LAKE CITY, FL (January 23, 2021) – Kyle Larson scored the victory in the first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event of the season on Saturday night at All-Tech Raceway. The 28-year-old California native earned his second career win in a dirt late model. On his way to Lucas Oil Victory Lane he took the lead from Tyler Erb on lap 14 and proceeded to lap up to the eighth-place finisher, eventually winning the race by a stout 15 seconds.
There was a tight battle for the lead for the first 14 laps as Larson, Erb, and Devin Moran battled for the lead. Larson started sixth and passed Erb for the point, completely dominating the rest of the 50-lap race which went caution free. Moran moved into second on lap 16 and stayed there the rest of the race. New track record holder Mike Marlar came home in third followed by reigning Series Champion Jimmy Owens, and Brandon Sheppard.
Erb started from the pole and looked strong early on, but he couldn’t hold off the hard-charging Larson who skated past Erb and pulled away from the entire field. Marlar got around Erb late in the race as Erb lost three spots in the closing laps to finish sixth. Owens came from the 13th starting spot to salvage a good finish taking fourth, after a good battle with Sheppard.
In Lucas Oil Victory Lane Larson was in amazement of his performance. “I have been asking a lot of people how to run the bottom. I have been really bad every time in a late model about moving around. I can run the top good but moving around I haven’t been very good. So, I just tried to be a lot smoother. Gosh, my race car was so fast. I could go anywhere I wanted.”
Larson, who in 2020 captured 46 feature events and was the open wheel driver of the year, praised his car owner Kevin Rumley for the win. “Kevin Rumley and everyone who works on this thing, it’s such a pleasure to drive. I cannot believe I won Port Royal last year, and I can’t believe I won here. This is awesome. Thanks to all of the fans in the stands and the ones watching at home.”
Moran was pleased with his second place run in the Tye Twarog-owned entry. It was Moran’s first race since last October after having off-season wrist surgery. “I lost all of my tearoffs early in the race. I couldn’t see the 6 car anyways, he was too far out in front. We will take this top two finish heading to East Bay next week.”
Marlar, who is attempting his first full season with the series was pleased with his opening night performance. “As the track moved around a little bit, I got better. I want to thank Ronnie Delk for giving me this opportunity, my wife Stacy, and my crew for giving me such a good car tonight. Thank you to all of my sponsors and to the fans for everything that you all do for us.”
The winner’s Rumley Engineering owned Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by Bilstein Shocks, JVI Group, Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas, Hot Rod Septic Treatment, and D&E Marine.
Completing the top ten were Tyler Erb, Gregg Satterlee, Jonathan Davenport, Kyle Bronson, and Brandon Overton.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
General Tire Winter Nationals – Presented by LINE-X
Saturday, January 23, 2021
All-Tech Raceway – Lake City, FL
Allstar Performance Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Tyler Erb / 17.895 seconds
Fast Time Group B: Mike Marlar / 17.793 seconds (overall)
Penske Race Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 1T-Tyler Erb[1]; 2. 22-Gregg Satterlee[5]; 3. 20-Jimmy Owens[3]; 4. 00S-Jesse Stovall[4]; 5. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[2]; 6. 28E-Dennis Erb Jr[7]; 7. 14R-Jeff Roth[9]; 8. 0G-Deshawn Gingerich[8]; 9. 29V-Darrell Lanigan[6]; 10. (DNS) 48W-Win Ingersoll
Summit Racing Equipment Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 9-Devin Moran[1]; 2. 1S-Brandon Sheppard[3]; 3. 39-Tim McCreadie[5]; 4. 385-Mark Whitener[2]; 5. 14-Josh Richards[4]; 6. 16-Tyler Bruening[7]; 7. 10C-Ryan Crane[10]; 8. 7R-Ross Robinson[8]; 9. 14G-Joe Godsey[6]; 10. 4S-Danny Snyder[9]
Simpson Race Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 3S-Brian Shirley[1]; 2. 18J-Chase Junghans[3]; 3. 71-Hudson O’Neal[2]; 4. 12D-Doug Drown[7]; 5. 17D-Zack Dohm[4]; 6. 311-Clay Harris[8]; 7. 26JR-Jimmy Sharpe Jr[5]; 8. 8A-Rob Anderzack[9]; 9. 00H-Wil Herrington[6]
