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Seawright, Herlong, Drellos, and Whitener Claim Prelim Sunshine Nationals Wins at Volusia

1/25/2025
Seawright, Herlong, Drellos, and Whitener Claim Prelim Sunshine Nationals Wins at Volusia

(Barberville, FL – January 25, 2025) – After a two-day delay caused by winter storm Enzo, the highly anticipated Sunshine Nationals returned to action at the "World’s Fastest Half-Mile," Volusia Speedway Park, on Friday night. The Rogers-Dabbs Performance Parts Crate Racin' USA Winter Shootout Series featured 75 drivers from 17 different states, ready to make their mark in four $1,500-to-win, 20-lap preliminary features on opening night of the 6th Annual DirtCar Sunshine Nationals.

The night kicked off with Stakt Products by CV Racing Products Time Trials, where drivers hit the track to determine the lineups for the feature events. Iowa’s Curtis Glover stole the show with a blistering 17.841 lap, securing the pole position for Feature 3. Mark Whitener followed closely with an 18.019, putting him on the pole for Feature 4. Layton Sullivan and Kam Boyd claimed the top spots in Group A, earning the front-row starting positions for Features 1 and 2.

Seawright Scores First Winter Shootout Victory:
Feature 1 saw an early caution on lap one after Mack McCarter went around, collecting several cars in the process. Once the action resumed, Sam Seawright took control, leading all 19 laps for his first career Winter Shootout Series victory. The race was halted by a dramatic late-race incident when Sean Reagan made contact with Robert Smith, causing a massive crash that involved several contenders. Seawright crossed the finish line under the red flag, earning the win.

Feature 1 Results (20 Laps):
1-16S-Sam Seawright[4]; 2. 01S-Robert Smith[8]; 3. 99-Kyle Hardy[13]; 4. 7J-Dalton Jacobs[12]; 5. 23M-Beckham Malone[6]; 6. 15-Marty Massey[9]; 7. 42-Steven Stratton Sr[15]; 8. 7T-Tyler Thomason[7]; 9. 87C-Jarrod Carey[3]; 10. 16W-Wesley Scott[16]; 11. 59-Brian Wooldridge[19]; 12. 96-Sean Reagan[18]; 13. (DNF) 19X-Mark Page[17]; 14. (DNF) 2S-Layton Sullivan[1]; 15. (DNF) 16-Caleb Gay[11]; 16. (DNF) 7-Corey Neil Jr[10]; 17. (DNF) 51-Mack McCarter[2]; 18. (DNF) 14AJ-AJ Miller[5]; 19. (DNF) 67S-Garret Stewart[14]

Herlong's Last-Lap Pass for First Winter Shootout Win:
In Feature 2, Matt Herlong staged a thrilling last-lap battle with Kaede Loudy. After chasing Loudy for the entire race, Herlong made a decisive move in turns one and two on the final lap, driving past for the lead and holding on to capture his first career Winter Shootout Series victory.

Feature 2 Results (20 Laps):
1-131-Matt Herlong[2]; 2. 126-Kaede Loudy[3]; 3. 07-Hayden Cardwell[6]; 4. 18X-Michael Page[7]; 5. 18B-Austin Yarbrough[13]; 6. 18-David Showers Jr[4]; 7. 44-Kam Boyd[1]; 8. 8-Matthew Larson[8]; 9. B2-Brian Booze[17]; 10. 515-Bubba Roling[12]; 11. 49-Mario Gresham[9]; 12. 31S-Tim Swartz[16]; 13. 4G-Kale Green[11]; 14. 57-Landon Zakalowski[18]; 15. 119-Joe Belkey[10]; 16. (DNF) 17P-Rob Pitcher[15]; 17. (DNF) 00M-Monte Skinner[5]; 18. (DNF) 14Y-Dale Young[19]; 19. (DNF) 3-Luke Bennett[14]

Drellos Holds Off Lloyd in Thrilling Battle:
Feature 3 showcased an intense ten-lap shootout between Demetrios Drellos and Trynt Lloyd. Drellos, a past Sunshine Nationals prelim winner, fought off Lloyd's challenges and held on for the victory, leading 8 laps compared to Lloyd's 2. Nathan Bray finished in third after leading the opening laps, while Curtis Glover, the fastest qualifier, took fourth.

Feature 3 Results (20 Laps):
1-111-Demetrios Drellos[4]; 2. 2-Trynt Lloyd[9]; 3. 00-Ethan Wilson[8]; 4. 21-Nathan Bray[2]; 5. 30-Curtis Glover[1]; 6. D8-Dustin Linville[3]; 7. 257-Skylar Marlar[10]; 8. 86-Wil Herrington[11]; 9. 7A-Corey Almond[6]; 10. 39W-Brandon Wells[14]; 11. 67-Gregory Carrico[7]; 12. 23-Toby Sims[12]; 13. 20-Owen Osteen[13]; 14. 71C-Davy Cline[18]; 15. 18C-Miles Cook II[5]; 16. (DNF) 28L-Austin Leamon[16]; 17. (DNF) 24-Payton Stevenson[19]; 18. (DNF) 118-Jared Delk[15]; 19. (DNF) 1X-Ethan Whitis[17]

Whitener Dominates for Win Feature. 4:
Mark Whitener put on a clinic in Feature 4, leading every lap after starting on the pole and building a commanding lead. Whitener's dominant performance earned him his second Sunshine Nationals 604 Late Model victory and his fourth career Winter Shootout Series win. Jimmy Thomas charged through the field to finish second, with Kole Platt rounding out the top three.

Feature 4 Results (20 Laps):
1-5-Mark Whitener[1]; 2. USA1-Jimmy Thomas[10]; 3. 44P-Kole Platt[4]; 4. 721-Mikey Kopka[12]; 5. 28-Jake Rainey[5]; 6. 6-Dillon Brown[7]; 7. 611-Koulten Herbert[11]; 8. 52-Cody Karl[9]; 9. 2C-Zack Carley[8]; 10. 94-Holden Allen[16]; 11. 12C-Chase Giddens[6]; 12. 54T-Tuck Trentham[2]; 13. 17C-Jamie Maurice[15]; 14. 18I-Jason Intoppa[13]; 15. (DNF) 69-Wyatt Boyd[17]; 16. (DNF) 89-Timmie Harrelson[18]; 17. (DNF) 11-John Ownbey[3]; 18. (DNS) 35-Christian Augspurger

Looking Ahead: With the preliminary action now complete, all eyes turn to Saturday's championship showdown. Drivers will compete for a coveted spot in the $10,000-to-win main event, with the stage set for an exciting finale. Fans who can’t make it to Volusia Speedway Park can catch all the action live on DirtVision.

Saturday, January 25, 2025 Schedule:
12:00 p.m. – Pit Gates Open / Pit Pass Sales Begin
1:00 p.m. – Registration Opens
3:00 p.m. – Front Gates Open
3:15 p.m. – Drivers Meeting (World of Outlaws Late Models)
4:00 p.m. – Hot Laps and On-Track Action Begins

Stay tuned for more updates and follow along on social media for all the latest from the Sunshine Nationals!

Photos by: Zackary Washington (Simple Moments Photography)

Article Credit: Cody Earley