Clanton Gets Close Win Over Bloomquist at 2016 DIRTcar Nationals Finale
Brett Hearn has improbably come from behind win in the Super DIRTcar Series as Sheppard and Richards take home the ‘Big Gators’
BARBERVILLE, Fla. – Feb. 20, 2016 – It was a close call but Shane Clanton scored his second World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series victory of the 2016 season on Saturday night during the DIRTcar Nationals finale at Volusia Speedway Park.

It was the winner of the previous two nights, Josh Richards, who was the class of the field early, leading 45 laps of the 50 lap feature. Clanton charged through the field as Jonathan Davenport tried to get around Richards. As the feature reached its mid-point Davenport began to fade as Clanton and Scott Bloomquist hit their stride. Clanton took over second on lap 34 and ten laps later battled past Richards in lapped traffic for the lead.

As the feature drew to a close, Bloomquist found a way around Richards and in the final turn of the final lap, Bloomquist drag-raced Clanton to the finish. It was Clanton by a fender.

“It’s a testament to our work,” Clanton said. “We just put our heads down and worked as hard as we could to get where we’re at.”

“On the outside with the lapped cars I didn’t know if I could clear them and get to the bottom or run where I’ve been running. I didn’t know Scott was that close to me – I almost celebrated too early. But man, it feels good to outrun Scott and Josh. They’ve been the cars to beat this week and to beat the both of them feels pretty special.”

After a stellar DIRTcar Nationals that saw him pick up three wins, Richards won the Late Model Week title and the coveted ‘Big Gator’ trophy.

“It’s cool – this is our second one,” Richards said of the ‘Big Gator.’ “It’s pretty cool to have another one in our collection. We’ve had a great Speed Weeks. We’ve been in contention – it’s been a lot of fun.”

In the Super DIRTcar Series finale at DIRTcar Nationals, Stewart Friesen led early and worked to hold off a Matt Sheppard through Saturday night’s 50-lap feature but it was Brett Hearn who scored the come from behind win.

Hearn had trouble early in the night and after advancing through the Last Chance Showdown started the feature in 21st. The New Jersey-native made quick work of the field, dispatching a car per lap as he entered the top-five by the midway point in the feature.

On lap 34 Hearn muscled the lead away from Friesen and cruised to his first series victory of the season.

“We got a huge favor tonight that we didn’t really expect in that we had to run the consi,” Hear said. “We got some laps out there after the track dried out. After we ran the consi we made some really great decisions. Hats off to my crew. We really struggled this week. We changed everything we could think of including stuff today, unbelievable stuff. These guys were up early working their butts off and so this is meaningful for all the guys that came down with me this year. We persevered.”

Sheppard, the reigning series champion who finished the night in third, scored the Big-Block Week championship and took home the coveted ‘Big Gator’ trophy.

“We had an awesome race car all week,” Sheppard said. “We had another good car tonight. Brett snookered us on tires a little bit. We were really coming on Stewie there at the end. I couldn’t be prouder of all those guys standing over there that stepped up to help out. To come down here out of the box to have a first, second, third and a fifth is pretty good, pretty consistent. Hopefully we can keep it going all season.”