Sheppard Wins Big-Block Feature from Super DIRTcar Series on Vimeo.
Two-time defending series champ wins UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit race for third straight year
BARBERVILLE, Fla. — Feb. 24, 2012 — It couldn’t have been more exciting if it was scripted.
Two-time defending Super DIRTcar Series champion Matt Sheppard snared his first victory of the season Friday night in an epic battle with upstart Larry Wight in front of a packed crowd at Volusia Speedway Park. The duo swapped the lead numerous times throughout the 30-lap feature and each took advantage of the other’s miscue during a pair of late-race cautions.
“It would have been more exciting for me if it was less exciting,” Sheppard said. “Wow, what a race.
“Heck of a race with Larry Wight. We were trading back and forth, side by side. It was a lot of fun.”
Wight, who started on the pole, led from the drop of the green flag before Sheppard took the lead for the first time on lap five. The top spot changed the next two laps before Sheppard grabbed the lead exiting turn four on the seventh lap.
Click here for more photos courtesy of STLRacingPhotos.com
Sheppard chose the inside line for the restart on the first caution – lap 10 – and stormed to a half-straightaway advantage before entering lapped traffic on the 20th circuit. Sheppard maintained a sizeable lead until a caution on lap 25 mixed everything up.
Sheppard again chose the bottom, but Wight capitalized on momentum exiting turn two to grab the lead. He then pulled away to a several car-length lead before a caution with three laps remaining.
“I didn’t want to see that caution because I felt like I was rolling pretty good,” Sheppard said. “And anything can happen on a restart, anything can change, and that’s what happened. He got me on the restart. I thought I lost the race right there. Luckily the caution came out and I got another shot at it.”
Wight picked the outside lane for the final restart, which turned out to be wild. The two were side-by-side as they entered turn one, where they touched wheels and Wight slid up the track.
“I just thought maybe the top had a little more bite,” he said. “Matt just had a better start than I did and I spun the tires. Then going into (turn) one he kind of slid up and took the lane away from me, and caused me to lose another spot to Danny.”
Sheppard pulled away for the victory and Danny Johnson, who claimed last night’s season opener, took advantage of the contact to finish second.
“Being in third spot I hoped they’d take each other out,” said Johnson, who started 11th. “It was unfortunate for Larry to get bumped out like that, but I guess that’s the way racing is.”
Wight finished third, with Tim Fuller fourth and Rick Laubach fifth. Stewart Friesen charged from 18th to sixth, Brett Hearn was seventh, Rich Scagliotta eighth, Andy Bachetti ninth and Jimmy Horton rounded out the top 10.
Scagliotta, Sheppard, Peter Britten and Bachetti each posted the quickest lap in their qualifying session with Bachetti earning the fastest overall – and only driver in the 17-second bracket – at 17.996 seconds.
Scagliotta, Fuller, Wight and Bachetti picked up victories in the heat races, and Jamie Mills held off Dustin Delaney in a thrilling, side-by-side Last Chance Showdown.
Tickets for Saturday’s finale of the 41st annual UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit can be ordered online by clicking WorldofOutlaws.com/tickets, by calling 877-395-8606 or purchased at the track.
UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment Statistical Report; Volusia Speedway Park; Barberville, Fla.; Feb. 24, 2012
A Main (20 laps): 1. 9s – Matt Sheppard; 2. 27J – Danny Johnson; 3. 99L – Larry Wight; 4. 74 – Tim Fuller; 5. 7 – Rich Laubach; 6. 85 – Stewart Friesen; 7. 20 – Brett Hearn; 8. 8 – Rich Scagliotta; 9. 34 – Andy Bachetti; 10. 5 – Jimmy Horton; 11. 22c – Mario Clair; 12. 1 – Darwin Greene; 13. 21a – Pete Britten; 14. 10s – Michael Storms; 15. 8r – Rob Bellinger; 16. 60 – Brian Berger; 17. 23 – Billy VanInwegen; 18. 14 – C.G. Morey; 19. 48T – Dave Rauscher; 20. 29 – Chris Ostrowsky; 21. 3d – Matt DeLorenzo; 22. 39 – Dustin Delaney; 23. 88 – David Allen; 24. 30 – Jamie Mills; 25. 2 – Brian Truppi; 26. 10J – Alan Johnson.
