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Winger wins final two Hell Tour events, finishes second in standings

Ashton Winger ended his freshman year on DIRTcar Nationals trail with a bang. The Georgia racer won the final two races of the miniseries at Michigan’s Tri-City Motor Speedway and Merritt Speedway. (Terry Page photos)

He collected $10,000 for each victory in his E-Z-GO No. 12 Dekalb / Johnny Doan Plumbing/ Keyser Manufacturing/ XR1 Rocket Chassis / Pro Power Racing Engine Super Late Model. With the triumphs his 2021-win total grew to eight.

“The way we’re running right now, I almost wish this deal was just getting started,” the 21-year-old Winger said following Saturday night’s victory at Merritt Speedway. “The good thing about winning this one is we can celebrate it a while. When you run every day like we do on this deal, people forget about who wins pretty quick. Finishing it up the way we did, winning both of these last two races, it’s going to be something cool to look back on. I’ve had a blast, but now I’m excited to head back to Georgia. I even get to race at my home track (Senoia Raceway) this Saturday, so I’m really looking forward to that.”

Ashton Winger invaded Butler Motor Speedway (Butler, Mich.) on Wednesday afternoon, where he entered his Johnny Doan Plumbing No. 12 Late Model into battle for the final week with the DIRTcar Summer Nationals.

After topping the 24-car field in time trials, Winger outdueled Rusty Schlenk in his heat race to pick up the win. Receiving the third-starting position for the $5,000-to-win A-Main via the redraw, Ashton nosed ahead of Devin Moran late in the 40-lapper to secure a runner-up finish. He followed Bobby Pierce across the line with Moran, Mitch McGrath, and Rusty Schlenk rounding out the Top-5.

On Thursday at I-96 Speedway (Lake Odessa, Mich.) with another $5,000 prize on the line, Ashton came in third in his heat before passing four cars in the feature to register a third-place finish.

The following night at Tri-City Motor Speedway (Auburn, Mich.), Winger’s 10-lap heat race win promoted him into the redraw. Rolling off third, Ashton tracked down early pacesetter Frank Heckenast Jr. on the 18th circuit and stole the lead on an ensuing restart. He turned back Devin Moran’s late charge to capture his seventh win of the season and a $10,000 prize. Moran, Heckenast Jr., Tanner English, and Donna Marcoullier trailed him to the checkers.

To wrap up his first year on tour with the DIRTcar Summer Nationals, Ashton stopped at Merritt Speedway (Merritt, Mich.) on Saturday evening. With a heat race win sending him into the redraw, Winger slipped back to second on the start but began closing in on fellow front-row starter Travis Stemler on lap 15. Rocketing past the leader two circuits later, Ashton streaked to his second win as many nights over Devin Moran, Stemler, Chad Finley, and Tanner English. He earned $10,000 for his eighth win of the season along with the $2,000 for the weekly points title.

He was also awarded a $11,600 payday for finishing second in the DIRTcar Summer Nationals point standings.

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