Whitwell, Haley, Gundaker, Green & Rupe Bag Gators On Five-Star 15s Feature Night At Volusia
Story By: MATT PRIEUR / DIRTCAR – DELEON SPRINGS, FL – One of the most popular nights of the 48th annual DIRTcar Nationals for the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds is the Quad-15s Features Night.
Due to the extremely high car counts throughout the week, the UMP Modifieds ran five features instead of the originally scheduled four during the fourth night of the DIRTcar Nationals at the fast half-mile, high-banked dirt oval of Volusia Speedway Park. The newly renamed Five-Star 15s saw five first time feature winners take home a coveted Gator trophy.
The big winner was R.C. Whitwell, who brought home the victory in the fifth and final Five-Star 15 for the top points earners entering the night in the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds. Whitwell, who started on the pole, paced the field early, with Lucas Lee, who started in third, passing outside front row starter Allen Weisser. Whitwell and Lee pulled away from the pack, with Whitwell slowly but surely getting away from Lee, who had to deal with a hard-charging David Stremme, who started fourth. Stremme got passed Lee briefly but soon lost the spot back to him.
Lee set his sights on Whitwell and got close to the race-long leader but couldn’t mount a serious charge as Whitwell, the 34-year-old from Tucson, AZ in his #96 Hoskins Construction / Longhorn Chassis ride, stayed out front the entire race while withstanding a final charge from Lee to secure his first career win at Volusia.
“I felt like we took advantage of starting on the pole. But we worked out butts off this week to get to this point. I definitely feel like we earned this tonight, especially with the field that’s here, especially in this feature with all the top points guys,” he explained in Victory Lane. “I can’t thank Jesse Hoskins and the entire crew, everyone in the shop, for this opportunity. We stayed on the top the whole race. I wasn’t real sure about the bottom so we committed up there for the whole race and it paid off for us.”
Lee settled for second while Stremme completed the podium finishers in third. Current DIRTcar Nationals points leader and three-time defending champion in the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds at Volusia, Nick Hoffman finished fourth, and Weisser finished fifth to complete the top five. Brian Ruhlman finished sixth over Will Krup from 11th, and Tyler Evans, who started 15th, Tyler Nicely and Zeke McKenzie, who started 12th, rounded out the top 10.
In the fourth feature of the night, Todd Neiheiser and Kenny Wallace started on the front row with Wallace leading the way early. Neiheiser stayed close to the former NASCAR driver and on lap seven made the pass for the lead. Neiheiser, Wallace and Chase Collins were in a dogfight for the point when 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series rookie contender for Kaulig Racing, Justin Haley, who was running fourth with five laps to go, fired to the inside of all three drivers to take the lead.
From there, the 19-year-old from Winamac, IN in his #11 Leaf Filter Gutter Protection / Lethal Chassis machine held on for his first career Gator trophy. “This is more important to me than the Xfinity Series or winning a Truck Series race, mainly because this is much harder to do,” offered Haley after he jubilantly climbed from his car after winning his first Gator. “Even if we win next Saturday at Daytona, this is still bigger. I was started to doubt myself there after we finished third on opening night and then not make the show the next two nights. But God showed us the way and to have faith, rise above the challenges and here we are.”
Shon Flannery wound up in second after starting in 10th ahead of Wallace as Collins and Neiheiser rounded out the top five. Ryan Ayers was sixth ahead of Garret Stewart as Mark Whitener from 18th, Trey Harris and David Wietholder, who started 12th, finished off the final top 10.
The middle stanza saw Chad Roush and Mike Learman bring the starting field to the green flag, but it was DIRTcar Summer Nationals star Gordy Gundaker, who started third, charging out to the early race lead. Gundaker set a torrid pace, but Roush, who recoiled, slowly caught back up to Gundaker and passed him back for the lead with four laps to go. As the checkered flag was about to come out, Roush spun his mount coming out of turn four. This set up a Green/White restart with Gundaker back out front and Dylan Stephens, who started 18th, trailing.
On that final restart, Gundaker was able to get away from Stephens, and the 26-year-old from St. Charles, MO hung on to claim his first career Gator Trophy in his #11 AOne Towing / AOne Racecars ride. Stephens settled for second after advancing 16 positions, while Paul Miles, Brad Waits, who started 13th, and Michael McGee completed the top five. Larry Burkins was sixth over Learman, and Brenden Rassel, who started 16th, was eighth over former ARCA Racing Series star Joey Miller. Jason Gross, who started 12th, finished off the top 10.
