Ryan Gustin - The Reaper

Gustin becomes second first-time Lucas Oil winner at East Bay

For the second night in a row, a new winner emerged with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series as Ryan Gustin picked up his first career series victory. The 32-year-old Iowa native scored the win in the 47th Annual Wieland Winternationals - presented by Lucas Oil at East Bay Raceway Park.

Gustin’s win followed that of Ashton Winger’s on Tuesday night as first-time victors with the series. Tyler Erb, who won Monday night’s race finished in second followed by Kyle Bronson. Brandon Sheppard was fourth with Jonathan Davenport rounding out the top five drivers.

Gustin grabbed the lead at the start of the 40-lap A-Main with Bronson and Tyler Erb in tow. After a lap six restart, Gustin still held the point with Erb and Bronson keeping him within their sights. Erb yielded the second spot to Bronson on the eighth lap as Gustin was starting to pull away. A timely caution flew on lap 15 as Gustin was about to pick up the tail end of the field.

On the restart Gustin still led Bronson and Erb at the halfway mark of the race as another caution came out with 21 laps scored. The restart would see Bronson slide underneath Gustin for the lead but exiting turn two on the 23rd lap Gustin powered back around Bronson on the outside to regain the top spot.

The trio of drivers then caught traffic as Erb would gain the second spot on lap 36. The final caution with two laps to go allowed both Erb and Bronson to have one last shot at Gustin, but he held his line to pick-up his first ever Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory.

Gustin’s win makes him the 88th different winner in Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series history and the seventh different winner in nine races thus far in 2023.

“This is awesome. Once Kyle [Bronson] got underneath me there man I thought I just messed this up. Luckily, we had a good enough car under us to roll through the middle and got back by him. We got to the lapped cars and I felt like it started to cleanup and those cars were dirtying it up so I had to get back down to the bottom.”

“I just wanted to win this for my guys they have been working their tails off,” Gustin added. The only reason we are standing here tonight is because of them. Our car is really, really good when you can roll the middle like that just like that B-Main the other night everybody was circling around the bottom and we were just able to move out and run through there better. I think we have a team that can contend every night. We’ve got a great race car, a great owner, and a great crew chief. I am just the lucky one who gets to drive it. I love East Bay.”

Erb who finished second 1.330 seconds behind Gustin at the finish had one last shot at the end as a caution flag set up a green-white-checkered finish.

“He [Gustin] was pretty good. He got me on the start. I just stayed out there on the top of three and four for a long time trying to make something happen. It was fun. We qualified good and everybody’s working hard so we needed to be a little bit better to beat Ryan there. If we would have stayed in traffic I might have had a better chance at him. It was awesome and another good run for us and now must get ready for tomorrow.”

Bronson, who led one lap during the race came home in third for his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series podium finish of the season.

“Our car has been good here. The first day we kind of missed it on the feature set-up and last night I felt like we had a winning car and tonight we passed for the lead. It kind of streaked up through the middle there and he [Gustin] got back by me.”

The winner’s David Steine/Tri-Star Promotions-owned Rocket Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Mahle Pistons, Tri-Star Engines & Transmissions, Penske Racing Shocks and VP Fuels. Learn more at RyanGustin.com.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
47th Annual Wieland Winternationals presented by Lucas Oil
East Bay Raceway Park, Tampa, Florida
Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver and hometown.

