{"id":16392,"date":"2025-02-14T03:12:23","date_gmt":"2025-02-14T07:12:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/superdirtcarseries.com\/?p=16392"},"modified":"2025-02-14T03:13:21","modified_gmt":"2025-02-14T07:13:21","slug":"kid-rocket-strikes-back-alex-yankowski-holds-off-erick-rudolph-for-first-dirtcar-nationals-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/superdirtcarseries.com\/recap\/kid-rocket-strikes-back-alex-yankowski-holds-off-erick-rudolph-for-first-dirtcar-nationals-win\/","title":{"rendered":"KID ROCKET STRIKES BACK: Alex Yankowski Holds Off Erick Rudolph For First DIRTcar Nationals Win"},"content":{"rendered":"
One night after a Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals <\/em>win slipped away from Alex Yankowski, the 20-year-old didn\u2019t have to wait long for his next opportunity.<\/p>\n The Covington Township, PA driver held off a late charge from Erick Rudolph Thursday night to score his third career Super DIRTcar Series win and first at Volusia Speedway Park.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m really proud of the boys and how hard they worked here,\u201d Yankowski said. \u201cYou never know when you\u2019re going to win another race, ever win a gator, or something like that. It felt good after being a little bit bummed out last night. I felt we should\u2019ve contended for the win, and it kind of makes up for it a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n Peter Britten, the SRI Performance and Stock Car Steel Pole Award winner, led the field to the green in the 30-lap Feature. But Yankowski, who started second, didn\u2019t wait long to take the lead away, thundering around the No. 21A when they exited Turn 2.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n As \u201cKid Rocket\u201d pulled away from the field, Rudolph followed the No. 84Y, driving by Britten for the runner-up spot on Lap 9.<\/p>\n Rudolph got his first opportunity to battle Yankowski after back-to-back cautions came out on Lap 10, the first for Chris Curtis and another for a multi-car wreck involving Will Thomas, Corbin Millar, Felix Roy, Jack Lehner, and Matt Caprara.<\/p>\n When the race resumed, the Ransomville, NY driver chased Yankowski until Lap 15, when he charged through Turns 3 and 4 and pulled even with Yankowski\u2019s right rear quarter panel. However, that\u2019s as close as he got to the lead until the final five laps.<\/p>\n As Yankowski entered Turns 3 and 4 on Lap 29, he almost jumped the cushion, allowing Rudolph to close in on him as they took the white flag.<\/p>\n Rudolph made one last charge through Turns 1 and 2 but didn\u2019t have enough momentum to pass Yankowski down the backstretch. From there, Yankowski aced Turns 3 and 4 to take the checkered flag and earn the $5,000 victory.<\/p>\n \u201cIt got tough there the last few laps,\u201d Yankowski said. \u201cRudolph\u2019s good when you get him in clean air. He\u2019s digging. He\u2019s a really hard guy to beat. That\u2019s a guy I watched racing growing up, and I always thought he was one of the best, and he is one of the best.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be able to race with him and edge him out, that\u2019s super cool.\u201d<\/p>\n Rudolph settled for second, matching his best DIRTcar Nationals<\/em> finish. He said he could\u2019ve used both a longer run and lap traffic toward the end to try and beat Yankowski.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were really good on starts, but it really seemed like it took off after several laps,\u201d Rudolph said. \u201cThat\u2019s when I started closing in on Britten early and Yankowski.<\/p>\n \u201cWe got a top three here again at Volusia. We\u2019ve been in the second and third spot a lot of times here. Still looking forward to a win, but that day will come, I\u2019m sure.\u201d<\/p>\n Defending Super DIRTcar Series champion Mat Williamson finished third after an exciting battle with Larry Wight in the final 10 laps.