Dirt on Dirt - Henderson steals $10,000 CRUSA win at Volusia

January 18

Volusia Speedway Park,

Barberville, FL

Sanction: Rogers Dabbs Crate Racin’ USA Winter Shootout (Sunshine Nationals) - $10,000

Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated January 21, 2:02 am)

Henderson steals $10,000 CRUSA win at Volusia

Sunshine Nationals

Matt Henderson
Caleb Gay
Trynt Lloyd
Clay Harris
Will Roland
Tyler Millwood
Brock Pinkerous
Baily Cardwell
Cole Exum
Mark Fleischer
Owen Osteen
Tuck Trentham
Dillon Brown
Brandon Wells
Ivedent Lloyd Jr.
Corey Neil Jr.
Lincoln Smith
Austin Yarbrough
Matt Herlong
Mario Gresham
Jody Knowles
Rye Faulk
Jason Garver
Richie Stephens
Nevin Gainey
Dustin Carter
Demetrios Drellos
Joey Love
Cory Hedgecock
Steven Stratton Sr.

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Photo slideshow

Jim DenHamer

Matt Henderson (22) battes Will Roland (22R) in the opening laps of Saturday's feature.

What won the race: Using an inside move to take the lead from Caleb Gay on a lap-25 restart, sixth-starting Matt Henderson of Loudon, Tenn., paced the remaining distance to win Saturday's 30-lap Crate Racin' USA Winter Shootout Series portion of the fifth annual DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park. Henderson earned $10,000 for his first career Sunshine Nationals feature victory and also claimed the weekend's points title.

Quotable: “We had a different tire than most people and I just had to get going. Those cautions were killing me,” Henderson said. “I got to race my buddy Will Roland. We raced tight and rubbed on each other a little bit, but that’s what you gotta do when everybody’s got these small motors. You just don’t have an advantage to get away."

Key notes: Polesitter Caleb Gay led laps 9-24 before slipping on the late-race restart and being overtaken by Henderson. He settled for a runner-up finish, 2.752 seconds behind the victor. ... Eighth-starting Trynt Lloyd moved into third on the lap-25 restart and completed the podium finishers. ... Clay Harris improved six positions and finished fourth. ... Will Roland, the winner of the season-opening Ice Bowl at Talladega Short Track, ran as high as second before fading to finish fifth. ... Brock Pinkerous gained five spots and finished seventh. ... Baily Cardwell started 26th and finished eighth. ... Second-starting Dustin Carter led the first eight laps from the outside front row before giving way to Gay and pulling off on lap 10. ... Saturday's feature was slowed by seven cautions and lasted 30 minutes, with 19 drivers completing 30 laps and 21 running at the finish.

On the move: Tyler Millwood of Kingston, Ga., started 27th and finished sixth.

Winner's sponsors: Henderson’s Rusty Webb Racing-owned CVR Race Car is sponsored by R&W Properties, Tennessee Shine Co., C&C Steam Cleaning, Crate Engine Technology, Vision Wheel, Discount Tire, Dyer Trucking, Mark Tutor Racing, Morgan-McClure Chevrolet, JM Onsite Repair, Fox Racing Shox, Swift Springs, Allstar Performance and Matlock Decals.

Points chase: After Volusia: 1. Matt Henderson (288); 2. Will Roland (286); 3. Tyler Millwood (256); 4. Mario Gresham (230); 5. Cory Hedgecock (228).

Current weather: Clear, 45°F

Car count: 70

Fast qualifier: Nevin Gainey

Time: 16.808 seconds

Polesitter: Caleb Gay

Heat race winners: Caleb Gay, Dustin Carter, Demetrios Drellos, Will Roland

Consolation race winners: Richie Stephens, Lincoln Smith

Provisional starters: Tyler Millwood, Jody Knowles, Tuck Trentham, Steven Stratton Sr.

Next series race: January 25, East Bay Raceway Park (Gibsonton, FL) $5,000

Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

From series reports

BARBERVILLE, Fla. (Jan. 19) — Results from Friday night’s four 20-lap, $1,500-to-win Crate Racin’ USA Winter Shootout semifeatures during the DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park (results unofficial):

Feature

Using an inside move to take the lead from Caleb Gay on a lap-25 restart, sixth-starting Matt Henderson of Loudon, Tenn., paced the remaining distance to win Saturday's 30-lap Crate Racin' USA Winter Shootout Series portion of the fifth annual DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park. Henderson earned $10,000 for his first career Sunshine Nationals feature victory and also claimed the weekend's points title.

Polesitter Caleb Gay led laps 9-24 before slipping on the late-race restart and being overtaken by Henderson. He settled for a runner-up finish, 2.752 seconds behind the victor.

