Dirt on Dirt - Two in a row for Moran in $7,000 Ocala opener

February 4

Ocala Speedway,

Ocala, FL

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (Wieland Winter Nationals) - $7,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated February 5, 1:48 am)

Two in a row for Moran in $7,000 Ocala opener

Wieland Winter Nationals

Devin Moran
Brandon Overton
Jonathan Davenport
Carson Ferguson
Hudson O'Neal
Tyler Erb
Max Blair
Wil Herrington
Tim McCreadie
Jimmy Owens
Kyle Bronson
Drake Troutman
Dillon McCowan
Garrett Alberson
Mark Whitener
Carson Brown
Brenden Smith
Ross Robinson
Brandon Sheppard
Jack Riggs
Daulton Wilson
Brian Shirley
Clay Harris
Spencer Hughes

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Devin Moran won his second Lucas Oil Series victory in a row.

What won the race: Overtaking polesitter and race-long leader Brandon Overton on the 24th lap, Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, led the final seven laps Tuesday at Ocala Speedway for his second straight Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory. Moran pocketed $7,000 in Ocala's Wieland Winter Nationals opener, holding off Overton's final charge to win by 0.264 of a second.

Quotable: "(Brandon Overton) finally caught lapped traffic and it was messing him up," Moran said, "but I've just watched a lot of film and, and seen how to make different lines here to pick up speed. And I was trying them all and I finally found one that made speed. Like I said, it's really, really cool to get the first win of the week here. I wish it was a points night, but that's all right, we'll take the money and get ready for the rest of the week."

Key notes: Devin Moran notched his 16th career full-field Lucas Oil Series victory. ... On Saturday he captured the finale at All-Tech Raceway in Ellisville, Fla. ... Brandon Overton and Jonathan Davenport swapped the second spot late. ... Fourth-finishing Carson Ferguson managed to stay in contention despite sustaining left-front damage after contact with Moran on the seventh lap while battling for second. ... Two cautions slowed the 30-lapper, the first when when fifth-running Brian Shirley slowed with a flat right-rear tire. ... The second appeared on the 26th lap for ninth-starting Daulton Wilson's spin shortly after Moran took the lead. ... Among drivers electing to sit out Ocala's non-points opening event: reigning series champ Ricky Thornton Jr. , Tyler Bruening, Boom Briggs, Daniel Hilsabeck, Austin Smith and Shane Clanton. ... Another 30-lap feature at Ocala is set for Wednesday, offering a $10,000 top prize. Thursday’s 40-lap feature also awards $10,000-to-win before Friday’s $12,000-to-win fourth round, preceding Saturday’s 50-lap, $25,000-to-win finale.

On the move: Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., started seventh and finished third.

Winner's sponsors: Moran’s Double Down Motorsports Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Lazydays RV, Big River Steel, McHugh Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Ram Fiat, CarSourceAuto.com, Red Oak Pub, C&W Trucking & Sons, Inc., Bomag, Southeastern Equipment, VP Race Fuels, Eibach Springs, Bilstein Shocks, Accu-Force Dynos, Lucas Oil Products, Smoky Mountain Speedway, Haulin’ Haskel’s, Lincoln Smith Racing, GE Auto Sales and WME Detailing.

Points chase: After Ocala Tuesday: 1. Devin Moran (885); 2. Daulton Wilson (830); 3. Tyler Erb (800); 4. Jonathan Davenport (785); 5. Ricky Thornton Jr. (770); 6. Max Blair (760); 7. Brandon Overton (750); 8. Brandon Sheppard (735); 9. Garrett Alberson (730); 10. Tyler Bruening (705); 11. Spencer Hughes (670); 12. Jimmy Owens (665).

Current weather: Clear, 63°F

Car count: 38

Fast qualifier: Devin Moran

Time: 14.361 seconds

Polesitter: Brandon Overton

Heat race winners: Brandon Overton, Carson Ferguson, Devin Moran, Brian Shirley

Consolation race winners: Mark Whitener, Brandon Sheppard

Next series race: February 5, Ocala Speedway (Ocala, FL) $7,000

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

From staff reports

OCALA, Fla. — Updates from Tuesday’s Winter Nationals opener at Ocala Speedway, featuring a 30-lap, $7,000-to-win main event for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Overtaking polesitter and race-long leader Brandon Overton on the 24th lap, Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, led the final seven laps Tuesday at Ocala Speedway for his second straight Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory. Moran pocketed $7,000 in Ocala's Wieland Winter Nationals opener, holding off Brandon Overton's final charge to win by 0.264 of a second.

