Hometown Hero Eric Spangler Seeks First Outlaws Win Against a Stout Set of Drivers
Story By: BRENDAN CAPERIA / WOO LATE MODEL SERIES MEDIA
Photos By:RACERSGUIDE.COM PHOTO FILES
CONCORD, N.C. – August 24, 2016 – The World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series will make its fifth trip to Merritt Speedway (Mich.) on Friday, August 26 and Saturday, August 27 for the Keyser Manufacturing Great Lakes Shootout weekend. But Lake City, Mich. hero Eric Spangler will be seeking his first series win on the national stage – against a juggernaut band of Outlaws in front of a packed grandstand.
“They’re going to see some great, professional talent from all over the country show up,” Spangler said. “Hopefully [fans] can watch their regional guys and cheer them on. I’m hoping I can run extremely competitive here and make them earn their keep.”
Spangler has racked-up four track championships and posted the track record for late models at Merritt with 12.950. His best finish with the Outlaws came in 2013, when he placed second in the 50-lap feature. Though he has yet to take the checkers in a World of Outlaws feature race, Spangler owes the rest of his successes to his strong car supported by his sponsors. But leave it to him when it comes to the motor.
When Spangler began racing late models, he decided to build his own motors. Simply, Spangler’s search for an engine ended up being very cost-prohibitive.
“So I said, ‘It can’t be that hard,'” Spangler explained. “I read a few books, called a few engine builders who gave me advice and doing it ever since. It’s not simple but we’ve been building some pretty good motors the past 10 years.”
Before hopping into a late model, the Spangler’s story all started with a street stock that was three-quarters finished. In the late 1970s, his father kept the car stored at a local salvage yard. That was, until young- Spangler asked his father if he could finish the build. As the saying goes: “the rest is history.” Spangler was “hooked” ever since he pulled that old street stock out of the yard, and he coincidentally salvaged the racing spirit in the car. He too developed the spirit of racing.
For the first time in the series, Merritt will host a two-day event rather than the tradition one-day program. Spangler said his extra preparation falls on his tires. He is preparing for the double-time his No. 27 Spangler Heating & Cooling/ Cyclo Products MasterBilt car will endure. Aside from tire prep, Spangler feels his seat time and familiarity with the track will do the rest.
“I don’t know about that,” said Spangler when asked whether or not he is a hometown hero. “I just want to go up there and have a really good showing. We want to give our sponsors the notoriety and by running up front we will. Hopefully that’s what we can do against the Outlaws. I will say 99% of the time all of them race really hard and really clean. That’s what I really enjoy about racing with these guys.”
Spangler said what stands in the way between him and his first World of Outlaws victory are the regulars coming into town. But consequentially, the Outlaws raise the competitive spirit in the locals, like Spangler.
“I think any guy from the World of Outlaws comes in with a good chance to win,” Spangler said. “We’ll have to be up on our game. It won’t be as laid back as a regular night. You have to be ready for the Outlaws. They are a very pro outfit, and they increase the level of all the locals who want to do well.”
ABOUT THE TRACK
MERRITT SPEEDWAY is a 3/8-mile oval. Eric Spangler established a record time of 12.950 in 1999. For more information, visit merrittspeedwaymi.com.
Previous A-Feature winners:
2014- Darrell Lanigan (on August 23)
2013- Tim Fuller (on August 17)
2012- Josh Richards (on August 18)
2011- Brady Smith (on August 20)
DRIVER INFO
The following World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series drivers maintain websites:
Morgan Bagley – morganbagley.com
Boom Briggs – boombriggs.com
Steve Casebolt – stevecasebolt.com
Shane Clanton – shaneclanton25.com
Joey Coulter – joeycoulter.com
Rick Eckert – rickeckertracing.com
Tyler Erb – tylererb.com
Chub Frank – chubfrank.com
Frank Heckenast Jr. – frankjr99.com
Chase Junghans – chasejunghans.com
Billy Moyer Jr. – billymoyerjr.com
Josh Richards – joshrichards.com
Brian Shirley – brianshirley.com
Eric Wells – ericwells18.com
SEASON WINNERS: Josh Richards – 16 (Volusia Speedway Park on Jan. 18,19, Farmer City Raceway on April 3,4, Carolina Speedway on April 29, Tyler County Speedway on May 28, Weedsport Speedway on June 21, Lernerville Speedway on June 24; Deer Creek Speedway on July 9; Ogilvie Raceway on July 13; Fairbury American Legion Speedway on July 30, Cedar Lake Speedway on August 4; Cedar Lake Speedway on August 6, Delaware International Speedway on August 11, Potomac Speedway on August 12, Eriez Speedway on August 14); Shane Clanton – 7(Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 20, Screven Motor Speedway on Feb. 12, Ponderosa Speedway on May 6, Moler Raceway Park on May 27, Mason City Motor Speedway on July 8; Quincy Raceways on July 28; Shawano Speedway on August 2); Brian Shirley – 3 (Fayetteville Motor Speedway on April 30, Rockford Speedway on June 30, Hamilton County Speedway on July 7); Scott Bloomquist – 2 (Smoky Mountain Speedway on May 7, Lernerville Speedway on June 25); Rick Eckert – 1 (Screven Motor Speedway on Feb. 13); Dale McDowell – 1 (Duck River Raceway Park on April 8); Tim Dohm – 1 (Tyler County Speedway on May 29); Brandon Overton – 1 (Lernerville Speedway on June 25);Billy Moyer Jr. – 1 (Winchester Speedway on August 13)
LIVE ONLINE UPDATES: Listen to LIVE event coverage of all three race on the DIRTVision Radio Network at DIRTVision.com.
