| Austin Dillon, Stevie Smith Thrill Volusia With Late Passes |
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BARBERVILLE, Fla. — Feb. 5, 2009 — A couple of crowd favorites left the Volusia Speedway Park grandstands amazed Thursday during Round 3 of the 38th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH. Austin Dillon, the 18-year-old grandson of storied NASCAR car owner Richard Childress, and Stevie Smith, one of the all-time World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series legends, not only wowed the fans with their driving, but also earned spots in the Alltel All-Star competition.
Fans can vote via text message to 247253 and enter their favorite driver’s letter code, or by visiting AlltelAllStar.com and casting a ballot. Votes will be tallied daily until Feb. 28. The overall winner as determined by fan votes will receive the $10,000 grand prize, while the top vote-getter in the other three divisions will earn $1,000. Over 12 consecutive nights from Feb. 3 to Feb. 14, 410 Sprint Cars, UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, Dirt Late Models and Big-Block Modifieds will all compete.
Dillon was up first in the UMP DIRTcar Modified A-main, and is driving a car built partly by Jared Landers, the winner on the first two nights this week at Volusia. Dillon started 10th but charged forward quickly. To win the race, though, he had to find a way around NASCAR star and defending Alltel DIRTcar Nationals UMP Modified champion Kenny Schrader. With four laps to go, Dillon dove to the bottom in Turn 4 and made it stick, driving under Schrader and into the lead. Dillon then edged away for the popular victory.
“I think the fans should just vote for us because me and Jared have been sweeping them all week,” said Dillon, seeking fan support for a chance at the $10,000 top prize. “Just vote for one of our cars.”
Next up was the 30-lap Sprint Car main event. Smith started on the pole, but he needed a last lap move to earn a victory as he and Craig Dollansky swapped the lead five times. Just when it seemed that Dollansky was going to drive away, Smith suddenly closed the gap. Dollansky took the white flag in front for the final lap, but Smith used a huge run through Turns 1 and 2 to propel him to the lead heading into Turns 3 and 4 and at the checkered flag.
“The race was good,” said Smith, of Broken Arrow, Okla. “Craig showed me the track. I took one of his corners away and I kept the other corner for myself. I went in his groove where he was faster, and I was still faster in the other corner. My car has been handling really well, it gave me an opportunity to get back up there and race with him. … I’d love to win this $10,000. We won a race. I’d love to win another race and the $10,000. I don’t want to get greedy, but that’d be really nice.”
Through three nights of competition at the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH, the Alltel All-Star contenders and their text message Letter Codes (in parenthesis) include: Sprint Cars — Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. (b); Stevie Smith, Broken Arrow, Okla. (d). UMP DIRTcar Modifieds — Jared Landers, Batesville, Ark. (a); Austin Dillon, Lewisville, N.C. (c). For more information about Alltel, please visit www.alltel.com. To cast your vote online visit www.AlltelAllStar.com.
Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH Statistical Report — Night 3 All Star Circuit of Champions 30-lap A-main
Pos. / Car / Driver / Start 1. 1-Stevie Smith [1] 2. 19-Craig Dollansky [4] 3. 9-Joey Saldana [5] 4. 14-Jason Meyers [8] 5. 11-Steve Kinser [7] 6. 25-Daryn Pittman [11] 7. 22H-Greg Hodnett [9] 8. 89-Cody Darrah [12] 9. 8K-Chad Kemenah [22] 10. R19-Jac Haudenschild [17] 11. 1X-Randy Hannagan [23] 12. 6-Danny Lasoski [6] 13. 20-Kraig Kinser [3] 14. 14AJ-Wayne Johnson [14] 15. 83-Tim Shaffer [16] 16. 10-Sammy Swindell [19] 17. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [21] 18. 96-Bronson Maeschen [10] 19. 7M-Mark Smith [15] 20. W20-Greg Wilson [18] 21. 22TI-Brian Ellenberger [20] 22. 83JR-Tim Kaeding [24] 23. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr. [2] 24. 11E-Mike Erdley [13]
Lap Leaders: Stevie Smith 1-11, 13-21, 30; Craig Dollansky 12, 22-29. UMP DIRTcar
Modified 20-lap A-main Pos. Car Name
1. 3 Austin Dillon 2. 9X Kenny Schrader 3. 12HX Mike Hansen 4. *222 Mike Knight 5. 54L Benji Lacrosse 6. 777 Jared Landers 7. 51M Eddie Martin 8. 88 Chris Smith 9. 51 Rodney Wing 10. 45 Bob Broking 11. 4 Stormy Scott 12. 17X Rich Michael 13. 2d Ty Dillon 14. 7R Kent Robinson 15. 20 Jacob Hawkins 16. 10H Randy Hall 17. 18H Jon Henry 18. 10 Michael Long 19. T3 Dave Groves 20. 1G Devin Gilpin 21. 70 Matt Aber 22. 2X Grant Junghans 23. 36s Billy Smith 24. 44H Dave Hess Jr 25. 55H Scott Hansen 26. 17JE J.E. Stalder 27. 12H Jason Hughes 28. 1K Tim Karrick |