Erb overtakes Frank for WoO LMS victory at Volusia Speedway Park

[rebelracewriter]

Erb Overtakes Frank For World of Outlaws Late Model Series Victory At Volusia Speedway Park - Illinois Driver Wins For First Time During UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit

 

BARBERVILLE, FL – Feb. 23, 2012 – Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., tamed a demanding track to capture Thursday night’s 50-lap World of Outlaws Late Model Series A-Main at Volusia Speedway Park.

 

The 39-year-old DIRTcar UMP veteran overtook WoO LMS standout Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., for the lead on lap 28 and never looked back in the national tour’s first event of the 41st annual UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment. He pocketed $10,000 for his first-ever triumph at the half-mile oval outside Daytona Beach.

 

It was Erb’s third career win on the WoO LMS. Both of his previous victories came in a one-week span of May 2007.

 

“This is a big win for us,” said Erb, a longtime owner/operator who campaigns a Team Zero by Bloomquist car with a Vic Hill engine under the hood. “The car’s been working real good the last couple nights and to get here in Victory Lane at Volusia for the first time really makes me excited.”

 

Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., who swept last year’s pair of WoO LMS A-Mains run during the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit, passed Frank on lap 48 and went on to finish second. He crossed the finish line 1.935 seconds behind Erb.

 

Frank, who raced off the outside pole starting spot to lead laps 1-27, settled for a third-place finish in his Rocket machine. Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., started and finished fourth in the Barry Wright house car and Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., advanced from the 11th starting spot to place fifth.

 

Erb, who started from the pole position but was outgunned for the top spot by Frank at the race’s initial green flag, chased the 50-year-old WoO LMS regular through six caution flags and one red flag before finally making his winning move. He ducked underneath Frank exiting turn two and was in front for good as lap 28 was scored.

 

“We were just sitting back there trying to get a run on him,” Erb said of Frank. “We were looking for the right time to get by him. We were able to get up underneath him, and then after that I knew it was gonna be pretty tough to beat us because we had a pretty good car.”

 

Erb, who preceded his victory with finishes of second (Monday) and fifth (Tuesday) in DIRTcar UMP-sanctioned 30-lappers at Volusia, built a straightaway-plus advantage before the field was tightened on lap 47 by the the race’s seventh and final caution flag. Frank was unable to offer a challenge on the restart and ultimately lost second to Bloomquist on lap 48.

 

“I couldn’t get through (turns) one and two,” said Frank, who is winless on the WoO LMS since Aug. 22, 2009 (a span of 87 races). “I was horrible unless I hit it just right. I was trying to cut across the bottom, but it would just wash out because I was too tight.

 

“We’re tickled though. I wanna win, but we’ll take a top three at this place for the points.”

 

Bloomquist, 48, spent most of the distance running in third place. He reached the spot on lap 18 after starting sixth.

 

“We tightened our car up – and even though it wasn’t much, it was just too much,” said Bloomquist. “I just thought the couple adjustments I made would be alright, but it was just miserable tight.

 

“Considering that, I’m happy for Dennis to win, and I’m happy to run second.”

 

With heavy, extremely fast track conditions prevailing after a rainout of Wednesday’s UMP-sanctioned program and several showers through early afternoon on Thursday, the race proved tough on equipment.

 

The event was just three laps old when a multi-car accident in turn four swept up Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., Vic Coffey of Caledonia, N.Y., and John Lobb of Frewsburg, N.Y. Fuller and Mars were eliminated from competition.

 

The A-Main’s most significant incident occurred on lap nine. Mid-pack jostling caused a pileup that saw defending DIRTcar UMP national champion Ryan Unzicker of El Paso, Ill., roll onto his roof. Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., Tyler Reddick of Corning, Calif., and Frankie Heckenast Jr. of Orland Park, Ill., were also involved in the tangle.

 

Unzicker climbed out of his car and gingerly walked to the ambulance for a check-up.

