Bloomquist, Friesen clinch ‘Big Gators’ as late model, big-block mod champs
BARBERVILLE, Fla. — Feb. 22, 2014 — Kyle Bronson upset the World of Outlaws Late Model Series stars while three-time Super DIRTcar Series champion Matt Sheppard charged to his fifth big-block modified victory at Volusia Speedway Park during Saturday night’s finale to the DIRTcar Nationals presented by Summit Racing Equipment.
Bronson, 23, who earned a DIRTcar UMP Modified victory at Volusia last week, held off two-time series champion Darrell Lanigan, World 100 winner John Blankenship and legends Scott Bloomquist and Don O’Neal to win the first World of Outlaws Late Model Series race of his career.
“This is unbelievable,” said Bronson, of Tampa, Fla., whose win came in the just the eighth Super Late Model start of his racing career. “I’ve never doubted myself, but I dang sure didn’t think I was going to come here and win the race. If you would’ve asked me (about winning a WoO LMS event) a couple days ago, I would’ve told you you were crazy. We had our goals set (for the DIRTcar Nationals) to try and make all of (the features). I don’t know what to say. I’m so excited I don’t even know how to show it right now.”
Bloomquist, who won on Wednesday night at Volusia, was the most consistent racer over the course of the week and earned the big Gator as overall champion of the late model portion of the event.
Sheppard, who is starting fresh in 2014 with a new team and teammate in Jimmy Phelps at Heinke-Baldwin Racing, powered from fourth to second behind Phelps, then slid past his new teammate and eventually held off Stewart Friesen to the checkered flag. Friesen and Phelps rounded out the podium.
“It feels real good,” said Sheppard, 31, of Waterloo, N.Y. “I can’t thank all the guys over here with HBR enough. They’ve been working their tails off all week on both cars and I think it showed tonight. We got the cars better every night. We’re going to be a force to be reckoned with this year.”
Friesen, who won on Friday night at Volusia, earned the overall big-block modified event Gator trophy.
Next year’s DIRTcar Nationals is set for Feb. 10-21, 2015, at Volusia Speedway Park. Tickets can be renewed by calling 877-395-8606.
For more information and updates on the DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment, click DIRTcarNationals.com or follow on Twitter at Twitter.com/DIRTcarNats.
DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment Statistical Report; Feb. 22, 2014; Volusia Speedway Park; Barberville, Fla.
Super DIRTcar Series A-Main (50 laps): 1. (9H) Matt Sheppard ($5,000), 2. (1wgc) Stewart Friesen, 3. (98h) Jimmy Phelps, 4. (20) Brett Hearn, 5. (1) Billy Pauch, 6. (6m) Mat Williamson, 7. (07) Tim Kerr, 8. (85) H.J. Bunting, 9. (55) Anthony Perrego, 10. (3h) Justin Haers, 11. (5) Jimmy Horton, 12. (21k) Randy Chrysler, 13. (54) Steve Bernard, 14. (22J) Jeremy Wilder, 15. (7z) Dale Planck, 16. (22c) Mario Clair, 17. (48Too) Dave Rauscher, 18. (1G) Darwin Greene, 19. (323) Neal Williams, 20. (14) C.G. Morey, 21. (3a) Kevin Albert, 22. (21) Yan Bussiere, 23. (8) Rich Scagliotta, 24. (88) Dave Allen, 25. (30) Jamie Mills, 26. (10v) Billy VanInwegen, 27. (21a) Peter Britten, 28. (42) Kyle Sheldon. DNQ: (8R) Rob Bellinger, (29) Chris Ostrowsky, (64) Daniel Nadeau.
World of Outlaws Late Model Series A-Main (50 Laps): 1. (40B) Kyle Bronson ($10,000), 2. (29) Darrell Lanigan, 3. (23) John Blankenship, 4. (0) Scott Bloomquist, 5. (5) Don O’Neal, 6. (99Jr) Frankie Heckenast Jr., 7. (24) Rick Eckert, 8. (15) Steve Francis, 9. (1) Brandon Sheppard, 10. (2) Brady Smith, 11. (44) Clint Smith, 12. (14M) Morgan Bagley, 13. (18W) Eric Wells, 14. (19) Tim Fuller, 15. (21L) Ivedent Lloyd Jr., 16. (22) Gregg Satterlee, 17. (99) Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs, 18. (25) Shane Clanton, 19. (39) Tim McCreadie, 20. (101) Casey Roberts, 21. (1*) Chub Frank, 22. (28) Dennis Erb Jr., 23. (21) Billy Moyer, 24. (17M) Dale McDowell, 25. (81) Brian Shirley, 26. (38) Kenny Pettyjohn, 27. (20) Jimmy Owens.
