Whynot Motorsports Park

MERIDIAN, Miss. — Dennis Erb Jr. couldn’t remember how many times he’d tried to win the Coors Light Fall Classic at Whynot Motorsports Park. He only knew that he’d been close more than once. Just how close had the Carpentersville, Ill., driver come in 10 previous starts?

He was the 2011 runner-up, finished third in 2017, was fourth last year and twice — ’15-’16 — finished fifth. Twice Erb also won his preliminary heat race (2015 and 2017) and twice he had led a few laps early in the 100-lapper, ’15 and ’17 again. He was also the overall fast qualifier in 2017.

On Saturday Erb put all the near misses behind him as he led 70 laps — including the final 34 — to win the 26th annual Coors Light Fall Classic, becoming the event’s 12th different winner in the last 12 races. He led on three occasions, taking the lead for good when Tyler Erb (no relation) of New Waverly, Texas, slowed with a broken lift bar just before completing lap 67.

Outdistancing fourth-starting Cade Dillard of Robeline, La., by 2.049 seconds, Erb Jr. earned $15,000 for his third overall victory of the season. Sixth-starting Spencer Hughes of Meridian, improved three positions to finish third, while Dane Dacus of Lakeland, Tenn., the event’s fast qualifier, finished fourth after starting fifth. Eleventh-starting Jason Hiett of Oxford, Ala., completed the top five.

Twice Erb Jr. led in the first 50 laps only to let his lead get away. But both times he was in the right spot to capitalize when he needed to. He led the first 21 circuits before giving way to Dillard in traffic. After reclaiming the lead from Dillard on a lap-35 restart, Erb Jr. led the next 15 laps before giving way to Tyler Erb as they completed lap 51. But as Erb Jr. stalked Tyler Erb in traffic on lap 66, Tyler Erb slowed suddenly in turn four and pulled up the track, handing the lead back to Erb Jr.

“It’s hard when you’re up front and then you get passed there,” Erb Jr. said. “The race is still long. We were early into the race, so I wasn’t really too worried about it. I knew as long as I could run with everybody, I would be alright. The car was good and when I needed to go, I could push on a little longer.”

Erb Jr. took his initial lead from his outside front row starting spot, pulling ahead of polesitter Michael Arnold of Hattiesburg, Miss., on the opening lap. Dillard quickly got by Arnold as well, never letting Erb Jr. get too far ahead early. He was there to grab the lead as the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series regulars sliced through traffic.

“We were really good through the beginning there and the middle,” Dillard said. “We just got really free about halfway on and just didn’t have nothing for (Erb Jr.) after that. We’re just gonna have to do some homework and see if we can figure out why. This has happened on several different occasions and it doesn’t seem to be tire related. We’re just gonna have to do some work and see if we can’t get better on these long races.”

With the departure of Tyler Erb on lap 66, Dillard was third behind Hughes and Erb Jr. He managed to slip by Hughes, but could no longer keep pace with Erb Jr., who pulled away to lead by as much as a straightaway late in the distance.

“I didn’t have a really good car (late in the race), so I didn’t think I would even be able to run second,” said Dillard. “I just found the rubber before Spencer did. That’s kinda the only way I was able to get by him. (Hughes) had a good car. If he would’ve found the rubber before me, that’s where he would’ve finished. It’s frustrating to have such a good car early on and not finish at all, but we’re definitely happy with second. Dennis was really fast tonight, so congrats to him. We’ll just build from it and go on.”

Erb Jr. led by as much as three seconds over the final 34 laps. His only scare came while negotiating lapped traffic with about 15 laps to go as a gaggle of cars got together in turn two, forcing the leader to take evasive action.

“I was just trying to keep an eye out in front of us there,” said Erb Jr. “I knew there was a pack right there so when I seen that I made a quick right hand turn to get up the hill a little bit and get out of the way. You just gotta watch for all that stuff. You never know what’s going to happen.”

After that, Erb Jr. settled in behind 11th-running Rick Rickman of Columbus, Miss., and stayed in line to close out the race.

“I knew I had a decent lead. (Crew chief) Heather (Lyne) was up there (signaling) and I knew that we were gonna be alright just like that, so there was no reason to push the issue,” the winner said. “I was trying to just drive it out and not hurt a tire or anything like that. I knew the racetrack was taking a little rubber there on the bottom and the car was getting tight, so we were just trying to maintain there.”

Feature Finish: 1) Dennis Erb Jr., 2) Cade Dillard, 3) Spencer Hughes, 4) Dane Dacus, 5) Jason Hiett, 6) Michael Arnold, 7) Tanner English, 8) Josh Richards, 9) Chase Junghans, 10) Sam Seawright, 11) Rick Rickman, 12) Joseph Joiner, 13) Dean Carpenter, 14) Billy Franklin, 15) Jamie Elam, 16) Tyler Erb, 17) Billy Moyer, 18) Jonathan Davenport, 19) Klint Byers, 20) Chad Thrash, 21) Mike Marlar, 22) David Breazeale, 23) Brian Rickman, 24) Justin McRee