 

Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., moved from the 16th starting spot to sixth at the finish in a Team Dillon car. Defending WoO LMS champ Rick Eckert of York, Pa., was seventh after using a provisional to start 25th because a last-lap heat-race tangle with the lapped car driven by St. Charles, Mo.’s Mike Hammerle knocked him from a transfer spot. Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., was eighth, WoO LMS points leader Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., finished a quiet ninth and Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., faded to 10th at the finish after climbing as high as third.

 

Richards, who started 10th, got as high as third and was still running fifth when he brought out the race’s last caution flag on lap 47. He slowed because he had used all his helmet tear-offs and could barely see through his mud-caked shield. He made a quick pit stop to change a flat right-rear tire, which was cut by a hit he absorbed as he slowed, and exchange his helmet.

 

Seventy-nine cars were signed in for the event – the biggest dirt Late Model field of the 2012 UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit.

 

Clanton registered the quickest lap in Ohlins Shocks Time Trials, blazing around the tacky surface in 15.446 seconds. It was his 15th career fast-time honor on the WoO LMS but first since 2010.

 

Heat winners were Erb, Moyer, Chub Frank, Bloomquist, Francis and Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill. The B-Mains were captured by John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va., Dennis ‘Rambo’ Franklin of Gaffney, S.C., and Mars.

 

Three dirt Late Model events remain on the schedule of the 2012 UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit, beginning with a huge UMP-sanctioned doubleheader on Friday featuring a 30-lap, $7,000-to-win A-Main in the afternoon (start time 12:30 p.m.) and a 40-lap, $10,000 feature at night (7:30 p.m.). A 50-lap WoO LMS A-Main paying $10,000 to win will close out the week’s full-fender action on Saturday evening (Feb. 25).

 

The Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modifieds will join the dirt Late Models on the card of all three UNOH DIRTcar Nationals programs.

 

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

 

Fans can also follow the WoO LMS on Twitter at Twitter.com/WoOLateModels and Facebook at Facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws .

 

Results of WoO Late Model Series ‘UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment’ Night 1 at Volusia Speedway Park (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

 

1. (1) Dennis Erb Jr./50 $10,000

 

2. (6) Scott Bloomquist/50 $5,100

 

3. (2) Chub Frank/50 $3,550

 

4. (4) Steve Francis/50 $2,600

 

5. (11) Jimmy Owens/50 $2,000

 

6. (16) Dale McDowell/50 $1,700

 

7. (25) Rick Eckert/50 $2,050

 

8. (10) Josh Richards/50 $1,950

 

9. (13) Darrell Lanigan/50 $1,850

 

10. (7) Shane Clanton/50 $1,650

 

11. (19) John Blankenship/50 $1,050

 

12. (27) Clint Smith/49 $850

 

13. (17) Mike Marlar/49 $1,450

 

14. (18) Frankie Heckenast Jr./49 $900

 

15. (15) Bub McCool/49 $850

 

16. (26) Vic Coffey/45 $1,350

 

17. (3) Jason Feger/31 $770

 

18. (14) Tim McCreadie/ $1,400

 

19. (22) Earl Pearson Jr./23 $730

 

20. (9) Steve Isenberg/17 $700

 

21. (12) Don O’Neal/16 $700

 

22. (29) Pat Doar/16 $550

 

23. (30) John Lobb/15 $0

 

24. (20) Dennis Franklin/13 $700

 

25. (5) Billy Moyer/8 $800

 

26. (8) Ryan Unzicker/8 $700

 

27. (24) Tyler Reddick/8 $700

 

28. (21) Jimmy Mars/2 $700

 

29. (28) Tim Fuller/2 $550

 

30. (23) Brady Smith/0 $700

 

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

 

Margin of Victory: 1.935 Secs.

