TAMPA, FL (February 17, 2012) – Battling back from an early caution, Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, IL had the fans on their feet as he captured Friday night’s exciting 50-lap DART Winternationals event. Erb took the lead on lap 48 and roared to the finish in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned race.
Erb originally started 14th on the grid, but tangled with Austin Hubbard on lap three. This brought out the first caution of the race. Erb pitted, changed a tire, and restarted in 23rd position. He then charged through the field, and passed Randy Korte of Highland, IL on lap 47. Erb got around both Korte and Tyler Reddick at the same time. He powered away and took his Bloomquist Race Cars #28 to victory lane for the second time in his career at East Bay.
“I still can’t believe it,” said Erb in Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the second time ever. He was shell-shocked as he spoke with series announcer, James Essex. “I saw what (Steve) Francis did the night before and decided my car would work up top as well. I drove around them on the high side, and was able to carry my momentum passed them. I want to thank McBride Mack, PRC, Allstar Performance, Petersen Aluminum, Ohlins, and VP Fuels for their support.”
“The deal earlier in the race with Hubbard, it was just a racing thing. I decided to pit and bolt on a new tire, knowing that I was taking a gamble, and it paid off. I knew my car was working pretty well this week and the Vic Hill Racing Engine performed flawlessly. Heather (Lyne) has been working hard and I am really pleased how things turned out tonight.”
Korte was in the hunt for his first ever series and East Bay win. He looked like he was headed for victory lane until a caution came out with 47 laps complete. Korte had worked his way up from starting 12th in the Riggs Motorsports, Clearwave Communications, Rocket Chevrolet. He took the lead from Steve Francis with less than five laps to go. Korte came home in second, his best career finish in LOLMDS competition.
Reddick wound up third in the Broken Bow Records, Gaerte Racing Engines, Bloomquist Race Cars mount. He was followed by Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA. Davenport had led the first 33 laps until Francis passed him. He grabbed fourth in the Bowyer Motorsports, Roush-Yates Racing Engines, Barry Wright Toyota. Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH rounded out the top five in his Custom Cutters, Malcuit Racing Engines, and MasterSbilt Chevrolet.
Completing the top ten were Austin Hubbard of Seaford, DE; Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC; Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN; Eric Wells of Hazard, KY; and John Blankenship of Williamson, WV.
In preliminary action Steve Francis was the Red Buck Cigar’s Fast Qualifier amongst the 42 entrants. Heat race winners were Terry Casey, Jonathan Davenport, Don O’Neal, and Shelby Miles. Eric Wells and Eric Jacobsen captured the B-mains.
The final night of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series 36th Annual DART Winternationals is set for Saturday night, February 18th. There will be a $10,000 payday on the line for the winner of the 60-lap feature. Hot laps will begin at 6 PM, followed by Red Buck Cigar Time Trials, and Heat Race action at 7 PM. For more information, log on to www.eastbayracewaypark.com.
For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Friday Night, February 17, 2012
36th Annual DART Winternationals
East Bay Raceway Park – Tampa, FL
Red Buck Cigars Fast Time:
Terry Casey / 14.501 seconds (Group A)
Steve Francis / 14.119 seconds (Group B and Overall)
Wiles Driveshafts First Heat (8 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Terry Casey, Jared Landers, Tyler Reddick, Ray Cook, Josh McGuire, Bobby Pierce, Scott Creel, Jimmy Owens, Chris Brown, Todd Frank Doug Blashe
U. S. Steel Second Heat (8 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Don O’Neal, Shannon Babb, Austin Hubbard, Donnie Moran, Eric Wells, Jason Riggs, Danny Mitchell, Morgan Bagley, Roger Hammond, Earl Pearson, Jr.
Simpson Performance Products Third Heat (8 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Jonathan Davenport, Scott Bloomquist, Steve Francis, Dennis Erb, Jr., Eric Jacobsen, Mark Andersen, Kevin Cole, Dillan White, Shane Cottle, Chad Hollenbeck, Justin Rattliff
HAWK Brakes Fourth Heat (8 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Shelby Miles, Scott James, Randy Korte, John Blankenship, James O’Hara, Chad Stapleton, Leon Henderson, Travis Varnadore, Duke Whiseant, Victor Lee
JRi Shocks First B-Main (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Eric Wells, Josh McGuire, Jason Riggs, Bobby Pierce, Scott Creel, Jimmy Owens, Morgan Bagley, Roger Hammond, Chris Brown, Todd Frank, Earl Pearson, Jr., Danny Mitchell, Doug Blashe
PAC Racing Springs Second B-Main (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Eric Jacobsen, Mark Andersen, Victor Lee, Chad Stapleton, Kevin Cole, James O’Hara, Dillan White, Chad Hollenbeck, Shane Cottle, Leon Henderson-DNS, Travis Varnadore-DNS, Duke Whiseant-DNS, Justin Rattliff-DNS
Feature Finish – 50 Laps:
| FINISH | START | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN |
| 1 | 14 | 28e | Dennis Erb, Jr. | Carpentersville, IL |
| 2 | 12 | 81x | Randy Korte | Highland, IL |
| 3 | 9 | 11T | Tyler Reddick | Corning, CA |
| 4 | 2 | 15d | Jonathan Davenport | Blairsville, GA |
| 5 | 15 | 99 | Donnie Moran | Dresden, OH |
| 6 | 11 | 11h | Austin Hubbard | Seaford, DE |
| 7 | 13 | 53 | Ray Cook | Brasstown, NC |
| 8 | 25 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN |
| 9 | 17 | 18e | Eric Wells | Hazard, KY |
| 10 | 16 | 23 | John Blankenship | Williamson, WV |
| 11 | 18 | 5J | Eric Jacobsen | Watsonville, CA |
| 12 | 26 | 44 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | Jacksonville, FL |
| 13 | 1 | 42c | Terry Casey | New London, WI |
| 14 | 24 | 32s | Chad Stapleton | Edinburgh, IN |
| 15 | 10 | 15 | Steve Francis | Ashland, KY |
| 16 | 5 | 5 | Jared Landers | Batesville, AR |
| 17 | 7 | 18 | Shannon Babb | Mowequa, IL |
| 18 | 22 | 4L | Victor Lee | Danville, KY |
| 19 | 8 | 81 | Scott James | Lawrenceburg, IN |
| 20 | 19 | 41 | Josh McGuire | Grayson, KY |
| 21 | 3 | 71 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN |
| 22 | 4 | 76 | Shelby Miles | Bloomington, IN |
| 23 | 6 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | Mooresburg, TN |
| 24 | 23 | 32 | Bobby Pierce | Oakwood, IL |
| 25 | 21 | 81JR | Jason Riggs | Harrisburg, IL |
| 26 | 20 | 85 | Mark Andersen | Blanchard, MI |