6/22/2024
Drake Troutman
Drake Troutman scores emotional victory during Firecracker 100 weekend at Lernerville Speedway
Drake Troutman enjoyed a career weekend behind the wheel of his Wheeler Fleet Solutions / CertainTeed No. 7 RFI Resources / Shoe’s Diesel Performance / Longhorn Race Car / Jay Dickens Racing Engine Super Late Model.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Year contender with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series raced to his first-career win with the series on Friday night during preliminary action for the 18th annual Firecracker 100 presented by Big River Steel. Additionally, he led laps in Saturday’s $50,000-to-win finale before settling into a fifth-place finish.
“I don’t even know what to say to be honest with you,” said the 19-year-old from Hyndman, Pennsylvania in Victory Lane on Friday night. “I didn’t think we would get one of those for a while for sure. I don’t know what to say, I am speechless. I’ve just got a bunch of kids working for me, and we are all giving it 110% every single night out here racing with the best in the business..”
“There was a pretty big cushion up there on the top side. We were just able to really race good there on the bottom. This Longhorn Chassis is really good. We’ve fought a lot of bad luck and just things happening, we are learning everyday on what not to do. We wanted to put on a good show for you fans. This one’s for my dad for sure.”
With the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS) in his home state of Pennsylvania over the weekend, Drake Troutman was one of 53 Super Late Models checked in at Lernerville Speedway (Sarver, Pa.) on Thursday for the opening round of the 18th annual Firecracker 100 presented by Big River Steel.
On night one of three, Troutman qualified fourth quickest in his stacked group before finishing runner-up in his heat race. Earning a spot in the second $5,000-to-win preliminary feature, Drake fought hard inside the Top-3 to round out the podium in third.
Hoping for two spots better on Friday, Drake set the bar in his qualifying group before winning his heat race which placed him on the pole for the first preliminary feature of the night. With another $5,000 payday up for grabs, Troutman wrestled with Mason Ziegler in the opening laps before pulling away and securing his first-career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory. Drake took the checkered flag over Ross Robinson and Tim McCreadie who completed the podium.
Heading into Saturday's main event with high hopes, Troutman led flag-to-flag in his heat race which put him on the pole for the 18th-running of the Firecracker 100. Leading a couple laps on the initial start, Drake ran inside the Top-3 until with less than 10 laps to go he slipped back a few more positions. After 100 laps, Troutman scored a fifth-place finish in the $50,000-to-win finale.
Full results from the extended weekend can be found at www.LucasDirt.com.
The team is currently evaluating whether or not they will race this coming weekend. Once details are finalized, they’ll be posted at www.DrakeTroutmanRacing.com.
Drake Troutman would like to thank his marketing partners, which include Wheeler Fleet Solutions, RFI Resources, XS Batteries, Shaffer Construction, Industrial Dock & Door Company, Shoe's Diesel Performance, Stone Natural Resources, Glassmere Fuel Service, D&R Trucking, Thunderhill Trucking, Rice Tire, Smith Warehouse, Coltman Farms Racing, Claar's Notary, ABC Supply Company, CertainTeed, Jerry's Siding, Roofing & Widows, Longhorn Chassis, Bilstein, Slicker Graphics, Arizona Sports Shirts, and MyRacePass.com Website & PR Services.
For the latest information on Drake Troutman Racing, please visit the team website at www.DrakeTroutmanRacing.com .
Article Credit: Heath Lawson photo
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