Erb Rebounds for Exciting Win at East Bay on Friday Night

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

Race Statistics
Entrants: 42
Lap Leaders: Jonathan Davenport (Laps 1 – 35); Steve Francis (Laps 34 – 46); Randy Korte (Lap 47); Dennis Erb Jr. (Laps 48 – 50)
Caution Flags: Dennis Erb Jr., Tyler Reddick (Lap 3); Stacy Miles (Lap 23); Don O’Neal (Lap 31); Eric Jacobsen, Josh McGuire (Lap 32); Eric Jacobsen (Lap 38); Jimmy Owens (Lap 41); John Blankenship (Lap 43); Steve Francis (Lap 47); Victor Lee (Lap 47)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Jimmy Owens, Earl Pearson Jr.
DirtonDirt.com Fast Time Provisional: n/a
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisional: n/a
Performance Bodies First Non-Qualifier: n/a
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Jimmy Owens (Started 25th; Finished 8th; Advanced 17 positions)
Allstar Performer of the Race: Donnie Moran
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Donnie Moran
ASi Racewear Challenge Finisher: Dennis Erb Jr.
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Jonathan Davenport
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Vic Hill Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Bloomquist Race Cars
Sweet Mfg Crew Chief of the Race: Heather Lyne (Dennis Erb Jr.)
Time of Race: 49 minutes 10 seconds

DART Winternationals Point Standings:

POS

CAR#

DRIVER

POINTS

1

28e

Dennis Erb, Jr.

1060

2

15

Steve Francis

1005

3

53

Ray Cook

995

4

71

Don O'Neal

990

5

81x

Randy Korte

960

6

23

John Blankenship

945

7

5J

Eric Jacobsen

890

7

42c

Terry Casey

890

9

0

Scott Bloomquist

885

10

18e

Eric Wells

830

Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:

POS

CAR #

DRIVER NAME

HOMETOWN

POINTS

1

28e

Dennis Erb, Jr.

Carpentersville, IL

250

2

81x

Randy Korte

Highland, IL

230

3

11T

Tyler Reddick

Corning, CA

220

4

15d

Jonathan Davenport

Blairsville, GA

210

5

99

Donnie Moran

Dresden, OH

205

6

11h

Austin Hubbard

Seaford, DE

200

7

53

Ray Cook

Brasstown, NC

195

8

20

Jimmy Owens

Newport, TN

190

9

18e

Eric Wells

Hazard, KY

185

10

23

John Blankenship

Williamson, WV

180

11

5J

Eric Jacobsen

Watsonville, CA

175

11

42c

Terry Casey

New London, WI

175

13

44

Earl Pearson, Jr.

Jacksonville, FL

170

14

15

Steve Francis

Ashland, KY

165

15

32s

Chad Stapleton

Edinburgh, IN

160

16

5

Jared Landers

Batesville, AR

150

17

18

Shannon Babb

Mowequa, IL

145

18

4L

Victor Lee

Danville, KY

140

19

81

Scott James

Lawrenceburg, IN

135

20

41

Josh McGuire

Grayson, KY

130

21

71

Don O'Neal

Martinsville, IN

125

21

76

Shelby Miles

Bloomington, IN

125

21

0

Scott Bloomquist

Mooresburg, TN

125

21

32

Bobby Pierce

Oakwood, IL

125

21

81JR

Jason Riggs

Harrisburg, IL

125

21

85

Mark Andersen

Blanchard, MI

125

Share

Continue reading...