The second Five-Star 15 feature of the evening, held prior to the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series main event, started with a front row of Brandon Green and Steve Meyer Jr., taking the green flag. Green shot out to the lead early in the race while the rest of the field jockeyed for position behind him. Green, in his #51 Complete Towing / Nemesis Racecars ride, was never seriously challenged the entire race and coasted to his first Gator triumph.
Meyer Jr. fell back within the top five during the race, but would rebound to finish second with Josh Harris who started 11th, completed the podium finishers. Austin Holcombe, who started 14th and the youngest driver on the property, 14-year-old Hunt Gossum, started 10th and advanced five spots to finish off the top five. Christopher Smith garnered a sixth place showing ahead of Ryan Fowler, who started 12th as Mark Enk who started 16th, John Baker and Ken Mihalik, who advanced eight spots from 18th, rounded out the final top 10.
The first Five-Star 15 of the night saw Bobby Miles and Jesse Rupe bring the field down to Chief Starter David Farney’s green flag. Rupe rocketed out to the early race lead. Rupe was on cruise control until five laps to go when Dale Kelley, who started deep in the field in 16th and Robert Poole mounted a late charge at the race long leader. Rupe was up to the challenge though as the 25-year-old from Sophia, WV staved off the advances of his two pursuers to grab his first career Gator trophy in his #11 Level Land Development / Lightning Chassis entry.
Kelley did move up 14 positions to claim the runner-up spot over Poole while 2018 Eldora Speedway (OH) Track Champion, Jonathan Taylor, from 15th and Will Norris were the top five. Steve Stevenson, who started 19th, grabbed the sixth spot over Miles as Jesse Strange, Tyler Davis from 18th and Jim Shipman, who started in the 17th spot, would be the final top 10.
On Saturday, February 10, the first of two Big Gator Championship Qualifier Nights will begin setting the field for the 15th annual Big Gator Championship. Half of the 102 teams that have competed in the DIRTcar Nationals through the first four nights, will race on Saturday. Then the remainder of the field will run in the second Big Gator Championship Qualifier Night on Sunday, February 11. Both nights for the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds will begin setting the field for the 15th annual Big Gator Championship Night and the crowning of the 2019 DIRTcar Nationals Champion on Monday, February 11.
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will race in their final two nights at Volusia also on Saturday and Sunday to complete Sprint Car Week at the DCN. Late Model Week then begins on Monday with the first of two nights of action for the DIRTcar Super Late Models. The World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series take over on the Late Model side starting on Wednesday, February 13 while the day before, the Super DIRTcar Big Block Modified Series take over for the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds starting on Tuesday, February 12.
RESULTS
