Clanton Continues Conquering DIRTcar Nationals Dirt Late Model Events

Photo Courtesy of dirtcar.com

BARBERVILLE, Fla. – Feb. 20, 2015 – Shane Clanton is making the DIRTcar Nationals his personal playground, winning on Friday night for the third time in four races this week at Volusia Speedway Park after Rick Laubach had earlier secured the Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Series feature win.

Clanton set quick time and started on the pole for the 50-lap World of Outlaws Late Model main event. He was rolling through the corners at the half-mile dirt oval with ease, but Dale McDowell charged forward from the seventh starting spot and swept past Clanton for the lead on lap 31.

McDowell started to pull away and bring Chub Frank with him, but a caution bunched the field and gave Clanton the chance he needed. Clanton restarted on the outside of Frank looking straight ahead at McDowell. On lap 37 Clanton got by Frank, then on lap 38 he worked past McDowell and powered to the checkered flag.

“Dale made me get up on the wheel there,” said Clanton, of Zebulon, Ga. “I was driving too hard and sealed the right-rear tire. Luckily that caution came out and let me cool it off and get the edges back cool so it would go again. I don’t know if he went a little softer on the right-rear tire than I did, but he pushed and give me the opportunity to get by him on the outside and that’s all I needed.”

Rick Laubach started the night by riding around the rim and holding off Stewart Friesen to capture the Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Series 30-lap main event. Larry Wight, who had been sent to the rear after early contact with Billy Pauch, charged all the way back through the 26-car field to finish third. The win was Laubach’s first at DIRTcar Nationals since 2013.

“With three to go I saw Friesen underneath me and I thought, ‘Son of a gun, these guys never give up,'” said Laubach, of Quakertown, Pa. “I just had to be on the top side, and it didn’t hurt starting on the pole even though we started second Thursday night and went backwards. I’m just thankful to be here. The last time we were here my boy was asleep in the truck and now he’s got another Gator trophy.”

Saturday night is the conclusion to the two-week festival of speed, with World of Outlaws Late Models and Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds wrapping up the event for another year.

For more information and updates on the DIRTcar Nationals, click DIRTcarNationals.com or follow on Twitter at @DIRTcarNats.

DIRTcar Nationals Statistical Report; Feb. 20, 2015; Volusia Speedway Park; Barberville, Fla.

World of Outlaws Late Model Series A-Main – (50 Laps) – 1. Shane Clanton ($10,100); 2. Dale McDowell; 3. Chub Frank; 4. Scott Bloomquist; 5. Billy Moyer; 6. Darrell Lanigan; 7. Eric Wells; 8. Brandon Sheppard; 9. Rick Eckert; 10. Josh Richards; 11. Morgan Bagley; 12. Ricky Weiss; 13. Jimmy Owens; 14. Tim McCreadie; 15. Ivedent Lloyd Jr.; 16. Mason Zeigler; 17. Chase Junghans; 18. Frank Heckenast Jr.; 19. Boom Briggs; 20. Brandon Overton; 21. Jonathan Davenport; 22. Earl Pearson Jr.; 23. Don O’Neal; 24. Kenny Pettyjohn; 25. Casey Roberts; 26. Jared Landers; 27. Walker Arthur; 28. Kent Robinson.

Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified Series A-Main – (30 Laps) – 1. Rick Laubach ($2,000); 2. Stewart Friesen; 3. Larry Wight; 4. Matt Sheppard; 5. Mat Williamson; 6. Jimmy Phelps; 7. Neal Williams; 8. Tim Fuller; 9. Peter Britten; 10. Vic Coffey; 11. Billy Pauch; 12. Mario Clair; 13. Tyler Dippel; 14. Dale Planck; 15. Steve Bernard; 16. Brett Hearn; 17. Yan Bussiere; 18. Erick Rudolph; 19. Justin Haers; 20. Jeff Heotzler; 21. Tyler Siri; 22. Randy Chrysler; 23. Jamie Mills; 24. Jeremy Wilder; 25. Danny Johnson; 26. Darwin Greene.