36th Annual Winternationals
East Bay Raceway Park
February 16, 2012
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Incredible Finish Goes to Francis at East Bay Raceway Park



by James Essex
TAMPA, FL (February 16, 2012) - Steve Francis passed Austin Hubbard coming off of turn four on the final lap of tonight's 35-lap DART Winternationals feature. Francis took home $7,000 for his win. In a thrilling finish, Hubbard finished second, followed by Dennis Erb Jr., Don O'Neal, and Jared Landers. With the win, Francis notched his ninth career victory at East Bay Raceway Park and his sixth career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series triumph.

The main events have been packed with excitement all week. Tonight fans saw another "barn-burner" of a main event. Hubbard was poised to win his first-ever win at East Bay and his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory when he took the lead on lap 13 from Erb.

The young driver led the field for most of the race until a caution came out on lap 33. This set up a two-lap showdown between Hubbard and Francis. Hubbard dashed out in front of Francis on the restart and led until the final turn. Francis took to the outside groove of the track and powered out of turn four. The crowd jumped to their feet and roared with excitement as the pair came across the finish line with Francis barely ahead of Hubbard.



"I have to thank my Crew Chief Lance Wright, under that last caution he signaled for me to go to the top of the track. It looked like there was enough moisture in the track tonight, even at the end, so I knew Lance was right. I was able to get into three and four really well. He (Hubbard) left a small opening on the outside, I took it and was just fortunate enough to get by him," said the 44-year old.

"I want to thank Barry Wright and everybody at the race shop, Clements Race Engines, Valvoline, Nichols Plumbing, JRi Shocks, Mathis Farms, and AES Racing for all of their support. The deal for me to drive for Barry didn't come together until mid-December, and I am really glad that it did."

Francis will be following the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series full-time again this year. His 2012 season is off to an excellent start with this win. "It's good to finally be back in victory lane here at East Bay, it's been a few years. One thing's for certain, we aren't going winless this year," said a smiling Francis. "The track has been in excellent shape all week thanks to Al, Todd, and the entire crew here at East Bay. They have finished in a timely fashion and had some great racing."



Completing the top ten were Wednesday Night's winner Ray Cook, Terry Casey, Donnie Moran, John Blankenship, and Shannon Babb.

In preliminary action Shannon Babb was the Red Buck Cigar's Fast Qualifier amongst the 44 entrants. Heat races were won by Donnie Moran, Steve Francis, Dennis Erb Jr., and Austin Hubbard. Bobby Pierce and Eric Jacobsen recorded B-main wins. Earl Pearson Jr. captured the PRC Strawberry Dash.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Thursday Night, February 16, 2012
36th Annual DART Winternationals
East Bay Raceway Park - Tampa, FL

A-Main
1 3 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY $7,000
2 4 11 Austin Hubbard Seaford, DE
3 2 28 Dennis Erb Jr Carpentersville, IL
4 7 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
5 11 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
6 5 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
7 10 42 Terry Casey New London, WI
8 1 99 Donnie Moran Dresden, OH
9 9 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
10 6 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
11 8 76 Shelby Miles Bloomington, IN
12 16 11 Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
13 12 18 Eric Wells Hazard, KY
14 13 81X Randy Korte Highland, IL
15 26 44 Earl Pearson Jr Jacksonville, FL
16 15 54 Dillon White Crofton, KY
17 18 5 Eric Jacobsen Seacliff Beach, CA
18 19 41 Josh McGuire Ashland, KY
19 20 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
20 25 15 Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA
21 21 4 Victor Lee Sanford, KY
22 23 4h Chad Hollenbeck Kingsley, PA
23 24 A1 Duke Whiseant Texarkana, TX
24 14 81 Scott James Bright, IN
25 17 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
26 22 81jr Jason Riggs Harrisburg, IL

B-Main #1  
1 2 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
2 1 41 Josh McGuire Ashland, KY
3 4 4 Victor Lee Sanford, KY
4 3 4h Chad Hollenbeck Kingsley, PA
5 8 85 Mark Anderson Blanchard, MI
6 9 15 Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA
7 5 21F Todd Frank Green Bay, WI
8 11 1 Doug Blashe Marion, WI
9 12 44 Earl Pearson Jr Jacksonville, FL
10 6 31 Scott Creel Franklinton, LA
11 7 11 Shane Cottle Kokomo, IN
12 10 10X Leon Henderson Laurel, MS
13 13 71 Terry Naugle Port Royal, PA

B-Main #2  
1 1 5 Eric Jacobsen Seacliff Beach, CA
2 3 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
3 6 81jr Jason Riggs Harrisburg, IL
4 5 A1 Duke Whiseant Texarkana, TX
5 4 14b Morgan Bagley Longview, TX
6 7 21c Chris Brown Spring, TX
7 9 51 Travis Varnadore Dover, FL
8 13 71E Pat Ehlert Ovid, MI
9 11 44 James O'Hara Daleville, PA
10 12 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
11 2 81 Kevin Cole Paducah, KY
12 8 18d Danny Mitchell Clarksburg, WV
13 10 16 Justin Rattliff Campbellsville, KY

Strawberry Dash  
1 2 44 Earl Pearson Jr Jacksonville, FL
2 1 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
3 3 21c Chris Brown Spring, TX

Heat #1  
1 2 99 Donnie Moran Dresden, OH
2 1 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
3 4 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
4 3 81X Randy Korte Highland, IL
5 6 41 Josh McGuire Ashland, KY
6 7 4h Chad Hollenbeck Kingsley, PA
7 10 21F Todd Frank Green Bay, WI
8 9 11 Shane Cottle Kokomo, IN
9 5 15 Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA
10 11 1 Doug Blashe Marion, WI
11 8 44 Earl Pearson Jr Jacksonville, FL

Heat #2  
1 1 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
2 2 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
3 3 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
4 5 54 Dillon White Crofton, KY
5 4 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
6 8 4 Victor Lee Sanford, KY
7 7 31 Scott Creel Franklinton, LA
8 6 85 Mark Anderson Blanchard, MI
9 10 10X Leon Henderson Laurel, MS
10 11 71E Pat Ehlert Ovid, MI
11 9 71 Terry Naugle Port Royal, PA

Heat #3  
1 2 28 Dennis Erb Jr Carpentersville, IL
2 1 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
3 3 42 Terry Casey New London, WI
4 5 81 Scott James Bright, IN
5 7 5 Eric Jacobsen Seacliff Beach, CA
6 4 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
7 9 A1 Duke Whiseant Texarkana, TX
8 10 21c Chris Brown Spring, TX
9 8 51 Travis Varnadore Dover, FL
10 6 01 Jack Nosbisch Riverview, FL
11 11 44 James O'Hara Daleville, PA

Heat #4  
1 2 11 Austin Hubbard Seaford, DE
2 1 76 Shelby Miles Bloomington, IN
3 4 18 Eric Wells Hazard, KY
4 3 11 Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
5 6 14b Morgan Bagley Longview, TX
7 5 81 Kevin Cole Paducah, KY
8 7 81jr Jason Riggs Harrisburg, IL
9 9 18d Danny Mitchell Clarksburg, WV
10 8 16 Justin Rattliff Campbellsville, KY
dns 32 Chad Stapleton Edinburgh, IN
dns 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN

Fast Time Group B (and overall): Shannon Babb 14.561
Fast Time Group A: Ray Cook 14.615