36th Annual Winternationals
East Bay Raceway Park
February 17, 2012
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Erb Rebounds for Exciting Lucas Oil Series Win at East Bay on Friday Night



by James Essex
TAMPA, FL (February 17, 2012) - Battling back from an early caution, Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, IL had the fans on their feet as he captured Friday night's exciting 50-lap DART Winternationals event. Erb took the lead on lap 48 and roared to the finish in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned race.

Erb originally started 14th on the grid, but tangled with Austin Hubbard on lap three. This brought out the first caution of the race. Erb pitted, changed a tire, and restarted in 23rd position. He then charged through the field, and passed Randy Korte of Highland, IL on lap 47. Erb got around both Korte and Tyler Reddick at the same time. He powered away and took his Bloomquist Race Cars #28 to victory lane for the second time in his career at East Bay.

"I still can't believe it," said Erb in Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the second time ever. He was shell-shocked as he spoke with series announcer, James Essex. "I saw what (Steve) Francis did the night before and decided my car would work up top as well. I drove around them on the high side, and was able to carry my momentum passed them. I want to thank McBride Mack, PRC, Allstar Performance, Petersen Aluminum, Ohlins, and VP Fuels for their support."



"The deal earlier in the race with Hubbard, it was just a racing thing. I decided to pit and bolt on a new tire, knowing that I was taking a gamble, and it paid off. I knew my car was working pretty well this week and the Vic Hill Racing Engine performed flawlessly. Heather (Lyne) has been working hard and I am really pleased how things turned out tonight."

Korte was in the hunt for his first ever series and East Bay win. He looked like he was headed for victory lane until a caution came out with 47 laps complete. Korte had worked his way up from starting 12th in the Riggs Motorsports, Clearwave Communications, Rocket Chevrolet. He took the lead from Steve Francis with less than five laps to go. Korte came home in second, his best career finish in LOLMDS competition.

Reddick wound up third in the Broken Bow Records, Gaerte Racing Engines, Bloomquist Race Cars mount. He was followed by Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA. Davenport had led the first 33 laps until Francis passed him. He grabbed fourth in the Bowyer Motorsports, Roush-Yates Racing Engines, Barry Wright Toyota. Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH rounded out the top five in his Custom Cutters, Malcuit Racing Engines, and MasterSbilt Chevrolet.



Completing the top ten were Austin Hubbard of Seaford, DE; Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC; Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN; Eric Wells of Hazard, KY; and John Blankenship of Williamson, WV.

In preliminary action Steve Francis was the Red Buck Cigar's Fast Qualifier amongst the 42 entrants. Heat race winners were Terry Casey, Jonathan Davenport, Don O'Neal, and Shelby Miles. Eric Wells and Eric Jacobsen captured the B-mains.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Friday Night, February 17, 2012
36th Annual DART Winternationals
East Bay Raceway Park - Tampa, FL

A-Main (50 Laps)
1 14 28e Dennis Erb, Jr. Carpentersville, IL $10,000
2 12 81x Randy Korte Highland, IL
3 9 11T Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
4 2 15d Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA
5 15 99 Donnie Moran Dresden, OH
6 11 11h Austin Hubbard Seaford, DE
7 13 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
8 25 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
9 17 18e Eric Wells Hazard, KY
10 16 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
11 18 5J Eric Jacobsen Watsonville, CA
12 26 44 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL
13 1 42c Terry Casey New London, WI
14 24 32s Chad Stapleton Edinburgh, IN
15 10 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
16 5 5 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
17 7 18 Shannon Babb Mowequa, IL
18 22 4L Victor Lee Danville, KY
19 8 81 Scott James Lawrenceburg, IN
20 19 41 Josh McGuire Grayson, KY
21 3 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
22 4 76 Shelby Miles Bloomington, IN
23 6 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
24 23 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
25 21 81JR Jason Riggs Harrisburg, IL
26 20 85 Mark Andersen Blanchard, MI

Race Statistics
Entrants: 42
Lap Leaders: Jonathan Davenport (Laps 1 - 35); Steve Francis (Laps 34 - 46); Randy Korte (Lap 47); Dennis Erb Jr. (Laps 48 - 50)
Caution Flags: Dennis Erb Jr., Tyler Reddick (Lap 3); Stacy Miles (Lap 23); Don O'Neal (Lap 31); Eric Jacobsen, Josh McGuire (Lap 32); Eric Jacobsen (Lap 38); Jimmy Owens (Lap 41); John Blankenship (Lap 43); Steve Francis (Lap 47); Victor Lee (Lap 47)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Jimmy Owens, Earl Pearson Jr.
Time of Race: 49 minutes 10 seconds

Winternationals Point Standings:
1 28e Dennis Erb, Jr. 1060
2 15 Steve Francis 1005
3 53 Ray Cook 995
4 71 Don O'Neal 990
5 81x Randy Korte 960
6 23 John Blankenship 945
7 5J Eric Jacobsen 890
7 42c Terry Casey 890
9 0 Scott Bloomquist 885
10 18e Eric Wells 830

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B-Main #1  
1 18 Eric Wells Hazard, KY
2 41 Josh McGuire Ashland, KY
3 81jr Jason Riggs Harrisburg, IL
4 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
5 31 Scott Creel Franklinton, LA
6 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
7 14b Morgan Bagley Longview, TX
8  Hammond
9 21c Chris Brown Spring, TX
10 21F Todd Frank Green Bay, WI
11 44 Earl Pearson Jr Jacksonville, FL
12 18d Danny Mitchell Clarksburg, WV

B-Main #2  
1 5 Eric Jacobsen Seacliff Beach, CA
2 85 Mark Anderson Blanchard, MI
3 4 Victor Lee Sanford, KY
4 32 Chad Stapleton Edinburgh, IN
5 81 Kevin Cole Paducah, KY
6 44 James O'Hara Daleville, PA
7 54 Dillon White Crofton, KY
8 4h Chad Hollenbeck Kingsley, PA
9 11 Shane Cottle Kokomo, IN

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Heat #1  
1 42 Terry Casey New London, WI
2 5 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
3 11 Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
4 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
5 41 Josh McGuire Ashland, KY
6 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
7 31 Scott Creel Franklinton, LA
8 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
9 21c Chris Brown Spring, TX
10 21F Todd Frank Green Bay, WI
11 1 Doug Blashe Marion, WI

Heat #2  
1 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
2 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
3 11 Austin Hubbard Seaford, DE
4 99 Donnie Moran Dresden, OH
5 18 Eric Wells Hazard, KY
6 81jr Jason Riggs Harrisburg, IL
7 18d Danny Mitchell Clarksburg, WV
8 14b Morgan Bagley Longview, TX
9  Hammond
10 44 Earl Pearson Jr Jacksonville, FL

Heat #3  
1 49 Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA
2 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
3 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
4 28 Dennis Erb Jr Carpentersville, IL
5 5 Eric Jacobsen Seacliff Beach, CA
6 85 Mark Anderson Blanchard, MI
7 81 Kevin Cole Paducah, KY
8 54 Dillon White Crofton, KY
9 11 Shane Cottle Kokomo, IN
10 4h Chad Hollenbeck Kingsley, PA

Heat #4  
1 76 Shelby Miles Bloomington, IN
2 81 Scott James Bright, IN
3 81X Randy Korte Highland, IL
4 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
5 44 James O'Hara Daleville, PA
6 32 Chad Stapleton Edinburgh, IN
7 10X Leon Henderson Laurel, MS
8 51 Travis Varnadore Dover, FL
9 A1 Duke Whiseant Texarkana, TX
10 4 Victor Lee Sanford, KY