QUALIFYING - GROUP A:
1. (18) 83 Jensen Ford, Johnson City, Tenn., 15.001 seconds
2. (33) B5 Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill., 15.042
3. (6) 49 Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga., 15.058
4. (17) 19R Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, 15.141
5. (30) 40B Kyle Bronson, Brandon, Fla., 15.163
6. (32) 99 Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio, 15.204
7. (11) 58 Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M., 15.235
8. (1) 20 Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn., 15.236
9. (13) 12 Ashton Winger, Senoia, Ga., 15.257
10. (10) 79 Ross Bailes, Clover, S.C., 15.260
11. (28) 89M Mike Spatola, Manhattan, Ill., 15.266
12. (5) 11 Spencer Hughes, Meridian, Miss., 15.272
13. (4) 46 Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville, Fla., 15.287
14. (25) 19M Wil Herrington, Hawkinsville, Ga., 15.317
15. (20) 39 Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y., 15.322
16. (27) 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan., 15.335
17. (8) 2X John Henderson, North Augusta, S.C., 15.364
18. (23) 21M Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville, Ark., 15.408
19. (24) 17SS Brenden Smith, Dade City, Fla., 15.446
20. (14) C4 Freddie Carpenter, Parkersburg, W. Va., 15.460
21. (9) 18D Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, N.C., 15.465
22. (31) 1C Kenny Collins, Colbert, Ga., 15.471
23. (12) S21 Seth Daniels, Jackson, Ohio, 15.473
24. (3) 22* Payton Freeman, Commerce, Ga., 15.494
25. (16) 12D Doug Drown, Wooster, Ohio, 15.500
26. (15) 31 Tyler Millwood, Kingston, Ga., 15.651
27. (7) 29 Larry Grube, Mauldin, S.C., 15.701
28. (2) 81 Jason Riggs, College Grove, Tenn., 15.762
29. (19) 47W Tyler Riggs, New Matamoras, Ohio, 15.809
30. (22) 5S Steve Sheppard Jr., New Berlin, Ill., 15.851
31. (29) 20B Todd Brennan, Zanesville, Ohio, 16.020
32. (21) 14W Dustin Walker, Polk, Mo., 16.056
33. (26) 3B Billy Boyd Sr., Riverview, Fla., 16.056

QUALIFYING - GROUP B:
1. (7) 76B Blair Nothdurft, Renner, S.D., 15.204 seconds
2. (28) 10 Garrett Smith, Eatonton, Ga., 15.206
3. (3) 76 Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga., 15.216
4. (12) 1T Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas, 15.224
5. (9) 7 Ross Robinson, Georgetown, Del., 15.332
6. (1) 89 Logan Roberson, Waynesboro, Va., 15.366
7. (15) 99B Boom Briggs, Bear Lake, Pa., 15.377
8. (13) 3S Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill., 15.388
9. (31) 86 Kyle Beard, Trumann, Ark., 15.419
10. (25) 96V Tanner English, Benton, Ky., 15.420
11. (4) 16 Tyler Bruening, Decorah, Iowa, 15.426
12. (19) 212 Josh Putnam, Florence, Ala., 15.430
13. (16) 111B Max Blair, Centerville, Pa., 15.436
14. (18) 2S Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., 15.450
15. (10) 91 Rusty Schlenk, McClure, Ohio, 15.461
16. (24) 25Z Mason Zeigler, Chalk Hill, Pa., 15.487
17. (32) 1H Hudson O'Neal, Martinsville, Ind., 15.501
18. (14) 25B Mike Benedum, Salem, W. Va., 15.519
19. (26) 28 Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill., 15.561
20. (21) 20RT Ricky Thornton Jr., Martinsville, Ind., 15.574
21. (5) 89J Mark Whitener, Middleburg, Fla., 15.604
22. (27) D8 Dustin Mitchell, Pine Level, N.C., 15.609
23. (11) 55 Benji Hicks, Mount Airy, N.C., 15.621
25. (20) 66JR Eddie Carrier Jr., Fairmont, W. Va., 15.716
26. (23) 75 Daniel Adam, Wade , N.C., 15.779
27. (2) 4S Danny Snyder, Green Lane, Pa., 15.799
28. (22) 21K Kenneth Howell, Inez, Ky., 15.848
29. (29) 187 David McCoy, Franklin, N.C., 15.874
30. (30) 81J Jack Riggs, Nolensville, Tenn., 16.098
31. (6) 1Z Logan Zarin, Moon Township, Pa., 16.141
32. (17) 5T John Tweed, Greeneville, Tenn., no time