GET SOCIAL: Follow the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series on Twitter at Twitter.com/WoOLateModels, like it on Facebook at Facebook.com/WorldofOutlawsLateModelSeries, or check out the latest videos on YouTube at Youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws.
COMING UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series will work its way through Pennsylvania one last time in 2016. Lernerville Speedway on Friday, Sept. 2 and Saturday, Sept. 3 for the “Working Man” weekend will be the first stop. The Outlaws will finish-out the stretch with Selinsgrove Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 4.
World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series Championship Standings
Pos. Car # Driver Residence Points Trail By
1 1 Josh Richards Shinnston, WV 4708 0
2 25 Shane Clanton Zebulon, GA 4452 256
3 7 Rick Eckert York, PA 4330 378
4 76 Brandon Overton Evans, GA 4174 534
5 3S Brian Shirley Chatham, IL 4156 552
6 C9 Steve Casebolt Richmond, IN 4068 640
7 21JR Billy Moyer Jr. Batesville, AR 4062 646
8 1* Chub Frank Bear Lake, PA 4058 650
9 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr. Frankfort, IL 4012 696
10 18 Eric Wells Hazard, KY 3962 746
11 14M Morgan Bagley Gladewater, TX 3906 802
12 91 Tyler Erb New Waverly, TX 3570 1138
13 2C Joey Coulter Union Grove, NC 3412 1296
14 18C Chase Junghans Manhattan, KS 3348 1360
15 99B Boom Briggs Bear Lake, PA 3170 1538
16 77 Jordan Yaggy Rochester, MN 1586 3122
17 11 Austin Smith Cedartown, GA 1368 3340
18 38S Kenny Pettyjohn Millsboro, DE 1270 3438
19 72 Jason Covert York Haven, PA 1256 3452
20 6 Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA 1210 3498
2016 STAT ATTACK
There have been 33 World of Outlaws Late Model Series features this season.
Winners (9 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Wins
1. – JOSH RICHARDS, Shinnston, W.V. – 16
2. – SHANE CLANTON, Zebulon, Ga. – 7
3. – BRIAN SHIRLEY, Chatham, Ill. – 3
4. – SCOTT BLOOMQUIST, Mooresburg, Tenn. – 2
5. – RICK ECKERT, York, Penn. – 1
– DALE MCDOWELL, Chickamaugua, Ga. – 1
– TIM DOHM, Cross Lanes, W.V. – 1
– BRANDON OVERTON, Evans, Va. – 1
– BILLY MOYER JR., Batesville, Ark. – 1
Pole Positions (19 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Poles
1. – JOSH RICHARDS, Shinnston, WV. – 6
2. – SHANE CLANTON, Zebulon, Ga. – 5
3. – BRANDON OVERTON, Evans, Ga. – 3
4. – RICK ECKERT, York, Penn. – 2
– FRANK HECKENAST JR., Frankfort, Ill. – 2
6. – JASON COVERT, York Haven, Pa. – 1
– WILLIE MILLIKEN, Roanoke Rapids, N.C. – 1
– GREGG SATTERLEE, Indiana, Pa. – 1
– CASEY ROBERTS, Toccoa, Ga.- 1
– MASON ZEIGLER, Chalk Hill, Pa. – 1
– SCOTT BLOOMQUIST, Mooresburg, Tenn. – 1
– DALE MCDOWELL, Chichamaugua, Ga. – 1
– BRIAN SHIRLEY, Chatham, Ill. – 1
– BILLY MOYER JR., Batesville, Ark. – 1
– STEVE CASEBOLT, Richmond, Ind. – 1
– JIMMY MARS, Menomonie, Wisc. – 1
– KENNY PETTYJOHN, Millsboro, Del. – 1
– CHUB FRANK, Bear Lake, Pa. – 1
– STEVE CASEBOLT, Richmond, Ind. – 1
Feature Winnings (Full Time Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Winnings
1. – JOSH RICHARDS, Shinnston, W.V. – $295,125
2. – SHANE CLANTON, Zebulon, Ga. – $151,850
3. – BRIAN SHIRLEY, Chatham, Ill. – $87,530
4. – RICK ECKERT, York, Pa. – $87,175
5. – BRANDON OVERTON, Evans, Ga. – $69,895
6. – BILLY MOYER JR., Batesville, AR – $67,470
7. – STEVE CASEBOLT, Richmond, Ind. – $59,970
