Dirt on Dirt - Dash win puts Alberson on USA Nationals pole

August 1

Cedar Lake Speedway,

New Richmond, WI

Sanction: World of Outlaws Real American Late Model Series (USA Nationals) - $100,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated August 2, 3:11 am)

Dash win puts Alberson on USA Nationals pole

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Garrett Alberson will roll from the pole for Saturday's 100-lap feature.

Key notes: Garrett Alberson and Jake Timm tangled halfway through Friday's six-lap dash, the resulting contact sending Timm spinning and nosing hard into the frontstretch wall near the flagstand. Timm's car slid to a stop near turn one and required a tow back to the pits; he was OK and will start sixth provided he doesn't resort to a backup car. ... Alberson held on to beat Ryan Gustin by 1.195 seconds in the dash, earning the pole starting spot for Saturday's 100-lap, $100,000-to-win 38th annual USA Nationals. ... Sixth-starting Devin Moran charged to lead the final six laps of Friday's 12-lap Fans Fund dash, winning $2,500 by 2.086 seconds over early leader Gordy Gundaker. Moran is guaranteed a starting spot in Saturday's feature if he cannot transfer through a consolation. ... Ricky Thornton Jr. rebounded to finish fourth in his heat race after losing an engine in time trials. ... Derrick Stewart had his qualifying time disallowed after missing the scales. ... The three-day event began when Tim McCreadie survived a late-race scrape with Hudson O’Neal and held on to win Thursday’s $10,000 weekend opener. ... Bobby Pierce chases his third consecutive USA Nationals triumph after back-to-back event victories worth more than $100,000 combined. Pierce also earned a $6,000 prelim victory each of the last two years. ... Off-track entertainment includes Apple River tubing (Friday and Saturday) and a driver autograph session (4:30 p.m. Saturday). … Cedar Lake's Late Models ($2,500-to-win) are on the undercard. ... Pits open at 2 p.m. and grandstands open at 4, with hot laps at 6:30. ... Watch live on DIRTVision.

Who to watch: Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., eyes his third straight USA Nationals victory at Cedar Lake.

Points chase: Before Cedar Lake Friday: 1. Bobby Pierce (3,950); 2. Nick Hoffman (3,862); 3. Ryan Gustin (3,802); 4. Tim McCreadie (3,700); 5. Drake Troutman (3,670); 6. Dennis Erb Jr. (3,662); 7. Brian Shirley (3,602); 8. Tanner English (3,562); 9. Cody Overton (3,516); 10. Ethan Dotson (3,510).

Car count: 52

Fast qualifier: Tyler Bruening

Time: 13.644 seconds

Polesitter: Garrett Alberson

Dash winner: Garrett Alberson

Heat race winners: Tyler Bruening, Jonathan Davenport, Chris Madden, Ryan Gustin, Garrett Alberson, Jake Timm

Next series race: August 13, Highland Speedway (Highland, IL) $12,000

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

From staff reports

NEW RICHMOND, Wis. — Updates from the 38th annual USA Nationals, featuring time trials and heat races on Friday night before Saturday’s 100-lap, $100,000-to-win feature for the World of Outlaws Real American Late Model-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature lineup

(100 laps)

Row 1: Garrett Alberson, Ryan Gustin
Row 2: Chris Madden, Jonathan Davenport
Row 3: Tyler Bruening, Jake Timm
Row 4: Tanner English, Brandon Sheppard
Row 5: Dustin Sorensen, Tim McCreadie
Row 6: Brent Larson, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 7: Jason Feger, Brandon Overton
Row 8: Hudson O'Neal, Mike Marlar
Row 9: Bobby Pierce, Cody Overton
Row 10: Consolation transfers
Row 11: Consolation transfers
Row 12: Consolation transfers
Row 13: Provisional starters
Row 14: Provisional starters

Consolation race lineups

(12 laps; top two transfer)

