Feger Pulls Away for Win
Shane Clanton to lead field into the green flag for Saturday’s 100-lap finale
NEW RICHMOND, Wisc. – August 5, 2016 – Jason Feger ran away with the FANSFund Dash Friday night at Cedar Lake Speedway. Feger started the day from qualifying toward the back of the pack to placing third in his heat. He heated up as the night went on, capitalizing when it mattered the most to win the $2,500 purse.
Feger led the 12-driver field into the green flag for the 12-lap shootout. Rookie of the Year contender Tyler Erb was to start 13th in the show, but mechanical issues prevented him from competing. Once the green flag waved the field in, the “High-side Hustler” did what he does best, rising to the top of the track with his No. 25F Cheap Cars/ Floyd’s Waste Systems Black Diamond racecar.
“It’s the fastest track we’ve been on all weekend,” said Feger, who took advantage of the track preparation before the race. “We were able to get to the top of the track there on the cushion, and it was pretty easy to run on. I just held it on the floor for 12 laps and made sure I didn’t jump over the berm.”
Feger began to pull away within the first couple laps, extending his gap between the field by one-half of a second with each lap; he led by a 1.174-second margin with 10 laps remaining. Meanwhile, full-time World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series driver Brian Shirley began his pursuit toward the top. Shirley’s No. 3s Bob Cullen Racing/ Arnie Ranta Motorsports Longhorn machine challenged Tyler Bruening for the second spot early-on.
With seven laps remaining, Shirley succeeded. In turn three, Shirley plummeted under Bruening’s No. 16b Bruening Rock Products/ Minnowa Construction Capital car. Bruening had nothing for Shirley at this point, forfeiting the spot.
“Listen, we just threw some stuff out there,” said Shirley, his sights set on the finale. “That’s all we did was use it as a test session. Hopefully we get the hot laptomorrow and be better than what we were tonight.”
From there, the top three was smooth-sailing. Feger ultimately won the show by a 4.435-secnd margin, dominating the field. Shirley finished second, while Bruening rounded-out the podium.
“We got the car a lot better there,” said Bruening, who said his car has struggled so far in the weekend. “I wouldn’t say I was sleeping on that start. It was just one of those deals where [Shirley] got a good start on me. Once the race got started, our car got better and better. We hit the holes in turn one and two there and got the skid-plate up there into the steering arm, and that’s how Shirley got by me. We were running him back down. I just wish it was 100 laps.”
Shane Clanton will start Saturday’s 100-lap USA Nationals finale in the lead position. Clanton, who drew the top spot before the six-lap Pole Dash, led the six-car group into every lap. Those who advanced to the Pole Dash were the night’s heat winners. One notable heat winner was Eric Wells, who recorded his first fast time since his rookie year in 2013.
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The World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Bad Boy Off Road (Official Side-by-Side Vehicle), Craftsman (Official Tool), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), Morton Buildings (Official Building), Sears (Official Home Store), The Kenny Wallace Dirt Racing Experience (Official Racing Experience, VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel) and DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award); in addition to contingency sponsors, including: Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, MSD, Penske Shocks, QA1, QuarterMaster, Superflow Dynos and Wrisco Aluminum; along with manufacturer sponsors, including: Capital Race Cars, Integra Shocks, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, Rocket Chassis and TNT Rescue.
Sources: Brendan Capria/World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series PR