8. – ERIC WELLS, Hazard, Ky. – $59,315
9. – CHUB FRANK, Bear Lake, Pa. – $58,840
10. – FRANK HECKENAST JR., Frankfort, Ill. – $51,810
11. – MORGAN BAGLEY, Longview, Tex. – $44,300
12. – TYLER ERB, New Waverly, Tex. – $35,315
13. – CHASE JUNGHANS, Manhattan, Kan. – $34,975
14. – BOOM BRIGGS, Bear Lake, Pa. – $28,880
15. – JOEY COULTER, Moorseville, N.C. – $20,200
2016 World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series Schedule & Winners
No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Number of Wins in 2016)
1. Fri., Feb. 12 / Screven Motor Speedway / Sylvania, Ga. / Shane Clanton (1)
2. Sat., Feb. 13 / Screven Motor Speedway / Sylvania, Ga. / Rick Eckert (1)
3. Thurs., Feb. 18 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barbersville, Fla. / Josh Richards (1)
4. Fri., Feb. 19 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barbersville, Fla. / Josh Richards (2)
5. Sat., Feb. 20 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barbersville, Fla. / Shane Clanton (2)
6. Sat., April 2 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, Ill. / Josh Richards (3)
7. Sun., April 3 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, Ill. / Josh Richards (4)
8. Fri., April 8 / Duck River Raceway Park / Wheel, Tenn. / Dale McDowell (1)
9. Fri., April 29 / Carolina Speedway / Gastonia, N.C. / Josh Richards (5)
10. Sat., April 30 / Fayetteville Motor Speedway / Fayetteville, N.C. / Brian Shirley (1)
11. Fri., May 6 / Ponderosa Speedway / Junction City, Ky. / Shane Clanton (3)
12. Sat., May 7 / Smoky Mountain Speedway / Maryville, Tenn. / Scott Bloomquist (1)
13. Fri., May 27 / Moler Raceway Park / Williamsburg, Ohio / Shane Clanton (4)
14. Sat., May 28 / Tyler County Speedway / Middlebourne, W.V. / Josh Richards (6)
15. Sun., May 29 / Tyler County Speedway / Middlebourne, W.V. / Tim Dohm (1)
16. Tues., June 21 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, N.Y. / Josh Richards (7)
17. Fri., June 23 / Lernerville Speedway / Sarver, Pa. / Josh Richards (8)
18. Sat., June 25 / Lernerville Speedway / Sarver, Pa. / Brandon Overton (1)
19. Sat., June 25 / Lernerville Speedway / Sarver, Pa. / Scott Bloomquist (2)
20. Thurs., June 30 / Rockford Speedway / Loves Park, Ill. / Brian Shirley (2)
21. Wed., July 7 / Hamilton County Speedway / Webster City, Iowa / Brian Shirley (3)
22. Thurs., July 8 / Mason City Motor Speedway / Mason City, Iowa / Shane Clanton (5)
23. Fri., July 9 / Deer Creek Speedway / Spring Valley, Minn. / Josh Richards (9)
24. Wed., July 13 / Ogilvie Raceway / Ogilvie, Minn. / Josh Richards (10)
25. Thurs., July 28 / Quincy Raceways / Quincy, Ill. / Shane Clanton (6)
26. Sat., July 30 / Fairbury American Legion Speedway / Fairbury, Ill. / Josh Richards (11)
27. Tues., August 2 / Shawano Speedway / Shawano, Wisc. / Shane Clanton (7)
28. Thurs., August 4 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, Wisc. / Josh Richards (12)
29. Sat., August 6 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, Wisc. / Josh Richards (13)
30. Thurs., August 11 / Delaware International Speedway / Delmar, Del. / Josh Richards (14)
31. Fri., August 12 / Potomac Speedway / Budd’s Creek, Md. / Josh Richards (15)
32. Sat., August 13 / Winchester Speedway / Winchester Va. / Billy Moyer Jr. (1)
33. Sun., August 14 / Eriez Speedway / Erie, Pa. / Josh Richards (16)
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.
