Tyler Millwood scored the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series feature at East Bay Raceway Park on Monday night. Photo: LOLMDS Media
Tyler Erb scored his first win of the 2023 season on Monday night, capturing the first night of the 47th Annual Wieland Winternationals for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, Florida.
Erb took the lead on lap two from Kyle Bronson and led the rest of the way to score his fifth career win at the “Clay by the Bay.”
Hudson O’Neal finished in second, Kingston, Georgia’s Tyler Millwood in third, Evans, Georgia’s Brandon Overton in fourth, and Dennis Erb, Jr. in fifth.
Bronson led the first two laps from his pole starting spot before Erb passed him on the inside coming off turn two. O’Neal then moved into second, taking the spot away from Bronson. There were back-to-back cautions on lap 11 and 12, which kept the field bunched up behind Erb.
Early in the race the outside line proved beneficial for Brian Shirley who had moved from 12th to sixth and Senoia, Georgia’s Ashton Winger, who after starting sixth climbed to second on lap 12.
After the lap 12 caution, Winger had a great restart and went to the outside of Erb entering turn four before losing his momentum and falling several spots in the running order. There were cautions with 18 and 24 laps scored while Erb held the lead. On each of those subsequent restarts Erb kept his car glued to the bottom and went on to pick up the win.
“It’s awesome to get this win,” said Erb after recording his 20th career series win. “We ended last year on such a crazy note at the Dome. We unloaded at Vado with really high expectations and just struggled. I just can’t say enough about everybody that helps me. We complained to Eric (Brock) that we needed a new car, and Mark (Richards) built us a car in two days. Brunswick wasn’t good us. Bubba wasn’t good until the second night. We got things turned around I feel at All-Tech with our finish there.”
“I love East Bay,” Erb added. “I didn’t think it would be too good. The top down there was the only place I thought maybe I should have been in. I could tell, someone was close. I left Winger about as much room as you could. It was literally the wall, Winger, and me. It’s just East Bay you’ve got to know where to start.”
Mark Whitener, Spencer Hughes, Ryan Gustin, Tanner English, and Eddie Carrier, Jr. rounded out the top 10.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series action continues at East Bay Raceway Park on Tuesday. For more information, visit LucasDirt.com.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
East Bay Raceway Park – Tampa, FL
Wieland Winternationals – February 6, 2023
1. 1T-Tyler Erb
2. 1H-Hudson O’Neal
3. 31-Tyler Millwood
4. 2X-Brandon Overton
5. 28-Dennis Erb, Jr.
6. 89J-Mark Whitener
7. 11-Spencer Hughes
8. 19R-Ryan Gustin
9. 96V-Tanner English
10. 66JR-Eddie Carrier, J.r
11. 3S-Brian Shirley
12. 79-Ross Bailes
13. 40B-Kyle Bronson
14. 16-Tyler Bruening
15. 18D-Daulton Wilson
16. 89-Logan Roberson
17. 7-Ross Robinson
18. 55-Benji Hicks
19. 1C-Kenny Collins
20. 46-Earl Pearson, Jr.
21. 12-Ashton Winger
22. 2-G.R. Smith
23. 25Z-Mason Zeigler
24. 187-David McCoy
25. 83-Jensen Ford
26. 10-Garrett Smith
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