SARVER, Pa. — Drake Troutman and Devin Moran scored Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series preliminary feature wins on Friday night at Lernerville Speedway.
Troutman earned his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory in the first 25-lap race earning $5,000 for his win. Moran scored his third Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the year — also pocketing $5,000 for winning the second main event of the night.
Troutman outran Ross Robinson, Tim McCreadie, Garrett Alberson, and Gregg Satterlee for the win in the first feature.
Mason Zeigler and Troutman had a great battle for the top spot — trading the lead four times in the first nine laps of the race until Troutman was able to gain some breathing room over Zeigler at that point.
McCreadie moved to second on lap 12 as he and Robinson raced side-by-side for several laps until the final circuit when Robinson was able to edge out the two-time champion at the finish. Troutman’s winning margin was 0.443 seconds.
Troutman became the 91st different driver to win a series race.
“I don’t even know what to say to be honest with you,” said the 19-year-old from Hyndman, Pa. “I didn’t think we would get one of those for a while for sure. I don’t know what to say, I am speechless. I’ve just got a bunch of kids working for me,” as his voice trailed off.
“There was a pretty big cushion up there on the top side. We were just able to really race good there on the bottom. This Longhorn Chassis is really good. We’ve fought a lot of bad luck and just things happening, we are learning everyday on what not to do. We wanted to put on a good show for you fans so I guess we will see what we have for tomorrow night. This one’s for my dad for sure.”
Robinson, who ran fourth in the Show-Me 100 last month finished in the runner-up spot in the first preliminary feature after getting by McCreadie on the final lap.
“That’s cool for Drake. He’s a darn good kid and he’s a heck of a shoe so I mean he earned it. He gets it done at a place I am not that comfortable at I can’t run the top like he can. It’s really cool to be up here on the podium again.”
McCreadie continues to make strides with the Rocket1 team as he earned another podium finish.
“Congrats to him [Troutman]. He’s a really good kid. He races as hard as he can, and he really doesn’t get into anybody out here. It’s hard to race and not touch anybody. Like I said they are good people, and he did a great job tonight.”
Race No. 2
The second feature saw defending Lernerville track champion and current points leader Michael Norris bolt from his pole starting spot to take the lead.
Norris held the lead until he bumped the cushion in turn two which allowed Moran to take over the lead on lap six.
Norris then entered turn one at full speed and went over the turn one embankment after making contact with the outside wall to bring out the first caution of the race.
Moran then held a steady lead over the field as Thornton tried to chase him down. A caution with 16 laps scored allowed Thornton and Marlar to restart behind Moran. Moran pulled away in the final nine laps as Marlar got by Thornton on lap 20 to take second where he stayed in until the checkers fell. Hudson O’Neal and Jonathan Davenport rounded out the top five.
“I mean I knew it was hard [the racing surface]. I was kind of giggling about it, everybody else was freaking out about it,” Moran said. “We really didn’t do anything, didn’t change tires like everybody else did. It worked out in our favor. The guys did a good job.”
Marlar, who started eighth climbed to second at the finish in his Skyline Motorsports entry.
“We probably get to start out front in a heat race tomorrow night. If you can win or don’t win a heat race you are still pretty good in the feature so that’s a big help. I am really happy to be back up here on the podium tonight. I had a really good car tonight even though I started back there a ways.”
Thornton rounded out the podium.
“I had a good car I felt like we had the wrong tire there. They watered it and it looked like it would be a lot muddier than it was. Congrats to Devin, his stuff was pretty good. Hopefully it sets us up for a good starting spot in a heat race tomorrow.”
The finishes:
First Feature: Drake Troutman, Ross Robinson, Tim McCreadie, Garrett Alberson, Gregg Satterlee, Mason Zeigler, Jared Miley, Tyler Wyant, Jimmy Owens, Trevor Collins, Tyler Dietz, Dan Stone, Daulton Wilson, Cory Lawler, Breyton Santee, Clay Harris, Gary Lyle, Forrest Trent, Ryan Payne, Jamie Lathroum, Chad Green, Tony White, Joshua Powell, Bo Lockwood, Bump Hedman.
Second Feature: Devin Moran, Mike Marlar, Ricky Thornton Jr., Hudson O’Neal, Jonathan Davenport, Max Blair, Ken Schaltenbrand, Chub Frank, Carson Ferguson, Spencer Hughes, Colton Flinner, John Garvin Jr., Logan Zarin, Dan Angellcchio, Michael Duritsky Jr., Michael Norris, Brock, Pinkerous, Levi Yetter, Jon Lee, Boom Briggs, Brenden Smith, Kyle Lukon, Alex Ferree, Dennis Fenton.