6/25/2023
Ashton Winger
Winger captures seventh-career Summer Nationals victory at Davenport
Continuing his trip out in the Midwest, Ashton Winger traveled to Moberly Motorsports Park (Moberly, Mo.) on Tuesday afternoon with his Mathews Motorsports No. 12 Late Model to kick off Week Two of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals Hell Tour.
Drawing 32 Late Models, Winger topped the charts in his qualifying group before picking up the win in his heat race. Rolling off from the third position in the first $5,000-to-win feature of the week, Ashton completed two laps before mechanical issues forced him to pull off early. He was scored 22nd in the final rundown.
Looking for a better outing at Davenport Speedway (Davenport, Iowa) on Wednesday, Ashton picked off two competitors in his heat race to finish runner-up which positioned him on the third-row of the feature. With the front-runners battling ahead of him for the $5,000 prize, Winger steadily picked up spots in the 40-lap feature on the top side. Dueling with brothers Chris and Chad Simpson, Ashton wound up his No. 12 machine on the lip and took the lead for good on lap 36. Winger pocketed $5,000 for his efforts and outlasted Chris Simpson, Jason Feger, Chad Simpson, and Frank Heckenast Jr. who completed the Top-5.
With Thursday's event cancelled, Winger was one of 48 Late Models at Brownstown Bullring (Brownstown, Ill.) on Friday afternoon. Receiving a provisional for the $10,000-to-win feature, Ashton stormed through the field and went from 24th-to-9th in the 50-lap feature.
Traveling to Federated Raceway at I-55 (Pevely, Mo.) on Saturday, Ashton topped the charts in qualifying and picked up the victory in his heat race. Rolling off from the outside pole in the $10,000 feature, Winger took the lead on lap 25 and led to the white flag before he was overtaken by Stormy Scott on the final lap. He trailed Stormy while Drake Troutman, Frank Heckenast Jr., and Jason Feger completed the Top-5.
Wrapping up the week at Lincoln Speedway (Lincoln, Ill.) on Sunday, Winger once again sat atop the qualifying charts but settled for a runner-up finish in his heat. Falling back to seventh early in the $5,000-to-win feature, Winger maneuvered his way back to the third position to land a podium finish.
Ashton wound up third in the "Four State Week" point standings.
Full results from the events available at www.DIRTcarSummerNationals.com.
Article Credit: Brendon Bauman Photos
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