| Young Gunned: Austin Dillon Outduels NASCAR’s Schrader for Victory |
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Win Enters Young Richard Childress Grandson into Alltel All‐Star Contest Barberville,FL – February 5, 2009 – He’s only 18 but Austin Dillon showed the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH crowd at Volusia Speedway Park crowd Thursday night why he’s on the fast track to racing stardom.
The Team Dillon driver started the 20‐lap UMP DIRTcar Modified main event 10th on the grid and rocketed all the way to second by the eighth circuit. He then stalked NASCAR star Ken Schrader for eight more laps before making his move on Lap 16. The Lewisville, N.C., shoe drove low exiting Turn 2 and got to Schrader’s door down the Volusia backstretch. Dillon stuck to his line out of the fourth corner and completed the pass.
“I knew he was going to stay up there,” Dillon said. “I just had to get the car rolling around there where I could get him up to the door and I knew I’d have it. This is just awesome. Schrader raced me clean and it was just a heck of a race. I’m telling you, these Shaw by Landers cars are just unbeatable right now.”
With his grandfather Richard Childress, a long‐time NASCAR car owner, watching Dillon from the infield with Dillon’s younger brother Ty and teammate Ryan Gifford, the 2008 NASCAR Camping World East Rookie of the Year, Austin capped off an impressive night. It also lands him an entry into the Alltel All‐Star fan vote at AlltelAllStar.com. Dillon campaigned in victory lane not only for himself but also chassis provider and winner of the first two nights, Jared Landers.
“Well, I think they should just vote for us because me and Jared have been sweeping them all week,” Dillon said. “Just vote for one of our cars.”
Schrader quickly jumped to the lead from starting fifth as he put his Federated Auto Parts steed on the cushion and drove to the front. The Fenton, Mo., native was in second by lap five using the high side of the half mile oval. Schrader was cruising to a healthy lead until Dillon made his way to second and gradually closed.
Schrader, 53, settled for a strong second place finish. His performance was reminiscent of his 2008 Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH run where he never captured a feature event but won the overall points championship in the DIRTcar Modified division on the strength of six top‐5 finishes.
Iowa driver Mike Hansen came from the 12th starting spot in the feature and methodically weaved his way through the field to finish third. Hansen fumbled a pole starting spot in the third heat, where he was relegated to a third‐place finish. The Hawkeye state native regained composure in the main event when he followed eventual winner Dillon to the front.
Billy “The Kid” Smith of Park Hills, Mo., set quick time pacing the 88 cars that entered the night’s UMP DIRTcar Modified event.
Eight heats of UMP DIRTcar Modified racing saw Tim Karrick of Baschor, Kan., Oklahoma native Jason Hughes, Bloomington, Ind., driver Kent Robinson, NASCAR’s Ken Schrader, Grand Rapids, Minnesota’s Bob Broking, New York’s Richard Michaels Jr., Benji Lacrosse of Green Bay, Wis. , and former Alltel All‐Star Mike Knight all take wins.
Four consolation races were held to determine the final four starting spots in the 20 lap A‐Main. University of Northwestern Ohio driver John Henry checked out early in consolation race one and never looked back earning the 25th starting spot. Alltel All‐Star contender Jared Landers used the outside pole starting spot in consolation race two to earn a win. Waterford, PA driver Dave Hess matched Landers performance in consolation three grabbing the lead early and never relenting. Randy Hall of Olean, NY captured the fourth and final consolation race after a heated battle with Mike Spatola of Manhattan,IL.
Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH UMP DIRTcar Modified A‐Main – 20 Laps Pos No. Name 1 3 Austin Dillon 2 9X Kenny Schrader 3 12HX Mike Hansen 4 *222 Mike Knight 5 54L Benji Lacrosse 6 777 Jared Landers 7 51M Eddie Martin 8 88 Chris Smith 9 51 Rodney Wing 10 45 Bob Broking 11 4 Stormy Scott 12 17X Rich Michael 13 2d Ty Dillon 14 7R Kent Robinson 15 20 Jacob Hawkins 16 10H Randy Hall 17 18H Jon Henry 18 10 Michael Long 19 T3 Dave Groves 20 1G Devin Gilpin 21 70 Matt Aber 22 2X Grant Junghans 23 36s Billy Smith 24 44H Dave Hess Jr 25 55H Scott Hansen 26 17JE J.E. Stalder 27 12H Jason Hughes 28 1K Tim Karrick
For more on the 38th Annual ALLTEL DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH please visit: www.dirtcarnationals.com Through the second night of competition at the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH, the Alltel All‐Star contenders and their text message Letter Codes include:
Sprint Cars — Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. (b) Stevie Smith (d) UMP DIRTcar Modifieds — Jared Landers, Batesville, Ark. (a). Austin Dillon Lewisville,NC (c) Fans can vote by visiting www.AlltelAllStar.com or texting their drivers code to 247253. Complete raw results can be viewed by visiting MyLaps.com |
