Ashton Winger Captures Second Birthday Race Title at Oakshade
WAUSEON, OH (July 15, 2023) – Two visits to Oakshade Raceway for Ashton Winger, two Feature wins.
The 23-year-old from Senoia, GA, led the final 36 laps of the 25th annual Birthday Race Saturday night, bagging the $10,000 check, his sixth DIRTcar Summer Nationals Feature win of the season and 12th of his career – tying him with Brian Birkhofer for 15th on the all-time Hell Tour Feature wins list.
Winger was also victorious in the marquee event during his first Summer Nationals venture in 2021. With his second win, he joins Shannon Babb (2004, 2006, 2011) and Matt Miller (2008, 2013, 2014) as the only three multi-time winners in main event history.
“It’s cool to come here, cool to see the crowd packed every time I come here – it’s somewhere I enjoy coming,” Winger said.
Starting fifth on the grid, Winger stayed patient in the opening laps, watching a battle for the lead unfold between Ryan Unzicker and Rusty Schlenk. In that time, he found the top side to his liking, but not without a little clue from his competitors.
“Rusty actually showed it to me,” Winger said. “He didn’t go to the top in Turn 1 I don’t think, but he was the first one to go in 3 and when he went up there, I just kept telling myself that if I had an opportunity, I was definitely gonna try to strike first there.”
And strike he did, zooming around the top side of Ryan Unzicker out of Turn 4 to take the lead on Lap 15.
“Rusty actually gave me the top and I was able to keep my speed up enough off of Turn 1 and have enough of a run off of 2 getting into 3 to clear him,” Winger said. “I was able to stay out there long enough for it to clean-up for me to attack and keep my speed up.”
From that point forth, it was all Winger out front. Though Unzicker and Schlenk tried to keep pace with Winger, they were unable to survive through the end of the race. Unzicker slowed to a stop after emitting a puff of smoke on Lap 31, taking a push back to the pits. Schlenk was running second with only 15 laps left when he pulled off the track suddenly under caution and did not return for the ensuing restart.
After a few more cautions in the second half of the race, Colin Shipley and Brian Ruhlman took control of the other two podium spots and stayed there as Winger crossed the finish line a near three seconds ahead of the field.
UP NEXT
The 38th edition of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals comes to a close with the final stop of the Hell Tour Sunday, July 16, in the tour’s debut at Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, OH. Tickets will be on sale at the gate; streaming available at DIRTVision.com.
FEATURE RESULTS
Feature (50 Laps): 1. 12-Ashton Winger[5]; 2. 44S-Colin Shipley[2]; 3. 49-Brian Ruhlman[13]; 4. 5M-Ryan Markham[10]; 5. 75-Dusty Moore[14]; 6. 31AUS-Kye Blight[6]; 7. 27-Eric Spangler[11]; 8. 1N-Casey Noonan[16]; 9. 45-Jamie Grochowski[17]; 10. 91-Rusty Schlenk[4]; 11. 51S-Devin Shiels[7]; 12. 8-Rob Anderzack[12]; 13. 24-Ryan Unzicker[3]; 14. 63-Terry Rushlow[15]; 15. 69-Brandon Thirlby[9]; 16. 71DS-Drew Smith[24]; 17. 50-Ryan Missler[8]; 18. 23-Brad Wade[20]; 19. 57-Steve Kester[19]; 20. 4G-Bob Gardner[1]; 21. 71-Rusty Smith[18]; 22. 56-BJ Gregory[22]; 23. 19M-Carter Murday[23]; 24. P3-Jeff Robertson[21]
Dalton Lane Wins First Career Summit Modified Feature at Oakshade
There’s nothing like the first time in Victory Lane, and Dalton Lane won’t soon forget his first trip Saturday night at Oakshade Raceway.
The 20-year-old from Botkins, OH, started on the outside pole and led all 20 laps around the 3/8-mile oval, staying smooth and focused on the top side as he cruised to his first career DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals Feature win.
“It’s amazing,” Lane said. “We’ve struggled a little bit this year – only my second year out. Running with these guys has really taught me a lot. I think we finally put a whole night together and look where it got us.”
UP NEXT
The Summit Modifieds continue on to the tour’s final stop in the State of Ohio – Sunday, July 16, at Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, OH – the final tune-up event before the season finale at Fairbury Speedway in Fairbury, IL, July 28-29, as part of the track’s annual Prairie Dirt Classic.
FEATURE RESULTS
Feature (20 Laps): 1. 82-Dalton Lane[2]; 2. 117-Kevin Reeve[6]; 3. 9R-Garrett Rons[1]; 4. 92-Zach Stotz[5]; 5. 622-Jacob Gamber[8]; 6. 22T-Tony Anderson[7]; 7. 54-Zachary Hawk[9]; 8. 1-Brian Przeporia[10]; 9. 74M-Manix Furqueron[4]; 10. 74D-Craig Dippman[3]; 11. 12M-John McClure[12]; 12. (DNS) 60-Shannon Fisk; 13. (DNS) 25M-Brian Mcfeeters; 14. (DNS) 31J-Ray Jackson
DIRTcar Summer Nationals is brought to fans by many important sponsors and partners, including: Chevy Performance (Official Vehicle), DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), Racing Electronics (Official Radio Supplier), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider), VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Arizona Sport Shirts/Gotta Race. Contingency sponsors include: ARP (Automotive Racing Products), Beyea Custom Headers, CASE No.1 Engine Oil, COMP Cams, Fox Factory, MSD, Quarter Master, Summit Racing Equipment, and Wieland Metal Services (Exclusive Racing Aluminum). Along with manufacturer sponsors, including: FIREBULL, and Intercomp
Summit Modified Nationals is brought to fans by many important sponsors and partners, including : Summit Racing Equipment, Chevy Performance (Official Vehicle), DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Racing Electronics (Official Radio Supplier), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider), VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel), Arizona Sport Shirts/Gotta Race. Contingency sponsors include: ARP (Automotive Racing Products), Bassett Racing Wheel, Bell Helmets, Beyea Custom Headers, CASE No.1 Engine Oil, COMP Cams, Fast Shafts, Fox Factory, Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Service, KSE Racing Products, Lifeline, MSD, Mulit FireX, Schoenfeld Headers, Swift Springs, Velocita USA, Wehrs Machine and Racing Products, Wieland Metal Services (Exclusive Racing Aluminum),and Xceldyne. Along with manufacturer sponsors, including: FIREBULL, Intercomp, and Simpson Performance Products.
Sources: Jordan DeLucia, DIRTcar Racing PR
Photo Credit – Tyler Carr, Jim DenHamer