HEAT #1:
1. (2) 19R Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
2. (4) 79 Ross Bailes, Clover, S.C.
3. (5) 46 Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.
4. (3) 58 Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (1) 83 Jensen Ford, Johnson City, Tenn.
6. (6) 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
7. (8) 1C Kenny Collins, Colbert, Ga.
8. (10) 81 Jason Riggs, College Grove, Tenn.
9. (11) 20B Todd Brennan, Zanesville, Ohio
10. (7) 17SS Brenden Smith, Dade City, Fla.
11. (9) 12D Doug Drown, Wooster, Ohio

HEAT #2:
1. (2) 40B Kyle Bronson, Brandon, Fla.
2. (1) B5 Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
3. (3) 20 Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
4. (5) 19M Wil Herrington, Hawkinsville, Ga.
5. (7) C4 Freddie Carpenter, Parkersburg, W. Va.
6. (9) 31 Tyler Millwood, Kingston, Ga.
7. (4) 89M Mike Spatola, Manhattan, Ill.
8. (8) S21 Seth Daniels, Jackson, Ohio
9. (10) 47W Tyler Riggs, New Matamoras, Ohio
10. (6) 2X John Henderson, North Augusta, S.C.
11. (11) 14W Dustin Walker, Polk, Mo.

HEAT #3:
1. (1) 49 Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
2. (2) 99 Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
3. (4) 11 Spencer Hughes, Meridian, Miss.
4. (3) 12 Ashton Winger, Senoia, Ga.
5. (5) 39 Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
6. (7) 18D Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, N.C.
7. (6) 21M Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville, Ark.
8. (9) 5S Steve Sheppard Jr., New Berlin, Ill.
9. (8) 29 Larry Grube, Mauldin, S.C.
10. (10) 3B Billy Boyd Sr., Riverview, Fla.
DNS – 22* Payton Freeman, Commerce, Ga.

HEAT #4:
1. (2) 1T Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
2. (4) 96V Tanner English, Benton, Ky.
3. (1) 76B Blair Nothdurft, Renner, S.D.
4. (3) 99B Boom Briggs, Bear Lake, Pa.
5. (5) 111B Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
6. (7) 28 Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
7. (6) 25Z Mason Zeigler, Chalk Hill, Pa.
8. (10) 21K Kenneth Howell, Inez, Ky.
9. (8) D8 Dustin Mitchell, Pine Level, N.C.
10. (9) 66JR Eddie Carrier Jr., Fairmont, W. Va.
DNS – 1Z Logan Zarin, Moon Township, Pa.

HEAT #5:
1. (1) 10 Garrett Smith, Eatonton, Ga.
2. (3) 3S Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
3. (7) 20RT Ricky Thornton Jr., Martinsville, Ind.
4. (4) 16 Tyler Bruening, Decorah, Iowa
5. (5) 2S Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (8) 55 Benji Hicks, Mount Airy, N.C.
7. (2) 7 Ross Robinson, Georgetown, Del.
8. (10) 187 David McCoy, Franklin, N.C.
9. (9) 75 Daniel Adam, Wade , N.C.
10. (6) 1H Hudson O'Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
DNS – 5T John Tweed, Greeneville, Tenn.

HEAT #6:
1. (1) 76 Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
2. (2) 89 Logan Roberson, Waynesboro, Va.
3. (3) 86 Kyle Beard, Trumann, Ark.
4. (5) 91 Rusty Schlenk, McClure, Ohio
5. (4) 212 Josh Putnam, Florence, Ala.
6. (7) 89J Mark Whitener, Middleburg, Fla.
7. (8) 6 Blake Spencer, St. Augustine, Fla.
8. (10) 81J Jack Riggs, Nolensville, Tenn.
9. (6) 25B Mike Benedum, Salem, W. Va.
10. (9) 4S Danny Snyder, Green Lane, Pa.

