03/28/2024
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For Ryan Gilbert, it was the best of times. For Marty Dean, it was an evening to forget.

Gilbert passed Martin Sweatt with six laps remaining to win the Pure Stock featured race Saturday night at Dublin Motor Speedway, earning a career-best $1,050.

Dean dominated the U-Car race, taking the checkered flag by nearly three seconds over Dillon Thompson, but his car failed post-race inspection and was disqualified. Thompson was declared the winner and earned $500, which was double the purse for the division. Track promoter Richard Bailey said the front wheels of Dean’s car would not turn seperately as required by rules.

In Saturday’s other races, Daulton Wilson won in Late Model, Andy Boahn won in Open Wheel Modified, Cameron Norris IV won in Super Street and Matt Carr won in a special Sprint Car race.

“Money-wise, it was good to be here on a night when my whole family’s here,” Gilbert said about his Pure Stock win. “This is the most money I’ve ever been a part of in racing. It’s a very big win.”

Sweatt started on the pole with Gilbert on the outside of the front row. Sweatt won the race to the first turn on the start, but Gilbert stayed on his bumper until the decisive ninth lap of the 15-lap race.

“Going down the backstretch, I got a little high going into turn 3 and left (Gilbert) a window and he took advantage of it,” Sweatt said. “Kudos to him. He did a great job getting around me. Early on, I thought he was going to have to move me to get around me, but I slipped up going into (turn) three and that gave him all the advantage he needed.”

Gilbert admitted he thought Sweatt may have the race won until he saw his one opportunity to make a pass.

“There’s a little bit of a mud puddle coming out of (turn) two,” Gilbert said. “Most every lap, we both got in it. (On lap nine), he got in and I did not. I built up a little bit of a run and we went into (turn) three. He went into (turn) three high and I was able to tuck it on the bottom and was just barely able to get in there. I think my right rear slid up and maybe just slightly touched him. We agreed it was a racing deal.”

Gilbert beat Sweatt by 0.886 seconds to the checkered flag after a restart following a caution with two laps to go.

In the U-Car race, Dean started from the pole and quickly proved to have the fastest car around the 4/10th-mile dirt oval. Even with three restarts in the first five laps, none of the crowded field to keep up. Dean led by more than three seconds after five laps and maintained a near straightaway lead until the finish, even though there were two more cautions before the end.

As Dean and his crew prepared to celebrate in Victory Lane, questions arose about his front axle and wheels. After some heated discussion, track officials determined Dean’s set-up didn’t meet specifications.

Racing is scheduled to return to Dublin on Saturday, Aug. 13 with a regular show.

Saturday’s results

LATE MODEL: 1. Daulton Wilson ($1,000); 2. Zack Blackwell; 3. Chris Blackwell; 4. Ben Watkins; 5. Brian Strickland; 6. Ryder Hammond; 7. Zack Cox; 8. Mark Dysart; 9. Colby Ashe; 10. David Baker; 11. Colby Jenerette; 12. Buck Causey; 13. Woodie Cromartie; 14. Chuck Smith.

OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED: 1. Andy Boahn ($1,000); 2. Timmy Blackwell; 3. Macke Coxe; 4. Clay Parker; 5. Dale Arnold; 6. Michael Grantham; 7. Dennis Brewer; 8. Greg Stutts; 9. Steve Strickland; 10. Robbie Turner.

SPRINT CAR: 1. Matt Carr ($200); 2. Dale Arnold; 3. Jackson Wellman; 4. Tim Nye; 5. Matt Jones; 6. Jordan Howell; 7. William Togdon; 8. Mark Jones; 9. Brittany Togden; 10. Blaine Nunnery; 11. Gary Jacobson.

SUPER STREET: 1. Cameron Norris IV ($525); 2. Jerry Johnson; 3. Benji Thompson; 4. Michael Freeman; 5. Jamie Barnes; 6. Donovan Jackson; 7. Greg Cain; 8. Jerry Dove; 9. John Dyson; 10. Dustin Perritt; 11. Johnny Moore; 12. Mike Pitman.

PURE STOCK: 1. Ryan Gilbert ($1,050); 2. Martin Sweatt; 3. Dustin Watkins; 4. Elvin Matthews; 5. Daniel Johnson; 6. Chandler Fowler; 7. Michael Butler; 8. Cameron Norris III; 9. Devin Williamson; 10. Robbie Williams; 11. Stephen Erskine; 12. Chase Taylor; 13. Tony Williams; 14. Kenny Locklear; 15. Ed Mason; 16. Cameron Johnson; 17. Jimmy Capps; 18 Mike Manes (disqualified).

U-CAR: 1. Dillon Thompson ($500); 2. Chris Reeve; 3. Mike Wallace; 4. Ryan Parson; 5. Jeremy Sessoms; 6. Tommy Weese; 7. Chris Lewis; 8. Derek Kemper; 9. Ethan Hope; 10. David Kelly; 11. Red Burney; 12. Glenn Register; 13. Greg Strickland; 14. Chris Bron; 15. Larry Eldridge; 16. George Herring; 17. Rick Berenger; 18. Mitch Bearcey; 19. Matthew Polk; 20. Marty Dean (disqualified).

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