 

Yellow Flags: 7 (Laps 3, 5, 5, 13, 16, 24, 47); 1 Red Flag (Lap 9)

 

Lap Leaders: Frank (1-27; Erb 28-50)

 

Provisional Starters: Eckert, Coffey (WoO); C. Smith, Fuller, Doar, Lobb (WoO emergency)

 

Rookie of the Race: McCool

 

WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Marlar ($500)

 

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

 

1. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 15.446

 

2. 21-Billy Moyer/Batesville, AR 15.447

 

3. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 15.555

 

4. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 15.588

 

5. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 15.603

 

6. 99Jr-Frankie Heckenast Jr./Orland Park, IL 15.638

 

7. 28e-Dennis Erb Jr./Carpentersville, IL 15.651

 

8. 13-J.R. Hotovy/Covert, MI 15.678

 

9. 9i-Steve Isenberg/Marshfield, WI 15.680

 

10. 0-Scott Bloomquist/Mooresburg, TN 15.752

 

11. 22-Gregg Satterlee/Rochester Mills, PA 15.752

 

12. 25F-Jason Feger/Bloomington, IL 15.753

 

13. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 15.785

 

14. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 15.797

 

15. 57J-Bub McCool/Vicksburg, MS 15.809

 

16. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 15.820

 

17. 91-Billy Decker/Unadilla, NY 15.854

 

18. 11R-Tyler Reddick/Corning, CA 15.861

 

19. 15d-Jonathan Davenport/Blairsville, GA 15.865

 

20. 24U-Ryan Unzicker/El Paso, IL 15.868

 

21. 2-Brady Smith/Solon Springs, WI 15.872

 

22. 17M-Dale McDowell/Chickamauga, GA 15.885

 

23. 20-Jimmy Owens/Newport, TN 15.888

 

24. 16R-Aaron Ridley/Chatsworth, GA 15.896

 

25. 23-John Blankenship/Williamson, WV 15.897

 

26. 14M-Morgan Bagley/Longview, TX 15.902

 

27. 12-Hunter Peacock/Macon, GA 15.910

 

28. 18b-Shannon Babb/Moweaqua, IL 15.914

 

29. 5b-Mike Marlar/Winfield, TN 15.918

 

30. 1d-Don O’Neal/Martinsville, IN 15.943

 

31. 5L-Jared Landers/Batesville, AR 15.957

 

32. 7R-Kent Robinson/Bloomington, IN 15.959

 

33. 1W-Dillon Wood/DaytonaBeach, FL 15.971

 

34. 3s-Brian Shirley/Chatham, IL 15.990

 

35. 11-Pat Doar/New Richmond, WI 15.999

 

36. 18W-Eric Wells/Hazard, KY 16.018

 

37. 44P-Earl Pearson Jr./Jacksonville, FL 16.030

 

38. 77-Jason McBride/Carbondale, IL 16.038

 

39. b5-Brandon Sheppard/New Berlin, IL 16.059

 

40. 37c-Dennis Franklin/Gaffney, SC 16.072

 

41. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 16.114

 

42. 28M-Jimmy Mars/Menomonie, WI 16.131

 

43. 22G-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 16.134

 

44. 4ds-Chad Hollenbeck/Kingsley, PA 16.135

 

45. 11H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 16.147

 

46. 32P-Bobby Pierce/Oakwood, IL 16.155

 

47. 42-Terry Casey/New London, WI 16.173

 

48. 99M-Donnie Moran/Dresden, OH 16.219

 

49. J4-John Garvin Jr./Sarver, PA 16.222

 

50. 21d-Dan Stone/Thompson, PA 16.269

 

51. 21J-Billy Moyer Jr./Batesville, AR 16.286

 

52. 27Y-Jim Yoder/Selinsgrove, PA 16.290

 

53. 5J-Eric Jacobson/Seacliff Beach, CA 16.296

 

54. 201-Billy Ogle Jr./Knoxville, TN 16.318

 

55. 8-John Lowrey/Bakersfield, CA 16.359

 

56. 25z-Mason Zeigler/Chalk Hill, PA 16.371

 

57. 18d-Danny Mitchell/Clarksburg, WV 16.373

 

58. 32c-Vic Coffey/Caledonia, NY 16.398

 

59. 90-Lance Matthees/Winona, MN 16.402

 

60. 49-Greg Johnson/Bedford, IN 16.410

 

61. 16b-Tyler Bruening/Decorah, IA 16.437

 

62. 81-Scott James/Bright, IN 16.480

 

63. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 16.488

 

64. 1s-Jack Sullivan/Greenbrier, AR 16.496

 

