Alan Johnson Cruises to Afternoon Big-Block Modified Victory at Volusia

Chris Dolack – DIRTcar Racing PR

BARBERVILLE, Fla. – Feb. 24, 2012 – Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.  Alan Johnson was both on Friday afternoon at Volusia Speedway Park, where the veteran was awarded the pole position in the redraw for the feature and then survived a challenging track to record the Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified victory at the 41^st annual UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment.

“If you started on the pole and just held the bottom there wasn’t anybody that was going to get around you,” he said. “It was just way too slick. It was just a matter of holding the line the whole race.”

Johnson timed in quickest of the 34 entrants with a lap of 17.797 seconds. That earned him the pole for the first heat race, which he led all eight laps to advance to the feature redraw. At that point Johnson nabbed the No. 1, giving him the pole and preferred position on the bottom of the slick track.

“That’s what starts it,” he said. “You’ve got to run well in the heat and get in the draw. Once you’re in the draw, you’ve just got to be lucky.”

Johnson got the jump on outside front row starter Peter Britten, who maintained a close second throughout the 20-lap feature. Four cautions in the initial 12 laps bunched the field together, but Johnson was able to hit his marks lap after lap.

“As hard and slippery as the track is, it’s just a matter of going as slow as you want to go because really nobody is going to be able to go around you,” Johnson said.

Britten finished second with Stewart Friesen, Mario Clair and Tim Fuller rounding out the top five, respectively.

Friesen, Clair and Fuller also topped their qualifying sessions to earn the pole of their eight-lap heat races, which each led the distance to win.

Matt Sheppard was sixth in the feature with Rob Bellinger, Larry Wight, Rick Laubach and Jimmy Horton placing seventh through 10^th, respectively.

Dave Rauscher claimed the lone B Main.

The race was a makeup from Wednesday, which was rained out. The drivers will have a short turnaround before Friday’s regularly scheduled event.

Tickets for Saturday’s finale of the 41^st annual UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit can be ordered online by clicking WorldofOutlaws.com/tickets, by calling 877-395-8606 or purchased at the track.

UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment Statistical Report; Volusia Speedway Park; Barberville, Fla.; Feb. 24, 2012 (rained out from Feb. 22)

A-Main (20 laps): 1. 10J – Alan Johnson; 2. 21a – Pete Britten; 3. 85 – Stewart Friesen; 4. 22c – Mario Clair; 5. 74 – Tim Fuller; 6. 9s – Matt Sheppard; 7. 8r – Rob Bellinger; 8. 99L – Larry Wight; 9. 7 – Rich Laubach; 10. 5 – Jimmy Horton; 11. 27J – Danny Johnson; 12. 3d – Matt DeLorenzo; 13. 20 – Brett Hearn; 14. 34 – Andy Bachetti; 15. 48T – Dave Rauscher; 16. 39 – Dustin Delaney; 17. 8 – Rich Scagliotta; 18. 60 – Brian Berger; 19. 79 – Jeremy Markle; 20. 1 – Darwin Greene; 21. 21K – Randy Chrysler; 22. 10s – Michael Storms; 23. 97 – Michel Chicione; 24. 23 – Billy VanInwegen; 25. 22J – Jeremy Wilder; 26. 6N – Kevin Bates.

Qualifying Group 1: 1. 10J – Alan Johnson; 2. 7 – Rich Laubach; 3. 99L – Larry Wight; 4. 88 – David Allen; 5. 2 – Brian Truppi; 6. 48T – Dave Rauscher; 7. 1 – Darwin Greene.

Qualifying Group 2: 1. 85 – Stewart Friesen; 2. 9s – Matt Sheppard; 3. 20 – Brett Hearn; 4. 27J – Danny Johnson; 5. 7 – Tim Kerr; 6. 39 – Dustin Delaney; 7. 6N – Kevin Bates; 8. 99 – Bruno Lepage; 9. 33 – Ray Swinehart.

Qualifying Group 3: 1. 22c – Mario Clair; 2. 8r – Rob Bellinger; 3. 5 – Jimmy Horton; 4. 3d – Matt DeLorenzo; 5. 97 – Michel Chicione; 6. 21K – Randy Chrysler; 7. 14 – C.G. Morey; 8. 29 – Chris Ostrowsky; 9. 23 – Billy VanInwegen.

Qualifying Group 4: 1. 74 – Tim Fuller; 2. 21a – Pete Britten; 3. 22J – Jeremy Wilder; 4. 10s – Michael Storms; 5. 8 – Rich Scagliotta; 6. 60 – Brian Berger; 7. 79 – Jeremy Markle.

Heat 1: 1. 10J – Alan Johnson; 2. 99L – Larry Wight; 3. 7 – Rich Laubach; 4. 1 – Darwin Greene; 5. 23 – Billy VanInwegen; 6. 48T – Dave Rauscher; 7. 2 – Brian Truppi; 8. 88 – David Allen.

Heat 2: 1. 85 – Stewart Friesen; 2. 9s – Matt Sheppard; 3. 27J – Danny Johnson; 4. 20 – Brett Hearn; 5. 39 – Dustin Delaney; 6. 6N – Kevin Bates; 7. 33 – Ray Swinehart; 8. 99 – Bruno Lepage; 9. 7 – Tim Kerr.

Heat 3: 1. 22c – Mario Clair; 2. 8r – Rob Bellinger; 3. 5 – Jimmy Horton; 4. 3d – Matt DeLorenzo; 5. 21K – Randy Chrysler; 6. 97 – Michel Chicione; 7. 29 – Chris Ostrowsky; 8. 14 – C.G. Morey.

Heat 4: 1. 74 – Tim Fuller; 2. 21a – Pete Britten; 3. 22J – Jeremy Wilder; 4. 8 – Rich Scagliotta; 5. 10s – Michael Storms; 6. 79 – Jeremy Markle; 7. 60 – Brian Berger; 8. 34 – Andy Bachetti.

B-Main 1: 1. 48T – Dave Rauscher; 2. 6N – Kevin Bates; 3. 97 – Michel Chicione; 4. 79 – Jeremy Markle; 5. 60 – Brian Berger; 6. 34 – Andy Bachetti; 7. T21 – Roger Chrysler; 8. 29 – Chris Ostrowsky; 9. 88 – David Allen; 10. 14 – C.G. Morey; 11. 2 – Brian Truppi; 12. 33 – Ray Swinehart; 13. 99 – Bruno Lepage; DNS 7 – Tim Kerr.

UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Top 10 Points: 1. 10j – Alan Johnson – 112; 2. 74 – Tim Fuller – 104; 3. 27j – Danny Johnson – 96; 3. 9s – Matt Sheppard – 96; 5. 22c – Mario Clair – 94; 6. 85 – Stewart Friesen – 90; 7. 21a – Peter Britten – 88; 8. 5 – Jimmy Horton – 86; 9. 7 – Rick Laubach – 80; 10. 8r – Rob Bellinger – 78.