Feature lineup

(30 laps)

Row 1: Caleb Gay, Dustin Carter
Row 2: Demetrios Drellos, Will Roland
Row 3: Rye Faulk, Matt Henderson
Row 4: Joey Love, Trynt Lloyd
Row 5: Dillon Brown, Clay Harris
Row 6: Nevin Gainey, Brock Pinkerous
Row 7: Mark Fleischer, Cole Exum
Row 8: Owen Osteen, Ivedent Lloyd Jr.
Row 9: Cory Hedgecock, Brandon Wells
Row 10: Austin Yarbrough, Matt Herlong
Row 11: Richie Stephens, Lincoln Smith
Row 12: Corey Neil Jr., Mario Gresham
Row 13: Jason Garver, Baily Cardwell
Row 14: Tyler Millwood, Jody Knowles
Row 15: Tuck Trentham, Steven Stratton Sr.

Consolation results

(10 laps; top three transfer)

First consolation finish: Richie Stephens, Corey Neil Jr., Jason Garver, Mark Whitener, Christian Augspurger, Joe Belkey, Bubba Roling, Rob Pitcher, Daniel Dial, Thomas Earl III, Ryan French, Jake Rainey, Steven Stratton Sr., Tyler Millwood, Derrick McGrew Jr., A.J. Miller, Thomas Warnick. Scratched: Brad Seagle, Ross Bailes, Cameron Saunders, Jarrod Carey, Nick Johnson, Steven Stratton Jr., Freddie Carpenter, Lucas Ruark, David Showers Jr.

Second consolation finish: Lincoln Smith, Mario Gresham, Baily Cardwell, Zack Carley, John Winge, Kole Platt, Keaton Smith, Tuck Trentham, Nick Love, Drew Kennedy, Carl Currin, Von Casey, Brian Smith, Ricky Haugen, Kerry King, Jody Knowles, Johnny Collins, Dean Abbey. Scratched: Riley Hickman, Davy Cline, Larry Fitzsimmons, Josh Vinyard, Ben Scott, Ches Chester.

Heat race results

(10 laps; top five transfer)

First heat finish: Caleb Gay, Rye Faulk, Dillon Brown, David Showers Jr., Mark Fleischer, Cory Hedgecock, Corey Neil Jr., Joe Belkey, Christian Augspurger, Rob Pitcher, Thomas Earl III, Daniel Dial, Derrick McGrew Jr., Jake Rainey, Ross Bailes, Jarrod Carey, Nick Johnson. Scratched: Lucas Ruark

Second heat finish: Dustin Carter, Matt Henderson, Clay Harris, Cole Exum, Brandon Wells, Richie Stephens, Jason Garver, Mark Whitener, Bubba Roling, Ryan French, Tyler Millwood, Brad Seagle, Steven Stratton Sr., Cameron Saunders, A.J. Miller, Thomas Warnick, Steven Stratton Jr., Freddie Carpenter.

Third heat finish: Demetrios Drellos, Joey Love, Nevin Gainey, Owen Osteen, Austin Yarbrough, Mario Gresham, Jody Knowles, Baily Cardwell, Johnny Collins, Tuck Trentham, Dean Abbey, Davy Cline, Keaton Smith, Nick Love, Zack Carley, Ricky Haugen. Scratched: Ben Scott.

Fourth heat finish: Will Roland, Trynt Lloyd, Brock Pinkerous, Ivedent Lloyd Jr., Matt Herlong, Lincoln Smith, Riley Hickman, John Winge, Drew Kennedy, Carl Currin, Kole Platt, Kerry King, Brian Smith, Larry Fitzsimmons, Von Casey, Josh Vinyard, Ches Chester.

Semifeature results

(20 laps)

First semifeature finish: Dillon Brown, David Showers Jr., Rye Faulk, Caleb Gay, Rob Pitcher, Joe Belkey, Cory Hedgecock, Christian Augspurger, Mark Fleischer, Thomas Earl III, Nick Johnson, Jarrod Carey, Jake Rainey, Derrick McGrew Jr., Daniel Dial, Corey Neil Jr., Ross Bailes (DNS) Lucas Ruark.

Second semifeature finish: Richie Stephens, Cole Exum, Matt Henderson, Clay Harris, Jason Garver, Dustin Carter, Brandon Wells, Bubba Roling, Steven Stratton Sr., Ryan French, Steven Stratton Jr., Brad Seagle, Mark Whitener, Tyler Millwood, A.J. Miller, Freddie Carpenter (DNS) Cameron Saunders.

Third semifeature finish: Austin Yarbrough, Kevin Gainey, Joey Love, Demetrios Drellos, Zack Carley, Mario Gresham, Johnny Collins, Owen Osteen, Tuck Trentham, Jody Knowles, Dean Abbey, Keaton Smith, Nick Love, Davy Cline, Ben Scott, Bailey Cardwell, Ricky Haagen.

Fourth semifeature finish: Brock Pinkerous, Will Roland, Riley Hickman, Trynt Lloyd, Lincoln Smith, John Winge, Matt Herlong, Ivedent Lloyd, Drew Kennedy, Ches Chester, Carl Currin, Larry Fitzsimmons, Von Casey, Josh Vinyard, Kole Platt, Kerry King (DNS) Brian Smith.