

1/26/2025
Crate Racin' USA
Wilson Claims First Career Winter Shootout Series Victory at Volusia
(Barberville, FL - January 25, 2025) – Ethan Wilson, from Fayetteville, North Carolina, picked up his first-ever Rogers-Dabbs Performance Parts Crate Racin' USA Winter Shootout Series win at Volusia Speedway Park on Saturday night. Wilson took home the $10,000 prize after a thrilling battle for the lead, holding off Mark Whitener in the final laps.
Wilson, visibly excited after his victory, shared his thoughts: "I was a little nervous, but I knew I was really good. I had to hit my marks coming to the green and just do my job getting through the corners. The cars are great, this was my first time in this race car, so thanks to Steve Arpin, Matt Langston, and all the guys at Longhorn. That was the most fun I’ve had in a race car in a really long time!"
A packed field of 36 drivers took the green flag for the 30-lap main event on Saturday night at Volusia. The race was filled with action and a series of early cautions. On the opening lap, a major incident occurred when Wyatt Boyd of Lancaster, KY, got sideways coming out of turn four, collecting multiple cars including Chase Giddens and Austin Yarbrough. This brought out the red flag, freezing the field.
After the restart, Hayden Cardwell jumped out to an early lead, but the race was again slowed by a caution on lap 2 when Jamie Maurice slowed at the top of turn four. Cardwell continued to lead after the restart, but his momentum was again interrupted with another caution on lap 12, this time for Boyd’s slowing car on the back straightaway.
The action picked up when Sam Seawright of Fort Payne, AL, took the lead on lap 13, holding off Cardwell for the next several laps. However, the race took another turn on lap 22 when Toby Sims of St. Augustine, FL, slowed off turn four, stacking the field behind him.
As the final laps approached, Seawright remained in the lead, but Wilson and Whitener were closing in fast. Wilson applied constant pressure and, with just nine laps to go, made his move to take the lead from Seawright. Whitener quickly followed suit, moving into second as Wilson pulled away.
A caution with just two laps to go, caused by an engine failure from Hayden Cardwell, set up a final dash to the finish. Wilson, Whitener, and a strong pack of competitors—including Zack Carley, Jake Rainey, Michael Page, and Wil Herrington—raced to the checkered flag, but it was Wilson who held on for his first career Winter Shootout Series win.
In addition to the thrilling victory, the night also saw notable performances, including Will Herrington’s impressive +29 position gain, moving from 35th to 6th, earning him the ATC Bolts & Fasteners Hard Charger Award. Kole Platt set a new track record with a fast time of 16.786 seconds, earning him the STAKT by CV Racing Products Fastest Qualifier honor.
Race 6 of 2025 - Volusia Speedway Park (1/25/25)
1-00 Ethan Wilson-Fayetteville, NC
2-5 Mark Whitener-Middleburg, FL
3-2C Zack Carley-Freedom, NY
4-28 Jake Rainey-Powder Springs, GA
5-18X Michael Page-Douglasville, TN
6-86 Wil Herrington-Hawkinsville, GA
7-49 Mario Gresham-Rome, GA
8-7 Corey Neil Jr.-Bridge City, TX
9-111 Demetrios Drellos-Queensbury, NY
10-99 Kyle Hardy-Stephens City, VA
11-16S Sam Seawright-Fort Payne, AL
12-31S Tim Swartz-Ormond Beach, FL
13-126 Kaede Loudy-Rogersville, TN
14-16 Caleb Gay-Dublin, GA
15-721 Mikey Kopka-Astor, FL
16-67S Garret Stewart-Fruitland Park, FL
17-USA1 Jimmy Thomas-Phenix City, AL
18-44P Kole Platt-Callahan, FL
19-52 Cody Karl-Gulfport, MS
20-4G Kale Green-Pelion, SC
21-611 Koulten Herbert-Locust Grove, GA
22-24 Payton Stevenson-Locust Grove, GA
23-07 Hayden Cardwell-Knoxville, TN
24-2S Layton Sullivan-Gaffney, SC
25-00M Monte Skinner
26-6 Dillon Brown-Gaffney, SC
27-21 Nathan Bray-Hull, GA
28-7T Tyler Thomason-Phenix City, AL
29-7J Dalton Jacobs-Reidsville, NC
30-35 Christian Augspurger-West Palm Beach, FL
31-23 Toby Sims-St. Augustine, FL
32-69 Wyatt Boyd-Lancaster, KY
33-17C Jamie Maurice-Forsyth, GA
34-12C Chase Giddens-Moultrie, GA
35-18B Austin Yarbrough-Little River, SC
36-515 Bubba Roling-Clay Hill, FL
Car Count: 69 cars
Lap Leaders:
Sam Seawright-13
Ethan Wilson=9
Hayden Cardwell-8
ATC Bolts & Fasteners - Hard Charger:
Will Herrington (+29) 35th to 6th
STAKT by CV Racing Products - Fastest Qualifier:
#44 Kole Platt - 16.786 (New Track Record)
Rogers Dabbs Chevrolet B-main winners:
B1 - #126 Kaede Loudy
B2 - #2 Layton Sullivan
B3 - #18 Austin Yarbrough
B4- #721 Mikey Kopka
The Crate Racin' USA Winter Shootout Series will now head to Sweetwater, TN, for the 7th Annual Sweetheart event at the I-75 Raceway on Saturday, February 15, 2025. The race will offer a $3,000-to-win payday. Fans can catch all the action live on Crate Racin' USA TV if they can't make it to the track.
Crate Racin' USA Winter Shootout Series Points (After Volusia)
1-Sam Seawright-Fort Payne, AL | 274(-)
2-Jimmy Thomas-Phenix City, AL | 262(-12)
3-Hayden Cardwell-Knoxville, TN | 242(-32)
4-Wil Herrington-Hawkinsville, GA | 236(-38)
5-Jake Rainey-Powder Springs, GA | 212(-62)
6-Koulten Herbert-Locust Grove, GA | 212(-62)
7-Austin Yarbrough-Little River, SC | 210(-64)
8-Payton Stevenson-Locust Grove, GA | 204(-70)
9-Mark Whitener-Middleburg, FL | 196(-78)
10-Ethan Wilson-Fayetteville, NC | 194(-80)
For rules and information on both the Rogers Dabbs Performance Parts Crate Racin' USA Winter Shootout Series (604 Late Models) visit our website at www.crateracinusa.com or email us at crateracinusa@gmail.com.
Crate Racin' USA would like to thank it's marketing partners Rogers Dabbs Performance Parts , Chevrolet Performance, Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, VP Racing Lubricants, KRC Power Steering, Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, Willy's Carb & Dyno Shop, LLC, Competition Racing Equipment, Cruise with the Champions, Savage Chassis, BMF Race Cars, Velocita by Melissa Markewitz, Eagle Racing Engines, Hickman Manufacturing, ATC Bolts & Fasteners, and Sin City Bail Bonds.
Article Credit: Cody Earley