<\/p>\n When the two drivers completed Lap 23, Williamson pulled a slide job on Wight entering Turns 1 and 2. However, Wight crossed him over to take the position back down the backstretch.<\/p>\n Williamson tried the same move in Turns 3 and 4, clearing the No. 99L as they exited the corner for the final podium spot.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a lot of fun racing and slide jobbing each other there,\u201d Williamson said. \u201cOn that last caution, I was third, and he was fourth, and the outside was the place to be with Alex up there.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s cool to end up on the front straightaway even though it\u2019s not a win. I can\u2019t thank my guys enough.\u201d<\/p>\n Wight finished fourth, and Britten rounded out the top five.<\/p>\n With a win and third-place finish, Yankowski is the current points leader in the chase for the Big Gator, holding a 10-point advantage over Justin Haers.<\/p>\n Here are the top five in the DIRTcar Nationals<\/em> point standings:<\/p>\n Click here for the full points<\/a><\/p>\n Up Next: <\/strong>The Super DIRTcar Series returns to Volusia Speedway Park on Friday, Feb. 14, for the penultimate night of Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals<\/em>. The World of Outlaws Late Models will also join the Beasts of the Northeast<\/em> on the card.<\/p>\n TICKETS: DIRTcarNationals.com<\/a><\/p>\n If you can\u2019t make it to the track, you can watch every race live on\u00a0DIRTVision \u2013\u00a0either at DIRTVision.com or by downloading the DIRTVision App<\/a>.<\/p>\n DIRTcar Nationals Night 2 (30 Laps):<\/strong> 1. 84Y-Alex Yankowski[2]; 2. 25-Erick Rudolph[3]; 3. 88-Mat Williamson[6]; 4. 99L-Larry Wight[8]; 5. 21A-Peter Britten[1]; 6. 3-Justin Haers[5]; 7. 70A-Alex Payne[7]; 8. 12-Darren Smith[14]; 9. 9S-Matt Sheppard[9]; 10. 15X-Justin Stone[10]; 11. 4-Anthony Perrego[16]; 12. 1-Billy Pauch Jr[12]; 13. 98H-Jimmy Phelps[11]; 14. 30-HJ Bunting[26]; 15. 83X-Tim Sears Jr[15]; 16. 5H-Amy Holland[22]; 17. 20-Rick Laubach[23]; 18. 2-Jack Lehner[18]; 19. 8-Rich Scagliotta[17]; 20. 7Z-Zach Payne[20]; 21. (DNF) 11C-Matt Caprara[25]; 22. (DNF) 9-Will Thomas[4]; 23. (DNF) 58-Louden Reimert[13]; 24. (DNF) 66-Corbin Millar[19]; 25. (DNF) 35C-Chris Curtis[21]; 26. (DNF) 91-Felix Roy[24]<\/p>\n Contingency Awards:<\/strong> One night after a Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals win slipped away from Alex Yankowski, the 20-year-old didn\u2019t have to wait long for his next opportunity. The Covington Township, PA driver held off a late charge from Erick Rudolph Thursday night to score his third career Super DIRTcar Series win and first at Volusia Speedway … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":48,"featured_media":16393,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[750,3,650],"tags":[1034,669,98,100,1025,121,129,154,189],"class_list":["post-16392","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-big-block-modifieds","category-recap","category-super-dirt-car-series","tag-1034","tag-alex-yankowski","tag-erick-rudolph","tag-featured","tag-federated-auto-parts-dirtcar-nationals","tag-larry-wight","tag-mat-williamson","tag-peter-britten","tag-volusia-speedway-park","has-post-video"],"yoast_head":"\n<\/p>\n
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\nJAM Performance Fastest Hot Lap Award: Erick Rudolph ($100)
\nBilly Whittaker Cars Quick Time Award: Alex Payne ($100)
\nVP Racing Fuels Award: Darren Smith ($50)
\nARP Bolts Award: Erick Rudolph ($50)
\nASI Racewear Award: Anthony Perrego ($50)
\nBehrent\u2019s Performance Warehouse Award: Alex Yankowski ($50)
\nCometic Gasket Award: Darren Smith ($50)
\nComp Cams Award: Matt Sheppard ($50)
\nDIG Racing Products: Erick Rudolph ($50)
\nFox Factory Award: Larry Wight($50)
\nMSD Award: \u00a0Matt Sheppard ($50)
\nSwift Springs Award: Larry Wight ($50)
\nWeld Racing Wheels Award: Jimmy Phelps ($50)
\nSRI Performance\/Stock Car Steel Pole Award: Peter Britten ($100)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"