First consolation
Row 1: Dan Ebert, Kyle Bronson
Row 2: Cade Dillard, Devin Moran
Row 3: Max Blair, Nick Hoffman
Row 4: Brian Shirley, Boom Briggs
Row 5: Dillon McCowan, Drake Troutman
Row 6: Aaron Marrant, Jake O'Neil
Row 7: Chub Frank, Jordan Yaggy
Row 8: Justin Green, Thomas Hunziker
Row 9: Derrick Stewart
Second consolation
Row 1: Gordy Gunaker, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 2: Dylan Thornton, Trevor Gundaker
Row 3: Chase Junghans, Daniel Adam
Row 4: A.J. Diemel, Tyler Erb
Row 5: Matthew Larson, Lance Matthees
Row 6: Tristan Chamberlain, Mitch McGrath
Row 7: Tim Isenberg, Ethan Dotson
Row 8: Sammy Mars, Joel Collins
Row 9: Billy Moyer

Dash results

(Six laps; sets first three rows of 100-lapper)

Finish: Garrett Alberson, Ryan Gustin, Chris Madden, Jonathan Davenport, Tyler Bruening, Jake Timm.

Heat race recap

Tyler Bruening commanded all 10 laps from the pole to win the first heat race by 2.035 seconds over Tanner English, with fourth-starting Jason Feger grabbing the third and final transfer spot into Saturday night’s 38th annual USA Nationals main event. Second-starting Devin Moran was called for jumping the race’s opening start and docked a starting row; he briefly held the fourth spot before slipping to sixth and rebounded to fifth on the final lap. … Polesitter Jonathan Davenport dominated the second heat, leading the entire way and finishing 2.348 seconds ahead of Dustin Sorensen, who trailed him all 10 laps. Eighth-starting Hudson O’Neal charged to battle Kyle Bronson for third, claiming the final transfer position into Saturday's 100-lap feature and relegating Bronson to fourth. … Second-starting Chris Madden slid by Cade Dillard and led the final four laps to win the third heat by 1.038 seconds over seventh-starting Brent Larson, who moved from fourth-to-second on the final lap. Bobby Pierce battled Dillard in the final stages, pushing Dillard high as they raced towards the checkered flag and beating him by 0.211 of a second to claim the final transfer; Dillard settled for fourth after leading the opening six laps from the pole. … Ryan Gustin held off a mid-race charge from Brandon Sheppard and beat him by 1.478 seconds to win the fourth heat. Brandon Overton rounded out the top-three finishers, as Gordy Gundaker outran his brother, Trevor Gundaker to finish fourth; both Gundakers will need to qualify through one of Saturday’s consolation races. … Garrett Alberson cruised to win the fifth heat race, leading all 10 laps from the pole and taking the checkers 0.849 of a second ahead of fourth-starting Tim McCreadie, who officially pursued Alberson the entire distance. Mike Marlar started and finished third, narrowly holding off ninth-starting Ricky Thornton Jr., who settled for fourth aboard his backup car after losing an engine in time trials. Thornton will need to transfer through one of Saturday’s consolations. … Jake Timm held off Dennis Erb Jr. to win the sixth and final heat, crossing the line 0.387 of a second ahead of Erb, who led the third lap before settling for second. Second-starting Cody Overton slipped as low as fourth on lap six before rebounding to finish third. … All six prelims combined to last just shy of 15 minutes.

Heat race results

(10 laps; top three transfer)

First heat: Tyler Bruening, Tanner English, Jason Feger, Dan Ebert, Devin Moran, Brian Shirley, Drake Troutman, Chub Frank, Thomas Hunziker.

Second heat: Jonathan Davenport, Dustin Sorensen, Hudson O'Neal, Kyle Bronson, Max Blair, Boom Briggs, Aaron Marrant, Jordan Yaggy, Derrick Stewart.

Third heat: Chris Madden, Brent Larson, Bobby Pierce, Cade Dillard, Nick Hoffman, Dillon McCowan, Jake O'Neil, Justin Green.

Fourth heat: Ryan Gustin, Brandon Sheppard, Brandon Overton, Gordy Gundaker, Trevor Gundaker, A.J. Diemel, Lance Matthees, Tim Isenberg, Joel Collins.

Fifth heat: Garrett Alberson, Tim McCreadie, Mike Marlar, Ricky Thornton Jr., Chase Junghans, Tyler Erb, Tristan Chamberlain, Ethan Dotson, Billy Moyer.

