DirtonDirt Dispatches
Dispatches: Junghans adds another Wheatland win
Dallon Murty (13) and Chase Junghans (18) mix it up. (photosbyboyd.smugmug.com)
Notes and quotes from Dirt Late Model specials the second weekend in October, including MARS action at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo. (look for coverage Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series action at Eldora Speedway elsewhere):
First MARS win
In the first MARS Championship Series event held there since 2008, Chase Junghans of Manhattan, Kan., captured his first victory on the tour in repelling Dallon Murty for a $5,000 payday at Lucas Oil Speedway. Junghans will chase a $10,000 payday in Saturday’s finale in Wheatland, Mo.
Leading all 30 laps, Junghans duplicated his Labor Day weekend’s Midwest LateModel Racing Association victory at the 3/8-mile oval.
"I told myself at the beginning of the year — and I said this last time we were up front here — every time we come here I get my butt kicked," Junghans said in victory lane. "I could never figure it out and there's a lot of good-paying races here throughout the year. I just wanted to try and get this place figured out.
"We're getting better, but there's still room for improvement," Junghans added. "The racetrack was phenomenal. I just have to thank my guys, Donnie and Bob, Emily my wife and everybody who helps us.”
Junghans grabbed the lead at the start and had nearly a one-second edge over Dylan Thornton by lap 10 of the 30-lapper. Thornton began to gradually cut into the margin as Dallon Murty moved into third.
By the halfway mark on lap 15, Thornton and Murty were right behind the leader. They were still running 1-2-3 when Thornton popped the wall in turn two, as he and Murty were mixing it up for second, to bring out the first caution of the race on lap 17.
"Man, I hate that for Dylan," Murty said. "I had to slide him down there and I thought I sent it in hard enough to where he would check up and turn under. But I hate that. Sorry to him."
After the restart, Junghans and Murty exchanged sliders on consecutive laps but Junghans was able to stave off the challenger with Tony Jackson Jr. lurking in third and Chris Simpson in fourth.
Simpson of Oxford, Iowa, set fast overall qualifying time, just missing the track record for Late Models at 14.641 seconds. Garrett Alberson's track record of 14.443 was set May 24, 2024, with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. — Lyndal Scranton
Streaming schedule
Among upcoming Dirt Late Model special and sanctioned events available via live streaming:
Friday, Oct. 9
• Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Clash on the Wabash prelim at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio (FloRacing)
• MARS Late Model Championship Series Fall Nationals prelim at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo. (FloRacing)
• Mississippi State Championship Challenge Series Gumbo Nationals prelim at Greenville (Miss.) Speedway (Dirt Rich TV)
• Fall Classic WISSOTA Late Model prelims at Ogilvie (Minn.) Raceway (Dirt Race Central)
Saturday, Oct. 10
• Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Clash on the Wabash at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio (FloRacing)
• MARS Late Model Championship Series Fall Nationals at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo. (FloRacing)
• Mississippi State Championship Challenge Series Gumbo Nationals at Greenville (Miss.) Speedway (Dirt Rich TV)
• Fall Classic WISSOTA Late Models at Ogilvie (Minn.) Raceway (Dirt Race Central)
• Great Lakes Nationals Super Late Models at Crystal (Mich.) Motor Speedway (Crystal Motor Speedway TV)