Qualifying Group 1: 1. 8 – Rich Scagliotta; 2. 29 – Chris Ostrowsky; 3. 5 – Jimmy Horton; 4. 22c – Mario Clair; 5. 60 – Brian Berger; 6. 88 – David Allen; 7. 30 – Jamie Mills; 8. 97 – Michel Chicione; 9. T21 – Roger Chrysler.
Qualifying Group 2: 1. 9s – Matt Sheppard; 2. 74 – Tim Fuller; 3. 27J – Danny Johnson; 4. 39 – Dustin Delaney; 5. 2 – Brian Truppi; 6. 85 – Stewart Friesen; 7. 99 – Bruno Lepage; 8. 79 – Jeremy Markle.
Qualifying Group 3: 1. 21a – Pete Britten; 2. 99L – Larry Wight; 3. 7 – Rich Laubach; 4. 20 – Brett Hearn; 5. 33 – Ray Swinehart; 6. 10s – Michael Storms; 7. 1 – Darwin Greene; 8. 6N – Kevin Bates.
Qualifying Group 4: 1. 34 – Andy Bachetti; 2. 10J – Alan Johnson; 3. 8r – Rob Bellinger; 4. 3d – Matt DeLorenzo; 5. 14 – C.G. Morey; 6. 23 – Billy VanInwegen; 7. 48T – Dave Rauscher; 8. 21K – Randy Chrysler.
Heat 1: 1. 8 – Rich Scagliotta; 2. 5 – Jimmy Horton; 3. 22c – Mario Clair; 4. 60 – Brian Berger; 5. 29 – Chris Ostrowsky; 6. 30 – Jamie Mills; 7. 88 – David Allen; 8. 97 – Michel Chicione; 9. T21 – Roger Chrysler.
Heat 2: 1. 74 – Tim Fuller; 2. 9s – Matt Sheppard; 3. 27J – Danny Johnson; 4. 2 – Brian Truppi; 5. 85 – Stewart Friesen; 6. 39 – Dustin Delaney; 7. 99 – Bruno Lepage; 8. 79 – Jeremy Markle.
Heat 3: 1. 99L – Larry Wight; 2. 20 – Brett Hearn; 3. 7 – Rich Laubach; 4. 10s – Michael Storms; 5. 21a – Pete Britten; 6. 6N – Kevin Bates; 7. 33 – Ray Swinehart; 8. 1 – Darwin Greene.
Heat 4: 1. 34 – Andy Bachetti; 2. 10J – Alan Johnson; 3. 3d – Matt DeLorenzo; 4. 8r – Rob Bellinger; 5. 23 – Billy VanInwegen; 6. 14 – C.G. Morey; 7. 48T – Dave Rauscher; 8. 21K – Randy Chrysler.
B Main: 1. 30 – Jamie Mills; 2. 39 – Dustin Delaney; 3. 14 – C.G. Morey; 4. 88 – David Allen; 5. 99 – Bruno Lepage; 6. 1 – Darwin Greene; 7. 97 – Michel Chicione; 8. 48T – Dave Rauscher; 9. T21 – Roger Chrysler; 10. 33 – Ray Swinehart; 11. 21K – Randy Chrysler; 12. 79 – Jeremy Markle.
UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Top 10 Points: 1. 9s – Matt Sheppard – 156; 2. 74 – Tim Fuller – 154; 3. 27j – Danny Johnson – 152; 4. 85 – Stewart Friesen – 136; 5. 10j – Alan Johnson – 132; 6. 22c – Mario Clair – 130; 7. 7 – Rick Laubach – 128; 8. 5 – Jimmy Horton – 124; 9. 21a – Peter Britten – 120; 10. 99l – Larry Wight – 116.
The Super DIRTcar Series and DIRTcar Racing in the Northeast Region is brought to fans by several sponsors and partners including Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, GM Performance Parts, Nationwide Insurance and Safety-Kleen. Promotional partners include the University of Northwestern Ohio and Chizmark Larson Insurance. Contingency sponsors are ASI, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix, ButlerBuilt, Comp Cams, Intercomp, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products, Motorsports Safety Systems, MSD Ignition, Penske Shocks, Racing Electronics, Superflow, Vicci Racing Apparel, WIX Filters, Wrisco Industries and Xtreme Lubricants.