B-MAIN #1:
1. (2) 19M Wil Herrington, Hawkinsville, Ga.
2. (1) 58 Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (9) 81 Jason Riggs, College Grove, Tenn.
4. (7) 1C Kenny Collins, Colbert, Ga.
5. (6) 31 Tyler Millwood, Kingston, Ga.
6. (10) S21 Seth Daniels, Jackson, Ohio
7. (8) 89M Mike Spatola, Manhattan, Ill.
8. (15) 14W Dustin Walker, Polk, Mo.
9. (13) 17SS Brenden Smith, Dade City, Fla.
10. (5) 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
11. (14) 12D Doug Drown, Wooster, Ohio
12. (11) 20B Todd Brennan, Zanesville, Ohio
13. (3) 83 Jensen Ford, Johnson City, Tenn.
14. (4) C4 Freddie Carpenter, Parkersburg, W. Va.
15. (12) 47W Tyler Riggs, New Matamoras, Ohio
DNS – 2X John Henderson, North Augusta, S.C.

B-MAIN #2:
1. (1) 12 Ashton Winger, Senoia, Ga.
2. (3) 39 Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
3. (2) 99B Boom Briggs, Bear Lake, Pa.
4. (4) 111B Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
5. (5) 18D Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, N.C.
6. (7) 21M Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville, Ark.
7. (9) 5S Steve Sheppard Jr., New Berlin, Ill.
8. (11) 29 Larry Grube, Mauldin, S.C.
9. (14) 66JR Eddie Carrier Jr., Fairmont, W. Va.
10. (10) 21K Kenneth Howell, Inez, Ky.
11. (6) 28 Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
12. (12) D8 Dustin Mitchell, Pine Level, N.C.
13. (13) 3B Billy Boyd Sr., Riverview, Fla.
14. (8) 25Z Mason Zeigler, Chalk Hill, Pa.
DNS – 22* Payton Freeman, Commerce, Ga.
DNS – 1Z Logan Zarin, Moon Township, Pa.

B-MAIN #3:
1. (1) 16 Tyler Bruening, Decorah, Iowa
2. (5) 55 Benji Hicks, Mount Airy, N.C.
3. (6) 89J Mark Whitener, Middleburg, Fla.
4. (3) 2S Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (2) 91 Rusty Schlenk, McClure, Ohio
6. (7) 7 Ross Robinson, Georgetown, Del.
7. (9) 187 David McCoy, Franklin, N.C.
8. (11) 75 Daniel Adam, Wade , N.C.
9. (8) 6 Blake Spencer, St. Augustine, Fla.
10. (13) 4S Danny Snyder, Green Lane, Pa.
11. (12) 25B Mike Benedum, Salem, W. Va.
12. (4) 212 Josh Putnam, Florence, Ala.
13. (10) 81J Jack Riggs, Nolensville, Tenn.
DNS – 1H Hudson O'Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
DNS – 5T John Tweed, Greeneville, Tenn.

A-MAIN:
1. (1) 19R Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
2. (2) 1T Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
3. (3) 40B Kyle Bronson, Brandon, Fla.
4. (9) B5 Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
5. (5) 49 Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
6. (6) 76 Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
7. (8) 96V Tanner English, Benton, Ky.
8. (17) 11 Spencer Hughes, Meridian, Miss.
9. (11) 99 Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
10. (13) 46 Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.
11. (23) 39 Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
12. (10) 3S Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
13. (4) 10 Garrett Smith, Eatonton, Ga.
14. (22) 58 Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
15. (26) 7 Ross Robinson, Georgetown, Del.
16. (15) 20 Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
17. (18) 86 Kyle Beard, Trumann, Ark.
18. (25) 89M Mike Spatola, Manhattan, Ill.
19. (21) 16 Tyler Bruening, Decorah, Iowa
20. (14) 76B Blair Nothdurft, Renner, S.D.
21. (19) 19M Wil Herrington, Hawkinsville, Ga.
22. (12) 89 Logan Roberson, Waynesboro, Va.
23. (16) 20RT Ricky Thornton Jr., Martinsville, Ind.
24. (20) 12 Ashton Winger, Senoia, Ga.
25. (7) 79 Ross Bailes, Clover, S.C.
26. (24) 55 Benji Hicks, Mount Airy, N.C.