Ohlins Shocks Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 76-Brandon Overton[2]; 2. 157-Mike Marlar[1]; 3. 25-Shane Clanton[4]; 4. 25Z-Mason Zeigler[8]; 5. 21-Billy Moyer Jr[5]; 6. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[6]; 7. 7F-Jason Fitzgerald[7]; 8. 48-Colton Flinner[9]; 9. 14B-John Baker[3]; 10. 6S-Blake Spencer[10]
MyRacePass Heat Race #5 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 40B-Kyle Bronson[2]; 2. 8-Kyle Strickler[1]; 3. 1-Earl Pearson Jr[3]; 4. 44D-Dalton Cook[4]; 5. 0E-Rick Eckert[7]; 6. 2S-Stormy Scott[5]; 7. 1G-Ryan King[9]; 8. 66C-Matt Cosner[6]; 9. 16S-Sam Seawright[8]
Lucas Oil Heat Race #6 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): “>1. 6-Kyle Larson[1]; 2. 56JR-Tony Jackson Jr[4]; 3. 49-Jonathan Davenport[2]; 4. 44-Stewart Friesen[6]; 5. 81E-Tanner English[3]; 6. 2D-Dan Stone[8]; 7. 3W-Brennon Willard[7]; 8. 20B-Todd Brennan[9]; 9. 24D-Michael Brown[5]
LINE-X B-Main #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 00S-Jesse Stovall[1]; 2. 14-Josh Richards[5]; 3. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[4]; 4. 385-Mark Whitener[2]; 5. 00H-Wil Herrington[18]; 6. 17D-Zack Dohm[6]; 7. 12D-Doug Drown[3]; 8. 7R-Ross Robinson[14]; 9. 10C-Ryan Crane[11]; 10. 311-Clay Harris[9]; 11. 26JR-Jimmy Sharpe Jr[12]; 12. 14G-Joe Godsey[17]; 13. 4S-Danny Snyder[20]; 14. 16-Tyler Bruening[8]; 15. 14R-Jeff Roth[10]; 16. 28E-Dennis Erb Jr[7]; 17. (DNS) 29V-Darrell Lanigan; 18. (DNS) 8A-Rob Anderzack; 19. (DNS) 0G-Deshawn Gingerich; 20. (DNS) 48W-Win Ingersoll
UNOH B-Main #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 0E-Rick Eckert[5]; 2. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[7]; 3. 25Z-Mason Zeigler[1]; 4. 2S-Stormy Scott[8]; 5. 81E-Tanner English[6]; 6. 2D-Dan Stone[9]; 7. 21-Billy Moyer Jr[4]; 8. 7F-Jason Fitzgerald[10]; 9. 44-Stewart Friesen[3]; 10. 6S-Blake Spencer[19]; 11. 24D-Michael Brown[18]; 12. 14B-John Baker[16]; 13. 1G-Ryan King[11]; 14. 3W-Brennon Willard[12]; 15. 16S-Sam Seawright[17]; 16. 44D-Dalton Cook[2]; 17. 66C-Matt Cosner[14]; 18. 48-Colton Flinner[13]; 19. 20B-Todd Brennan[15]
Lucas Oil Feature Finish (50 Laps):
| Pos | Start | Car # | Competitor | Hometown | Pay |
| 1 | 6 | 6 | Kyle Larson | Elk Grove, CA | $15,000 |
| 2 | 3 | 9 | Devin Moran | Dresden, OH | $7,200 |
| 3 | 8 | 157 | Mike Marlar | Winfield, TN | $3,500 |
| 4 | 13 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN | $4,100 |
| 5 | 9 | 1S | Brandon Sheppard | New Berlin, IL | $2,500 |
| 6 | 1 | 1T | Tyler Erb | New Waverly, TX | $2,600 |
| 7 | 7 | 22 | Gregg Satterlee | Indiana, PA | $1,700 |
| 8 | 18 | 49 | Jonathan Davenport | Blairsville, GA | $2,400 |
| 9 | 4 | 40B | Kyle Bronson | Brandon, FL | $2,250 |
| 10 | 2 | 76 | Brandon Overton | Evans, GA | $1,500 |
| 11 | 12 | 56JR | Tony Jackson Jr | Lebanon, MO | $1,450 |
| 12 | 11 | 18J | Chase Junghans | Manhattan, KS | $1,400 |
| 13 | 5 | 3S | Brian Shirley | Chatham, IL | $1,350 |
| 14 | 14 | 25 | Shane Clanton | Zebulon, GA | $2,000 |
| 15 | 20 | 0E | Rick Eckert | York, PA | $1,200 |
| 16 | 19 | 00S | Jesse Stovall | Billings, MO | $1,100 |
| 17 | 16 | 1 | Earl Pearson Jr | Jacksonville, FL | $1,800 |
| 18 | 21 | 14 | Josh Richards | Shinnston, WV | $1,800 |
| 19 | 17 | 71 | Hudson O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | $1,000 |
| 20 | 15 | 39 | Tim McCreadie | Watertown, NY | $1,700 |
| 21 | 22 | 99JR | Frank Heckenast Jr | Frankfort, IL | $1,000 |
| 22 | 24 | 21 | Billy Moyer Jr | Batesville, AR | $1,700 |
| 23 | 10 | 8 | Kyle Strickler | Mooresville, NC | $1,000 |
| 24 | 23 | 81E | Tanner English | Benton, KY | $1,700 |
| 25 | 25 | 2S | Stormy Scott | Las Cruces, NM | $100 |
Race Statistics
Entrants: 57
Lap Leaders: Tyler Erb (Laps 1 – 13); Kyle Larson (Laps 14 – 50)
Wrisco Feature Winner: Kyle Larson
Arizona Sport Shirts CJC – Presented by DirtOnDirt Feature Winner: Kyle Larson
Lucas Oil Products TV Challenge Feature Winner: Kyle Larson
Margin of Victory: 15.845 seconds
Cautions: none
Series Provisionals: Tanner English, Billy Moyer Jr.
