WAYNESVILLE, Ga. - Devin Moran and Brandon Overton opened up the 2022 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series campaign in high fashion over the weekend at Golden Isles Speedway in Waynesville, Georgia.
Moran scored the season opener win on Thursday night, while Overton topped the field on both Friday night and Saturday night at the 4/10-mile semi-banked clay raceway.
On Thursday night, Moran took over the lead on lap 18 from Brandon Sheppard and pulled away from the field to score the victory.
The 27-year-old Ohio native was the fourth different leader of the race as he recorded his third career series win. Sheppard came home in second, with reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson in third, Tyler Erb in fourth and defending series champion Tim McCreadie in fifth.
Larson grabbed the point at the start of the race after starting on the outside of the front row for the 40-lap main event. Erb challenged Larson for the first seven laps of the race before taking the lead on lap eight.
Erb’s lead lasted until Sheppard moved to the point on lap 14. Moran was on the move from his third starting spoit, and around Sheppard on the 18th lap. From there, he went on to win by a 1.370-second margin.
It marked Moran’s third career series win.
“This is just awesome,” said Moran. “I was so nervous before the race because I felt like we were good in our heat race, and I just didn’t know what changes to make. I can’t thank Tye Twarog enough for giving me this opportunity. Ever since last year when we went with the Bilstein Shocks on this car it’s been really good.”
Ricky Thornton, Jr., Josh Richards, Hudson O’Neal, Blairsville, Georgia’s Jonathan Davenport, and Jimmy Owens rounded out the top 10.
On Friday night, Brandon Overton scored topping the field in the 50-lap feature to take home the victory.
The Evans, Georgia native chased down race leader Devin Moran, making the pass for the lead on lap 27. Overton held off Moran and a hard-charging Hudson O’Neal at the finish. The top three finishers were separated by only .7 tenths of a second at the line.
Earl Pearson ,Jr. came home in fourth, with Tyler Bruening following in fifth.
Moran took the lead at the start of the race from the pole. He maintained a steady and healthy lead for the first 12 laps until the first of two cautions slowed the action.
On the restart, Moran held the lead as Pearson and Overton battled for second. Overton gained the second spot from Pearson on lap 22, quickly catching Moran in traffic and overhauling him for the race lead on lap 27.
Overton went on to record his 12th career series win was by just .622 seconds.
Overton failed the series droop-rule after qualifying on Thursday night but came back strong to score the victory 24-hours later.
“I told my car owner last night I am sorry I probably cost us that one. I told him I will make it up tomorrow,” Overton said. “Our car’s been really good especially last year. That was a heck of race, I just wished we could have gotten to race last night. I know it’s cold and they are trying the best they can. Kyle (Bronson) has done a job with this place. Devin (Moran) is one of my buddies, he’s a heck of a race car driver.”
Dennis Erb, Jr., Chris Madden, Jonathan Davenport, Brandon Sheppard, and Tim McCreadie rounded out the top 10.
On Saturday night, Overton again edged out Moran to pick up his second straight series win.
Overton took the lead on lap 28 from Larson, and drove to his 13th career series victory.
Moran followed in second, with Larson third, Tim McCreadie fourth and Tyler Bruening fifth.
Larson, took the lead at the start of the 50-lap feature, with Moran and Overton in pursuit. Moran yielded the second spot to Overton on lap 19. At the halfway mark it was still Larson showing the way with Overton hot on his heels and Moran close behind.
Overton moved by Larson for the lead on the 28th lap. Moran moved past Larson on lap 33 to take second, and gave chase to the leader as Overton worked through heavy traffic.
ace. Moran picked up the pace even more as Overton was having to deal with heavy traffic in front of him. McCreadie made his presence known in the battle for the lead as he also got by Larson for third.
Over the closing laps, Overton pulled away to pick up the victory by over three seconds.
“I caught him (Larson) there and was just being patient,” said Overton. “It’s been a fun weekend. I just hated that I didn’t get to run the first night we were here. It is what it is. When you are in lapped traffic, and you do the wrong move they will get you. The caution came out at the right time. I saw him (Moran) up top. I blasted through the middle on the restart, and it didn’t feel good. So, I got right back down on the bottom. I don’t know how much I beat them by, there were two good race car drivers behind me, just proud to be standing up here with them.”
Tyler Erb, Earl Pearson, Jr., Jonathan Davenport, Brandon Sheppard, and Dennis Erb, Jr. rounded out the top 10.
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series returns to action on Monday, January 31 at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Florida. For more information, visit LucasDirt.com.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Golden Isles Speedway – Waynesville, GA
Super Bowl of Racing – January 27, 2022
1. Devin Moran
2. Brandon Sheppard
3. Kyle Larson
4. Tyler Erb
5. Tim McCreadie
6. Ricky Thornton, Jr.
7. Josh Richards
8. Hudson O’Neal
9. Jonathan Davenport
10. Jimmy Owens
11. Tyler Bruening
12. Daulton Wilson
13. Earl Pearson, Jr.
14. Cody Overton
15. Garrett Alberson
16. Chris Madden
17. Kyle Bronson
18. Shane Clanton
19. Ashton Winger
20. Mike Marlar
21. Spencer Hughes
22. Garrett Smith
23. Kyle Strickler
24. Steven Roberts
25. Ryan Gustin
26. Mark Whitener
27. Stormy Scott
28. Brian Shirley
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Golden Isles Speedway – Waynesville, GA
Super Bowl of Racing – January 28, 2022
1. 76-Brandon Overton
2. 9-Devin Moran
3. 71-Hudson O’Neal
4. 46-Earl Pearson, Jr.
5. 16-Tyler Bruening
6. 28E-Dennis Erb, Jr.
7. 44M-Chris Madden
8. 49-Jonathan Davenport
9. 1S-Brandon Sheppard
10. 39-Tim McCreadie
11. 40B-Kyle Bronson
12. 7-Ross Robinson
13. 18J-Chase Junghans
14. 89-Ashton Winger
15. 157-Mike Marlar
16. 20RT-Ricky Thornton, Jr.
17. 2S-Stormy Scott
18. 1T-Tyler Erb
19. 8-Kyle Strickler
20. 25-Shane Clanton
21. 79-Ross Bailes
22. 20-Jimmy Owens
23. 58W-Mark Whitener
24. 58-Garrett Alberson
25. 18D-Daulton Wilson
26. 6-Kyle Larson
27. 1R-Josh Richards
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Golden Isles Speedway – Waynesville, GA
Super Bowl of Racing – January 29, 2022
1. 76-Brandon Overton
2. 9-Devin Moran
3. 6-Kyle Larson
4. 39-Tim McCreadie
5. 16-Tyler Bruening
6. 1T-Tyler Erb
7. 46-Earl Pearson, Jr.
8. 49-Jonathan Davenport
9. 1S-Brandon Sheppard
10. 28E-Dennis Erb, Jr.
11. 89-Ashton Winger
12. 11-Spencer Hughes
13. 19R-Ryan Gustin
14. 7-Ross Robinson
15. 71-Hudson O’Neal
16. 10-Garrett Smith
17. 40B-Kyle Bronson
18. 20RT-Ricky Thornton, Jr.
19. 25-Shane Clanton
20. 2S-Stormy Scott
21. 58W-Mark Whitener
22. 58-Garrett Alberson
23. 3S-Brian Shirley
24. 20-Jimmy Owens
25. 18D-Daulton Wilson
26. 1R-Josh Richards
27. 44M-Chris Madden
28. 157-Mike Marlar
