GRANITE CITY, Ill. — Tyler Erb took the lead on lap 22 and went on to pick up the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory on Friday night at Tri-City Speedway.
Billy Moyer Jr. recorded his best LOLMDS finish, coming home in second. Moyer led the first 21 laps until Erb passed him for the lead. Jonathan Davenport crossed the finish stripe in third, followed by Shane Clanton and Tyler Bruening.
Moyer started alongside Kyle Strickler on the front row and then survived what was once a three-car battle for the lead until Strickler went spinning into the infield, ending his night with front suspension damage. Moyer, Jr. then held the point until Erb got by him three laps from the halfway mark.
Erb quickly stretched his lead over Moyer as he went unchallenged to the checkers.
“I knew that surviving out front was going to be half the battle. When we took off, I knew we had a really good car. I expected the track to come back the way it did,” Erb said. “They had it rolled in really nice when we started. I almost took the lead when that caution came out. I knew when I was in second to just keep following Billy, he was a hand full tonight until an opportunity presented itself. He had a good car tonight and was going to be tough to beat. Congrats to him and JD on their finishes tonight.”
Moyer was glad about a podium finish to end the night.
“I just didn’t judge lapped traffic right. All-in-all to run second here is great, it’s one of my best tracks. I love racing in the St. Louis area. The Lucas Oil Series and the track did a great job on the track considering how much rain they had here a few days ago. Thank you to Marshall Green and everyone at Capital Race Cars. I have never had this great of help from anyone on the chassis-side. We will be contending for wins hopefully for a long-time to come.”
The finish:
Tyler Erb, Billy Moyer Jr., Jonathan Davenport, Shane Clanton, Tyler Bruening, Rick Eckert, Devin Moran, Johnny Scott, Tim McCreadie, Josh Richards, Earl Pearson Jr., Tanner English, Hudson O’Neal, Kyle Bronson, Jimmy Owens, Gordy Gundaker, Shanon Buckingham, Doug Drown, Kolby Vandenbergh, Cody Laney, Mike Marlar, Tony Toste, Rodney Melvin, Billy Laycock, Stormy Scott, Kyle Strickler, Daryn Klein.