65. c4-Freddie Carpenter/Parkersburg, WV 16.504

 

66. 72-Michael Norris/Sarver, PA 16.627

 

67. 15A-Phil Ausra/Dowagiac, MI 16.664

 

68. 87-Duane Harbaugh/Hedgesville, WV 16.771

 

69. 71d-Ron Davies/Warren, PA 16.808

 

70. 28L-John Lobb/Frewsburg, NY 16.820

 

71. 76-Shelby Miles/Bloomington, IN 16.858

 

72. 37-Jared Hawkins/Fairmont, WV 16.916

 

73. 27-Jeff Beyers/Pana, IL 16.978

 

74. 21F-Todd Frank/Green Bay, WI 16.981

 

75. 57s-Charlie Sandercock/Belleville, ONT 17.228

 

76. 16H-Mike Hammerle/St. Charles, MO 17.935

 

77. 15F-Alan Fink/Brewerton, NY 17.965

 

78. 54-Chris Nash/Kalamazoo, MI 18.187

 

79. 81K-Randy Korte/Highland, IL N/T

 

Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Erb, Clanton, Lanigan, Davenport, Blankenship, Landers, Pearson, George, Lowery, Garvin, Bruening, J. Beyers, Ausra (DNS) Korte

 

Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Moyer, Unzicker, McCreadie, Robinson, Bagley, Hotovy, Stone, McBride, Zeigler, Harbaugh, James, Hollenbeck, T. Frank

 

Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): C. Frank, Isenberg, McCool, B. Smith, Peacock, Wood, Mitchell, Sheppard, Fuller, Hubbard, Moyer Jr., Sandercock, Davies,

 

Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Bloomquist, Richards, McDowell, Franklin, Babb, Yoder, Coffey, Lobb, Eckert, Pierce, Hammerle, Sullivan, Shirley

 

Heat No. 5 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Francis, Owens, Marlar, Decker, C. Smith, Miles, Satterlee, Doar, Carpenter, Casey, Fink (DNS) Jacobsen, Matthees

 

Heat No. 6 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Feger, O’Neal, Heckenast, Mars, Reddick, Ridley, Moran, Wells, Hawkins, Johnson, Norris, Nash, Ogle

 

B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): Blankenship, Pearson, Robinson, Bagley, Bruening, Hotovy, George, Ausra, McBride, Lowery, Hollenbeck, Davenport, Landers, J. Beyers (DNS) Stone, Zeigler, Garvin, Harbaugh, James, T. Frank, Korte

 

B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): Franklin, B. Smith, Fuller, Sullivan, Yoder, Coffey, Sheppard, Sandercock, Lobb, Moyer Jr., Peacock, Hammerle, Pierce, Eckert, Babb (DNS) Wood, Mitchell, Hubbard, Davies, Shirley

 

B-Main No. 3 (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): Mars, Reddick, Decker, C. Smith, Moran, Wells, Hawkins, Miles, Doar, Ridley, Carpenter, Johnson, Ogle, Norris, Matthees, Satterlee (DNS) Casey, Fink, Jacobsen, Nash

 

2012 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Feb. 23 – 5 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):

 

1. Darrell Lanigan 722

 

2. Josh Richards 718 (-4)

 

3. Rick Eckert 688 (-34)

 

4. Shane Clanton 678 (-44)

 

5. Chub Frank 666 (-56)

 

6. Bub McCool 646 (-76)

 

7. Vic Coffey 624 (-98)

 

8. Mike Marlar 620 (-102)

 

9. Clint Smith 610 (-112)

 

10. Tim McCreadie 598 (-124)

 

11. Pat Doar 594 (-128)

 

12. Brandon Sheppard 568 (-154)

 

13. Jared Hawkins 564 (-158)

 

14. John Lobb 546 (-176)

 

15. Kent Robinson 542 (-180)

 

16. Ron Davies 530 (-192)

 

17. Tim Fuller 528 (-194)

 

18. Jason Feger 510 (-212)

 

19. Billy Moyer 506 (-216)

 

20. Gregg Satterlee 504 (-218)