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ASHTON WINGER IS THE 2018 DURRENCE LAYNE CHEVROLET LATE MODEL NATIONAL CHAMPION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CARTERSVILLE, GA – Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series officials have announced that the 2018 season is over, and 18-year-old Ashton Winger of Senoia, GA is the 2018 Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion. Winger wins the title by ten points over Jake Knowles of Rome, GA by ten points.

Series officials announced yesterday they were considering scheduling another race in the coming weeks to decide the championship, but by the end of the day, they felt scheduling another race this late in the season would be just moving the finish line for the 2018 season.

The $10,000-to-win Possum Town Grand Prix at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, MS was scheduled for yesterday, and was going to be the Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series 2018 season finale. The preliminary Qualifying and Heat Races were completed on Friday night, but heavy Friday night rains left an already saturated race track unraceable for Saturday’s event, and it was cancelled.

“I made the decision to end the season because it seemed like we were just moving the finish line for the season down the road on short notice, and this late in the season, we really didn’t have any place to put another race,” Durrence Layne Racing Founder and CEO Mike Vaughn said. “We have fought weather more than we have raced this season, as we have had 11 National Touring races rained out this season.”

Vaughn said there was just not another date available to put another Durrence Layne Chevrolet Late Model event with the Performance Racing Industry Show in Indianapolis, IN in two weeks, then Christmas a couple of weeks after that, and then it’s time to begin the 2019 season with the Icebowl at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL during the first weekend of January.

With the 14 races the series did get in, Vaughn said they were all memorable events with Winger and Knowles providing most of the highlights. One night would go Winger’s way, and the next night would go Knowles’ way.

“To have two drivers ten points apart after 14 races is pretty remarkable,” Vaughn said. “They both had great seasons, and combined, they won half the races with Winger winning three races, and Knowles winning four races. In addition to those two, we had eight other drivers in the top ten that also made it a great season, with nine of the Top 10 making all 14 races.”

Winger swept three big annual awards for the Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series in 2018. In addition to the National Championship, Winger also won the 2018 Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Year Award, and the VP Racing Fuels Young Guns Challenge Series Championship for Durrence Layne Chevrolet Late Model drivers 18 year of age and younger.

Winger and the rest of the Top 10 Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series drivers will be honored on January 19 at the Durrence Layne Racing Annual Awards Banquet held inside the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame and Thunder Road Museum at the Birthplace of American Stock Car Racing, Dawsonville, GA.

The 2016 and 2017 Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, TN will finish third in the 2018 standings with two wins on the season. Andy Picklesimer of Ooltewah, TN is fourth, and Bryant Marsh of Corinth, MS will be fifth in the points and second in the Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Year point standings.

Jamey Boland of Cuba, AL will finish sixth in the National points and third in the Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Year points. Marcus Minga of Shannon, MS will finish seventh, his fifth straight year to finish in the Top 10 of the Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National point standings.

T.J. Brittain of Centre, AL will finish eighth in the Durrence Layne Chevrolet Late Model National points, while two drivers from Hohenwald, TN, known as “The Hohenwald Gang,” Oakley Johns and Tyler Wood will tie for the ninth spot. Johns will win the tie-breaker with two top five finishes.

For more information and rules about the Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, visit the series web site at www.durrencelayneracing.com, or visit the series on Facebook at Durrence Layne Racing. You can follow us on Twitter @DurrenceLayneRacing.

Durrence Layne Chevrolet, Buick, GMC of Claxton, GA is the Title Sponsor of the Durrence Layne Chevrolet Late Models and the Pacesetter Award Sponsor at Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series events. Durrence Layne Chevrolet, Buick, GMC is one of the nation’s top GM Powertrain and Performance Dealers, with free delivery anywhere in the Southeast. Chevrolet Performance Parts is an Official Sponsor of the Durrence Layne Chevrolet Late Models. Hoosier Racing Tire is the Official Tire Sponsor of the Durrence Layne Chevrolet Late Models. VP Racing Fuels and Lubricants is the Official Race Fuel and Lubricant of the Durrence Layne Late Models, sponsor of the VP Lubricants Starting Box, and the VP Lubricants Smooth Move of the Race Award at Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series events. RockAuto.com is an Associate Sponsor of the Durrence Layne Chevrolet Late Models. Beyea Headers the Durrence Layne Chevrolet Late Model Hard Charger Sponsor. Knowles Race Parts and Bodies is the Official Parts Supplier for the Durrence Layne Chevrolet Late Models and the Fast Qualifier Sponsor at National Touring events. David Smith Carburetors is the Official Carburetor of Durrence Layne Racing. Freestyle Graphix is the Official Wrap, Banner, and Sign Company of Durrence Layne Racing. Durrence Layne Chevrolet Late Model Contingency Sponsors for 2017 are Out-Pace Performance, CrateInsider.Com, Knowles Racing Parts and Bodies, and FreeStyle Graphix. 2018 Chassis Sponsors are Trak-Star Race Cars, Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, and CVR Race Cars.

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