Sixth heat: Jake Timm, Dennis Erb Jr., Cody Overton, Dylan Thornton, Daniel Adam, Matthew Larson, Mitch McGrath, Sammy Mars.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 13.644
2. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 13.805
3. Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La., 13.932
4. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 13.965
5. Dustin Sorensen (19), Rochester, Minn., 13.973
6. Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 14.019
7. Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 14.107
8. Aaron Marrant (1x), Richmond, Mo., 14.166
9. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 14.167
10. Jason Feger (25F), Bloomington, Ill., 14.202
11. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 14.215
12. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 14.217
13. Dan Ebert (60), Lake Shore, Minn., 14.249
14. Boom Briggs (99B), Bear Lake, Pa., 14.263
15. Dillon McCowan (75m), Urbana, Mo., 14.267
16. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 14.331
17. Jordan Yaggy (77), Rochester, Minn., 14.340
18. Jake O’Neil (0), Tucson, Ariz., 14.387
19. Drake Troutman (22*), Hyndman, Pa., 14.395
20. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 14.444
21. Brent Larson (B1), Lake Elmo, Minn., 14.469
22. Chub Frank (1*), Bear Lake, Pa., 14.513
23. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 14.707
24. Justin Green (19J), Sheboygan Falls, Wis., 15.185
25. Thomas Hunziker (38), Bend, Ore., 15.576
26. Derrick Stewart (43), Ainsworth, Iowa, disqualified
Group B
1. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 14.234
2. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 14.264
3. Jake Timm (49), Winona, Minn., 14.295
4. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 14.326
5. Tristan Chamberlain (20tc), Richmond, Ind., 14.327
6. Cody Overton (2), Evans, Ga., 14.331
7. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 14.386
8. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 14.396
9. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 14.399
10. Gordy Gundaker (11), St. Charles, Mo., 14.433
11. Tim McCreadie (9), Watertown, N.Y., 14.467
12. Dylan Thornton (38T), Orcutt, Calif., 14.496
13. Trevor Gundaker (11G), St. Charles, Mo., 14.528
14. Tyler Erb (1T), New Waverly, Texas, 14.543
15. Daniel Adam (75), Peru, Ill., 14.585
16. Tim Isenberg (9T), Marshfield, Wis., 14.610
17. Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 14.641
18. Sammy Mars (28m), Menomonie, Wis., 14.658
19. A.J. Diemel (10c), Elk Mound, Wis., 14.661
20. Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 14.691
21. Matthew Larson (8), Lake Elmo, Minn., 14.745
22. Lance Matthees (90), Winona, Minn., 14.813
23. Billy Moyer (21), Batesville, Ark., 14.890
24. Mitch McGrath (74), Waukesha, Wis., 14.892
25. Joel Collins (21x), Princeton, Minn., 15.570
26. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., no time

Saturday’s schedule

(All times local)
8:30 a.m. - Breakfast served in both restaurants
11 a.m. - Apple River tubing
12:30 p.m. - FansFund luncheon
2 p.m. - Pits open
4 p.m. - Grandstands open
4:30 p.m. - Drivers’ autograph session (vendor area)
6:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Limited Late Model hot laps
- Super Late Model hot laps (consolation entrants)
Opening ceremonies
- Limited Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Super Late Model consolations (12 laps)
- Super Late Model hot laps (feature locked-in entrants)
- Limited Late Model consolation (12 laps)
- Super Late Model last chance (15 laps)
- Limited Late Model feature (30 laps)
Track prep/driver introductions
- 38th annual USA Nationals (100 laps)

Friday’s schedule

8:30 a.m. - Breakfast served in both restaurants
11 a.m. - Apple River tubing
2 p.m. - Pits open
4 p.m. - Grandstands open
6:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Limited Late Model hot laps
- Super Late Model hot laps
- Super Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Limited Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Super Late Model heats (10 laps)
- Limited Late Model consolation (10 laps)
Intermission/fireworks show
- Super Late Model dash (6 laps)
- Limited Late Model feature (25 laps)
- Super Late Models Fans Fund dash (12 laps)
Postrace party in the Cedar Lake Arena