MESQUITE, Texas — Jason Johnson emerged from a wild, multi-car scramble for the lead through lapped traffic on Saturday night to complete a sweep of the 34th-annual Winter Nationals sanctioned by the O’Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour at Devil’s Bowl Speedway.
Johnson battled into the lead on the 10th of 25 rounds and led the rest of the way to secure the $5,000 victory atop the fabled half-mile clay oval, adding his name to a prestigious list of Devil’s Bowl Winter Nationals winners that includes the likes of sprint-car legends including Jan Opperman, Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell and Doug Wolfgang.
Johnson took his ninth O’Reilly ASCoT National triumph of the season, and 17th overall, aboard Lanny Row’s Wesmar-powered The Shop Motorsports/Custom Equipment Design No. 41 Eagle.
Wayne Johnson finished second, with Gary Wright third.
With the third-place finish, Wright put a virtual lock on a fourth consecutive ASCS National championship, a $50,000 prize. Wright escaped the night with a 68-point lead over Wayne Johnson with the Short Track Nationals at I-30 Speedway Oct. 25-27 remaining.
Johnny Miller posted his best ASCS National finish of the year by advancing from eighth to fourth, while Jack Dover, who led early, finished fifth.
The finish:
Jason Johnson, Wayne Johnson, Gary Wright, Johnny Miller, Jack Dover, Nick Smith, Gary Taylor, Travis Rilat, Kevin Ramey, Kenny Adams, Matt Clevenger, Trey Robb, Kenneth Walker, Koby Barksdale, Foster Landon, Kaley Gharst, George White, Lorne Wofford, Kolt Walker, Zach Chappell, Darren Stewart, Jared Zimbardi, Andy Shouse, Jeff Mitrisin, Brian Brown.