(CARPENTERSVILLE, ILLINOIS) Dennis Erb, Jr. finally got his elusive crown jewel victory on Saturday night, June 11 and it came on one of the sport’s grandest stages in the 22nd edition of the ‘Dirt Late Model Dream’ at the hallowed Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio!
Dennis won his heat race on Saturday to earn the outside of the front row for the start of the 100-lap grind. Utilizing the bottom grooves around the 1/2-mile speedplant during the exciting extra-distance affair, Dennis paced the stout field on four different occasions (laps 1-3, 31-35, 57-69, 90-100) and survived a last lap caution flag to bag the hefty $100,000 windfall. At the checkers, the Carpentersville, Illinois star was ahead of Josh Richards, Dale McDowell, Jonathan Davenport, and Don O’Neal to etch his name into the “Big E” record books!
Earlier in the three-day weekend, Dennis put forth impressive performances in a pair of Twin 25 preliminary programs. On Thursday evening, Dennis ran seventh in his heat race before winning his B-Main and climbing all the way up to eighth in the 25-lap sprint, which paid $5,000 to the winner. In Friday’s $10,000 to win show, Dennis won his heat race and led a couple of circuits during the 25-lapper before eventually placing a strong runner-up behind only prelim winner Brandon Sheppard. Full results from the extended ‘Dream XXII’ weekend in the Buckeye State can be obtained by clicking on www.eldoraspeedway.com.
“It’s been a long time coming, but it feels so good to get a big win like this,” commented an emotional Erb following Saturday’s career-defining triumph. “I knew we had a good car, I just had to keep hitting my marks lap after lap. When the caution flag flew coming out of that final corner, my heart sank for a second, but we picked the right line for the restart and got the job done. I have to thank my crew chief Heather Lyne for all of her dedication and support throughout the years, as well as everyone who helps out on the cars and all of our great sponsors and product help. It takes a total team effort to win a crown jewel race like the Dirt Late Model Dream and we will definitely savor it while getting ready for Magnolia this week!”
The Dennis Erb Racing team will rejoin the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series schedule on June 17-18 at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Mississippi. The annual running of the ‘Clash at the Mag’ will take place on the “black ice” this weekend and a $20,000 top prize will once again be on the line. Qualifying and heat races will take place on Friday night, while the consolation events and the 100-lap ‘Clash at the Mag’ are scheduled for Saturday evening. Dennis currently finds himself seventh in the latest version of the LOLMDS point standings heading into Magnolia. Additional information concerning the two-day extravaganza can be viewed by pointing your Internet browser to www.lucasdirt.com.
Dennis would like to thank all of his sponsors including: J.R. McBride Leasing, McBride Mack, M&S Concrete, Ideal Ready Mix, M&M Painting & Construction, VoMac Truck Sales, Performance Rod & Custom (PRC), Midwest Sheet Metal, Jay D1ckens Racing Engines, Hoosier Racing Tires, PrintWorx, Allstar Performance, Aurora Rod Ends, Beyea Custom Headers, Black Diamond Chassis, Brinn Transmissions, Butlerbuilt Safety Systems, CV Products, Delph Communications, Dyer’s Top Rods, Envy Suspension & Race Consultants, Fel-Pro Gaskets, Five Star Performance Bodies, Frankland Racing Supply, Hypercoils, Jones Racing Products, K-B Carburetors, Maxima Racing Oils, Peterson Fluid Systems, Quarter Master, Simpson Race Products, Sweet Mfg., T&D Machine Products, TWM Racing Products, VP Racing Fuels, Weld Wheels, Wiles Driveshafts, and Wilwood Engineering.
The latest dirt on the Dennis Erb Racing team can be found all year long at www.DennisErb.com.
Media Contact: Ryan Delph – Delph Communications