2/4/2023
Drake Troutman
Troutman tops Winternationals opener at East Bay Raceway Park
Back in action on Tuesday, Drake Troutman invaded East Bay Raceway Park (Gibsonton, Fla.) to kick off the UMP Modified Winternationals.
With 59 Modifieds on the grounds for the week-long event, Troutman followed up the fastest lap in time trials with a convincing heat race win. Starting the feature in second via the redraw, Drake flew past early pacesetter Tyler Nicely on the eighth circuit and dominated the remainder of the 25-lapper to claim his first win of the season. He took the checkers 3.301 seconds ahead of Kevin Adams with Allen Weisser, Ray Bollinger, and Brian Skaggs rounding out the top-five.
The following night, Drake held off a charging Rob Fuqua in his heat to pick up the eight-lap victory. Hanging onto a top-five finish in the feature, Troutman faded in the waning laps of the 25-lapper to place fifth.
On Thursday, Troutman came in first in his heat race before charging from fifth-to-second in the A-Main, securing his fifth consecutive top-five finish.
For Friday’s program, Drake secured his spot into the show with a third-to-first run in his heat race. Despite crossing the line in first in the feature, Troutman was penalized two positions following the race after officials deemed he jumped the final restart. He stood alongside Lucas Lee and Tyler Nicely on the podium.
Earning the pole for the $5,000-to-win Winternationals finale on Saturday via preliminary points, Drake rallied after a mid-race pit stop to swap out tires to finish fifth. He followed Lucas Lee, Rodney Wing, Allen Weisser, and Kyle Hammer across the line in the 75-lap affair.
Full results from the weekend are available at www.DIRTcar.com.
Article Credit: Jim DenHamer image
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