 |
| 9 | 99JR | Frank Heckenast Jr. | Frankfort, IL | 4122 | 730 |
| 10 | 18 | Eric Wells | Hazard, KY | 4088 | 764 |
| 11 | 14M | Morgan Bagley | Gladewater, TX | 4038 | 814 |
| 12 | 91 | Tyler Erb | New Waverly, TX | 3678 | 1174 |
| 13 | 2C | Joey Coulter | Union Grove, NC | 3518 | 1334 |
| 14 | 18C | Chase Junghans | Manhattan, KS | 3348 | 1504 |
| 15 | 99B | Boom Briggs | Bear Lake, PA | 3284 | 1568 |
| 16 | 77 | Jordan Yaggy | Rochester, MN | 1586 | 3266 |
| 17 | 11 | Austin Smith | Cedartown, GA | 1368 | 3484 |
| 18 | 38S | Kenny Pettyjohn | Millsboro, DE | 1270 | 3582 |
| 19 | 72 | Jason Covert | York Haven, PA | 1256 | 3596 |
| 20 | 17M | Dale McDowell | Chickamauga, GA | 1226 | 3626 |
The World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Bad Boy Off Road (Official Side-by-Side Vehicle), Craftsman (Official Tool), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), Morton Buildings (Official Building), Sears (Official Home Store), The Kenny Wallace Dirt Racing Experience (Official Racing Experience, VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel) and DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award); in addition to contingency sponsors, including: Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, MSD, Penske Shocks, QA1, QuarterMaster, Superflow Dynos and Wrisco Aluminum; along with manufacturer sponsors, including: Capital Race Cars, Integra Shocks, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, Rocket Chassis and TNT Rescue.