Feature lineup

(30 laps)

Row 1: Brandon Overton, Devin Moran
Row 2: Carson Ferguson, Brian Shirley
Row 3: Hudson O'Neal, Tim McCreadie
Row 4: Jonathan Davenport, Max Blair
Row 5: Tyler Erb, Drake Troutman
Row 6: Daulton Wilson, Wil Herrington
Row 7: Dillon McCowan, Carson Brown
Row 8: Jimmy Owens, Garrett Alberson
Row 9: Mark Whitener, Brandon Sheppard
Row 10: Jack Riggs, Kyle Bronson
Row 11: Spencer Hughes, Brenden Smith
Row 12: Ross Robinson, Clay Harris

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top four transfer)

First consolation: Mark Whitener, Jack Riggs, Spencer Hughes, Ross Robinson, Dennis Erb Jr., Freddie Carpenter, Donald McIntosh, Matt Tifft, Michael Leach, Blair Nothdurft, Derrick Stewart.

Second consolation: Brandon Sheppard, Kyle Bronson, Brenden Smith, Clay Harris, Tristan Chamberlain, Dan Ebert, Jason Riggs, Seth Zacharias, Chad Mahder, Cory Lawler, Tyler Wyant.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Brandon Overton, Hudson O'Neal, Tyler Erb, Dillon McCowan, Spencer Hughes, Jack Riggs, Blair Nothdurft, Freddie Carpenter, Matt Tifft, Michael Leach.

Second heat: Carson Ferguson, Jonathan Davenport, Daulton Wilson, Jimmy Owens, Mark Whitener, Ross Robinson, Dennis Erb Jr., Derrick Stewart.

Third heat: Devin Moran, Tim McCreadie, Drake Troutman, Carson Brown, Brandon Sheppard, Kyle Bronson, Clay Harris, Dan Ebert, Seth Zacharias, Tyler Wyant.

Fourth heat: Brian Shirley, Max Blair, Wil Herrington, Garrett Alberson, Brenden Smith, Tristan Chamberlain, Jason Riggs, Cory Lawler, Chad Mahder.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown

Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 14.419
Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 14.576
Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, 14.617
Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 14.626
Michael Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 14.664
Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 14.674
Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 14.711
Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 14.711
Dillon McCowan (8), Urbana, Mo., 14.734
Ross Robinson (7), Georgetown, Del., 14.797
Blair Nothdurft (76), Renner, S.D., 14.798
Mark Whitener (5), Middleburg, Fla., 14.802
Jack Riggs (81J), Nolensville, Tenn., 14.846
Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga., 14.869
Spencer Hughes (19m), Meridian, Miss., 14.907
Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 14.931
Freddie Carpenter (c4), Parkersburg, W.Va., 15.040
Derrick Stewart (43), Ainsworth, Iowa, 15.274
Matt Tifft (57), Cleveland, Ohio, 15.761

Group B

Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 14.361
Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 14.374
Drake Troutman (22*), Hyndman, Pa., 14.438
Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 14.467
Tim McCreadie (9), Watertown, N.Y., 14.481
Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 14.490
Carson Brown (28), New London, N.C., 14.511
Wil Herrington (15k), Hawkinsville, Ga., 14.550
Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 14.559
Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 14.568
Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 14.577
Tristan Chamberlain (20tc), Richmond, Ind., 14.703
Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 14.719
Jason Riggs (81r), College Grove, Tenn., 14.754
Dan Ebert (60), Lake Shore, Minn., 14.755
Cory Lawler (93), Hanover, Pa., 14.951
Seth Zacharias (177), Vestal, N.Y., 15.162
Chad Mahder (55c), Bloomer, Wis., 15.360
Tyler Wyant (24), Oil City, Pa., 15.908

Tuesday’s schedule

(All times local)
2 p.m. - Pits open
2:30 p.m. - Registration and tech opens
5 p.m. - Grandstands open
5:15 p.m. - Registration and tech closes
5:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Modlite group qualifying
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Modlite heats (8 laps)
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Late Model feature (30 laps)
- Modlite feature (20 laps)