Fast Time Provisional: n/a
Series Emergency Provisionals: Stormy Scott
Track Provisionals: n/a
Big River Steel Podium Top 3: Kyle Larson, Devin Moran, Mike Marlar
Penske Shocks Top 5: Kyle Larson, Devin Moran, Mike Marlar, Jimmy Owens, Brandon Sheppard
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Jonathan Davenport (Advanced 10 Positions)
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Jimmy Owens
Hot Rod Processing Most Laps Led: Kyle Larson (37 Laps)
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Jimmy Owens
Eibach Springs Rookie of the Race: n/a
Dirty Girl Racewear Fastest Lap of the Race: Tyler Erb (Lap #1 – 19.794 seconds)
Fast Shafts Tough Break of the Race: Tyler Erb
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Kevin Rumley
ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing Engines
Miller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn Chassis
Dirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Josh Richards
Time of Race: 17 minutes 43 seconds
Lucas Oil Point Standings:
| Pos | Car # | Competitor | Hometown | Points | Pay |
| 1 | 6 | Kyle Larson | Elk Grove, CA | 250 | $15,000 |
| 2 | 9 | Devin Moran | Dresden, OH | 230 | $7,200 |
| 3 | 157 | Mike Marlar | Winfield, TN | 230 | $3,500 |
| 4 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN | 210 | $4,100 |
| 5 | 1T | Tyler Erb | New Waverly, TX | 210 | $2,600 |
| 6 | 1s | Brandon Sheppard | New Berlin, IL | 205 | $2,500 |
| 7 | 22 | Gregg Satterlee | Indiana, PA | 195 | $1,700 |
| 8 | 49 | Jonathan Davenport | Blairsville, GA | 190 | $2,400 |
| 9 | 40B | Kyle Bronson | Brandon, FL | 185 | $2,250 |
| 10 | 76 | Brandon Overton | Evans, GA | 180 | $1,500 |
| 11 | 56JR | Tony Jackson Jr | Lebanon, MO | 175 | $1,450 |
| 12 | 18 | Chase Junghans | Manhattan, KS | 170 | $1,400 |
| 13 | 3s | Brian Shirley | Chatham, IL | 165 | $1,350 |
| 14 | 25 | Shane Clanton | Zebulon, GA | 160 | $2,000 |
| 15 | 0E | Rick Eckert | York, PA | 155 | $1,200 |
| 16 | 00s | Jesse Stovall | Billings, MO | 150 | $1,100 |
| 17 | 1 | Earl Pearson Jr | Jacksonville, FL | 145 | $1,800 |
| 18 | 14 | Josh Richards | Shinnston, WV | 140 | $1,800 |
| 19 | 71 | Hudson O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | 135 | $1,000 |
| 20 | 39 | Tim McCreadie | Watertown, NY | 130 | $1,700 |
Wrisco Winternationals Point Standings:
| Pos | Car # | Competitor | Hometown | Points | Pay |
| 1 | 6 | Kyle Larson | Elk Grove, CA | 250 | $15,000 |
| 2 | 9 | Devin Moran | Dresden, OH | 230 | $7,200 |
| 3 | 157 | Mike Marlar | Winfield, TN | 230 | $3,500 |
| 4 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN | 210 | $4,100 |
| 5 | 1T | Tyler Erb | New Waverly, TX | 210 | $2,600 |
| 6 | 1s | Brandon Sheppard | New Berlin, IL | 205 | $2,500 |
| 7 | 22 | Gregg Satterlee | Indiana, PA | 195 | $1,700 |
| 8 | 49 | Jonathan Davenport | Blairsville, GA | 190 | $2,400 |
| 9 | 40B | Kyle Bronson | Brandon, FL | 185 | $2,250 |
| 10 | 76 | Brandon Overton | Evans, GA | 180 | $1,500 |
| 11 | 56JR | Tony Jackson Jr | Lebanon, MO | 175 | $1,450 |
| 12 | 18 | Chase Junghans | Manhattan, KS | 170 | $1,400 |
| 13 | 3s | Brian Shirley | Chatham, IL | 165 | $1,350 |
| 14 | 25 | Shane Clanton | Zebulon, GA | 160 | $2,000 |
| 15 | 0E | Rick Eckert | York, PA | 155 | $1,200 |
| 16 | 00s | Jesse Stovall | Billings, MO | 150 | $1,100 |
| 17 | 1 | Earl Pearson Jr | Jacksonville, FL | 145 | $1,800 |
| 18 | 14 | Josh Richards | Shinnston, WV | 140 | $1,800 |
| 19 | 71 | Hudson O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | 135 | $1,000 |
| 20 | 39 | Tim McCreadie | Watertown, NY | 130 | $1,700 |
*Results are unofficial until Close of Business on the Tuesday following Race Day*