GIBSONTON, Fla. (Jan. 26) — Tucker Anderson, Mario Gresham, Kyle Hardy and Ashton Winger reached victory lane Friday night during the weekend’s second round of Rogers-Dabbs Performance Parts Crate Racin’ USA Winter Shootout Series preliminary action at East Bay Raceway Park, each pocketing $1,000 for their efforts.
Anderson Takes the Opener
In a caution-plagued race that didn’t find its rhythm until lap 10, Anderson of Blairsville, Ga., led in flag-to-flag fashion from the pole to win the night’s opening 25-lap qualifying feature. It was his second victory in as many days.
“Last night was a little bit more top. [Tonight] you just kinda had to hit the bottom and you’d be alright,” said Anderson. “I just got to get a little better. I’m struggling on the racetrack more than anything. If I can just figure out where to be during the race, I’ll be a lot better.”
Bryson Mitchell of Russellville, Ala., dogged the leader but couldn’t make a pass and settled for second, while seventh-starting Jeremy Wonderling of Wellsville, N.Y., finished third. Zane Powell of Junction City, Ky., and Baily Cardwell of Knoxville, Tenn., completed the top five.
Big movers included sixth-finishing Texan Corey Neil Jr., who gained 12 spots up from 18th, and West Virginia’s Freddie Carpenter, who started 22nd and finished seventh.
The night’s opener was slowed by nine cautions in the first 10 laps, with 12 of the 21 starters finishing.
Gresham Executes Late Pass to Win
Mario Gresham of Rome, Ga., wrestled the lead away from Anthony White of Clinton, Tenn., for good as they took the white flag and held on to win the second 25-lapper by 0.870 seconds. White led 22 of 25 laps before finishing second.
“I was thinking it was too late in the race to lose the lead, and we just got it,” said Gresham. “We had a good race with Mr. White up there. That was fun.”
Colton Leyendecker of Holt, Fla., finished third, while Jason Welshan of Maryville, Tenn., was fourth. Morgantown, W.Va.’s Brent Trimble finished fifth. Louisiana’s Ryan French started 17th and picked up nine positions to finish eighth.
Hardy Repeats
Kyle Hardy, of Stephens City, Va., dominated the third race for his second preliminary feature win of the weekend. Hardy cruised to a 2.349-second win over Will Roland of Jasper, Ga., who grabbed the runner-up spot from Brooks., Ga.’s Matt Dooley on a lap-15 restart. Zack Carley of Freedom, N.Y., and Nick Davis of Millsboro, Del., completed the top five.
“The track kinda worried me,” Hardy said. “I was watching up on the hill and the track didn’t really look as rough as it turned out to be. I was worried about the adjustments I made, but luckily the car got through the holes really good. It was really rough out there, but it was also an awesome racetrack. I love racing here no matter if it’s rough or smooth.”
Winger Wins Fourth Prelim
Ashton Winger, of Hampton, Ga., cruised to a convincing two-second victory over Tyler Millwood of Kingston, Ga., who picked up eight positions after starting 10th. Nevin Gainey of Ft. White, Fla., started and finished third, while Matt Henderson of Loudon, Tenn., claimed fourth over Andy Michael of Alegany, N.Y.
“The track’s got some character, but I think it makes for some good racing,” Winger said. “It’s just kinda hard to tell on the long run how my car was doing. That little run from (laps) 6-8, I actually was driving a little too hard. I kinda settled down after that, and it felt way better.”
Winger joined Anderson and Hardy as a repeat winner on the weekend, putting the trio in excellent position to chase Saturday’s $5,000-to-win finale as the miniseries wraps up its three-day stint at the famed “Clay by the Bay.” The qualifying features on Thursday and Friday will be used to determine Saturday’s A-main feature and B-main lineups.