Modifieds Feature 1 Driver Nbr ------------------------------ ----- 1. Jesse Rupe 11R Sophia, Wv. 2. Dale Kelley 22K Plant City, Fl. 3. Robert Poole 25p Sherrills Ford, Nc. 4. Jonathan Taylor 5T Saltsburg, Pa. 5. Will Norris 71n Bells, Tn. 6. Steve Stevenson 14s St Jacob, Il. 7. Bobby Miles 27 Owensboro, Ky. 8. Jesse Strange 85E Marion, In. 9. Tyler Davis. 65 Haysville, Ks. 10. Jim Shipman 77s Bridgeport, Il. 11. Scott Green 25G Derby, Ks. 12. Bill Lewis 118L Fountain City, In. 13. Larry Mott 06Z Leesburg, Fl. DNF. Jessie Hoskins 71H Longdale, Ok. DNF. Scott Fritz 01 Erie, Pa. DNF. Scotty Kincaid 12K Rising Sun, In. DNF. Patrick Vareika 51v Deltona, Fl. DNF. Evan Taylor 7JT Saltsburg, Pa. DNF. Colin Green 52 Walton, Ky. Modifieds Feature 2 Driver Nbr ------------------------------ ----- 1. Brandon Green 51 Walton, Ky. 2. Steve Meyer Jr. 1A Staunton, Il. 3. Josh Harris 22 Utica, Ky. 4. Austin Holcombe 8A Elm City, Nc. 5. Hunt Gossum 99 Mayfield, Ky. 6. Christopher Smith 88s Brewton, Al. 7. Ryan Fowler 6F Pace, Fl. 8. Mark Enk 40 St Ann, Mo. 9. John E Baker 22J French Lick, In. 10. Ken Mihalik 33 Port St Lucie, Fl. 11. Matt Altiers 2A Lewis Center, Oh. 12. Mikey Kopka 90K Astor, Fl. 13. Joe Graf Jr 17 Mahwah, Nj. 14. Jake Gibbon 1G Cleveland, Nc. DNF. Dylan Browning 6DB Jacksonville, Fl. DNF. Zac Oedewaldt Z1 Hanna City, Il. DNF. Gary Bentley A-1 St Charles, Mo. DNF. Joey Lee 662 Farina, Il. DNF. Zane Oedewaldt 11Z Hanna City, Il. Modifieds Feature 3 Driver Nbr ------------------------------ ----- 1. Gordy Gundaker 11G St Charles, Mo. 2. Spencer Hughes 7h Meridian, Ms. 3. Paul Miles 28M Owensboro, Ky. 4. Brad Waits 24 Rochester, Mn. 5. Michael McGee 11m Mayville, Ny. 6. Larry Burkins 54 St. Augustine, Fl. 7. Mike Learman 4L Woodstock, Il. 8. Brendan Rassell 1 Woonsocket, Sd. 9. Joey Miller 15 Lakeville, Mn. 10. Jason Gross 12 Cushing, Wi. 11. Mark Beard 28 Mt. Pleasant, Mi. 12. David Taylor 14 Fayettville, Nc. 13. Gene Nicholas 11N Lowell, Ar. 14. Will Long 45L Clayton, Nc. DNF. Chad Roush 32 Reedsville, Oh. DNF. Jeff Thomas 07 Petaluma, Ca. DNF. Dave Baldwin 6B Perrysville, In. DNF. Buzzie Reutimann 00 Zephyrhills, Fl. Modifieds Feature 4 Driver Nbr ------------------------------ ----- 1. Justin Haley 11 Mooresville, Nc. 2. Shon Flanary 98 Surgoinsville, Tn. 3. Kenny Wallace 36 Imperial, Mo. 4. Chase Collins 2x4 Jacksonville, Fl. 5. Todd Neiheiser 72 Panama City, Fl. 6. Ryan Ayers 6A Concord, Nc. 7. Garret Stewart 67 Leesburg, Fl. 8. Mark Whitener 5 Middleburg, Fl. 9. Trey Harris 57 Hillsboro, Mo. 10. David Wietholder 05 Liberty, Il. 11. Johnny Collins 54c Jacksonville, Fl. 12. Brad Goff 41 Zanesville, Oh. 13. Bobby Regot 4uw St. Peters, Mo. 14. Ken Schrader 9 Concord, Nc. 15. Hunter Gustafson 15G Howey In The Hills, Fl. 16. Ryan Cripe 23 North Manchester, In. 17. Jason Garver 27G Starke, Fl. 18. Matt Crafton 88 Mooresville, Nc. Modifieds Feature 5 Driver Nbr ------------------------------ ----- 1. Rc Whitwell 96T Longdale, Ok. 2. Lucas Lee 40B Paris, Tn. 3. David Stremme 35 Mooresville, Nc. 4. Nick Hoffman 2H Mooresville, Nc. 5. Allen Weisser 25w Peoria, Il. 6. Brian Ruhlman 49 Clarklake, Mi. 7. Will Krup 19K Mt Carmel, Il. 8. Tyler Evans 17T Mineral Wells, Wv. 9. Tyler Nicely 25 Owensboro, Ky. 10. Zeke McKenzie 24z Claypool, In. 11. Curt Spalding 5CS Watervliet, Mi. 12. Justin Allgaier 7 Springfield, Il. 13. Ray Bollinger 77 Kewanee, Il. 14. Michael Altobelli Jr. 95 Saxton, Pa. 15. David Reutimann 00D Sherrills Ford, Nc. 16. Taylor Cook 21c Stanley, Nc. 17. Jason Beaulieu 90 Campbell River, Bc. 18. Kyle Strickler 8 Mooresville, Nc.
