BARBERVILLE, Fla. — One night after a Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals win slipped away from Alex Yankowski, the 20-year-old didn’t have to wait long for his next opportunity.
The Covington Township, Pa., driver held off a late charge from Erick Rudolph Thursday night to score his third career Super DIRTcar Series win and first at Volusia Speedway Park.
“I’m really proud of the boys and how hard they worked here,” Yankowski said. “You never know when you’re going to win another race, ever win a gator, or something like that. It felt good after being a little bit bummed out last night. I felt we should’ve contended for the win, and it kind of makes up for it a little bit.”
Peter Britten led the field to the green in the 30-lap feature. But Yankowski, who started second, didn’t wait long to take the lead away, thundering around the No. 21a when they exited Turn 2.
As “Kid Rocket” pulled away from the field, Rudolph followed the No. 84y, driving by Britten for the runner-up spot on Lap 9.
Rudolph got his first opportunity to battle Yankowski after back-to-back cautions came out on Lap 10, the first for Chris Curtis and another for a multi-car wreck involving Will Thomas, Corbin Millar, Felix Roy, Jack Lehner and Matt Caprara.
When the race resumed, Rudolph chased Yankowski until Lap 15, when he charged through Turns 3 and 4 and pulled even with Yankowski’s right-rear quarter panel. However, that’s as close as he got to the lead until the final five laps.
As Yankowski entered Turns 3 and 4 on Lap 29, he almost jumped the cushion, allowing Rudolph to close in on him as they took the white flag.
Rudolph made one last charge through Turns 1 and 2 but didn’t have enough momentum to pass Yankowski down the backstretch.
From there, Yankowski aced Turns 3 and 4 to take the checkered flag and earn the $5,000 victory.
“It got tough there the last few laps,” Yankowski said. “Rudolph’s good when you get him in clean air. He’s digging. He’s a really hard guy to beat. That’s a guy I watched racing growing up, and I always thought he was one of the best, and he is one of the best.
“To be able to race with him and edge him out, that’s super cool.”
Rudolph settled for second, matching his best DIRTcar Nationals finish.
“We were really good on starts, but it really seemed like it took off after several laps,” Rudolph said. “That’s when I started closing in on Britten early and Yankowski.
“We got a top three here again at Volusia. We’ve been in the second and third spot a lot of times here. Still looking forward to a win, but that day will come, I’m sure.”
Defending Super DIRTcar Series champion Mat Williamson finished third after battling Larry Wight for the final 10 laps.
When the two drivers completed Lap 23, Williamson pulled a slide job on Wight entering Turns 1 and 2. However, Wight crossed him over to take the position back.
Williamson tried the same move in Turns 3 and 4, clearing the No. 99L as they exited the corner for the final podium spot.
“It was a lot of fun racing and slide jobbing each other there,” Williamson said. “On that last caution, I was third, and he was fourth, and the outside was the place to be with Alex up there.
“It’s cool to end up on the front straightaway even though it’s not a win. I can’t thank my guys enough.”
Wight finished fourth, and Britten rounded out the top five.
The finish:
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 84Y-Alex Yankowski[2]; 2. 25-Erick Rudolph[3]; 3. 88-Mat Williamson[6]; 4. 99L-Larry Wight[8]; 5. 21A-Peter Britten[1]; 6. 3-Justin Haers[5]; 7. 70A-Alex Payne[7]; 8. 12-Darren Smith[14]; 9. 9S-Matt Sheppard[9]; 10. 15X-Justin Stone[10]; 11. 4-Anthony Perrego[16]; 12. 1-Billy Pauch Jr[12]; 13. 98H-Jimmy Phelps[11]; 14. 30-HJ Bunting[26]; 15. 83X-Tim Sears Jr[15]; 16. 5H-Amy Holland[22]; 17. 20-Rick Laubach[23]; 18. 2-Jack Lehner[18]; 19. 8-Rich Scagliotta[17]; 20. 7Z-Zach Payne[20]; 21. (DNF) 11C-Matt Caprara[25]; 22. (DNF) 9-Will Thomas[4]; 23. (DNF) 58-Louden Reimert[13]; 24. (DNF) 66-Corbin Millar[19]; 25. (DNF) 35C-Chris Curtis[21]; 26. (DNF) 91-Felix Roy[24]
