Whitwell, Haley, Gundaker, Green & Rupe bag Gators on Five-Star 15s Feature night

DELEON SPRINGS, FL — Feb. 8, 2019 — 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.

For more information about the remaining eight nights of the 48th annual DIRTcar Nationals and to order tickets, please call: 1 (844) DIRT-TIX or visit dirtcarnationals.com. You can also follow the DIRTcar UMP Modified portions all week long, as well as the DIRTcar Super Late Model portion of the DCN starting on Monday throughout race week by visiting the DIRTcar Racing Social Media outlets. Just search for “DIRTcar Racing” on both Facebook and Twitter as well as the DIRTcar Nationals Twitter page at: @DIRTcarNats for the very latest updates from Volusia Speedway Park and the 48th annual DIRTcar Nationals.

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.