The Masters division was dominated by Josh Mullins through the first four rounds of the five round 2023 Winter Nationals. On Friday, a new Masters driver parked his Legend Car on the frontstretch of Citrus County Speedway. Robbie Woodall had previously finished second three times this week but in Round 5, he sat on the pole and led the majority of the race. Mullins led only briefly in the middle of the race, but when Woodall retook the lead, he never looked back, capturing his first win in the final race of the series. Despite his second-place finish, Mullins won the Masters Championship.
“This has been a really magical week for me,” said Mullins. He captured the first four wins of the week before finishing second in the fifth round.
“It really kind of started back in Vegas back in November when we won the Asphalt Nationals. We ended up getting disqualified for a light driveshaft, so came here looking to prove my point that it wasn’t a fluke and we were able to win four (races) in a row. My buddy (Robbie Woodall) he got the fifth one, so I’m happy with that. Got the overall championship which was my ultimate goal. Very happy for having my sponsors Propel Change Global and Patriot Party News. Thank you for my family for coming out and supporting. It’s been a magical week and a lot of fun.”
Wyatt Coffey not only secured the Bandits championship at Winter Nationals on Friday, he captured his first win of the series, too. It wasn’t easy however, as he was challenged by championship contenders Colt Johnson and Lane Christensen for the majority of the race, with all three swapping control of the race. In turn on Lap 13, Johnson and Christensen tangled, sending the latter into the wall and the former to the rear of the field. This left Coffey at the front on his own. Ultimately the race met the time limit and ended under caution, granting Coffey the win and the championship.
“I’d like to thank Mike Gordon, ArborLife, Bradley’s Trucking, Atlanta Paving, NT Auto Sales, and everyone who is important to me and helps me back at home,” said Coffey. “It feels really good to win and get a championship in my hands.”
Coffey finished second twice, third, and eighth before winning in Friday’s fifth round.
Friday’s Semi-Pro event had limited interruptions for spins but was in Mason Lastra’s control all the way. The heaviest threats came on the restarts the final of which came on Lap 16. By the time Lastra crossed the start/finish line with one lap to go, his lead was comfortable and piloted his car around one more circuit to claim his third win in three days, but still came up short in the championship by 18 points behind eventual champion, Carson Haislip.
“I think this week was really good,” said Haislip. “Started off on the good side and won our first race. We had mechanical issues in that car so we switched. We didn’t have as good of luck that day. We qualified 13th, made our way up to sixth. Yesterday (Thursday) we had to fight our way up there for the points. We started third, got moved [and] wrecked basically. [I] had to come from the back, went to third and that saved our points championship. It was a really good week. First ever week in Semi-Pro and I very pleased on how things finished.”
Overcoming troubles, Haislip never finished worse than 7th this week, collecting three podium finishes.
The fifth and final Pro division feature was the quickest of the week, having only a single caution for Landen Lewis’ spin after contact with Jason Alder. At the front, Joel Smith sat comfortably in the lead after a few laps of checking his mirrors for challenges from Donovan Strauss and Ethan Norfleet. With Smith several car lengths ahead, the race to watch was for second which included Norfleet, Strauss, Jensen Jorgensen, and Landon Rapp. At the end of the race, it was Norfleet, followed by Jorgensen, Strauss, and Rapp. At the checkered flag, Strauss earned enough points to secure the Pro division championship for himself.
“I’d never even seen Citrus County Speedway until Monday morning,” said Strauss. “I can’t thank Keith, Johnny’s Pizza from Stockbridge, my mom, Josh Hicks for all the work he did on the car, my teammates, my family, my friends, everyone for supporting me – it’s all because of them. I had a purpose this week of winning. That’s all I had and I showed up.”
Strauss was up towards the front of every Pro race, collecting three wins and two fourth-place finishes in his championship effort.
Jayden Johnson was the driver the rest of the Outlaw field had been chasing since Monday, and on Friday, he finally was dethroned. Several restarts were scattered across the 20-lap feature and each time, Ben Morabito wasn’t able to take control, with the exception for a few laps in the first half of the race. Johnson passed Morabito on the Lap 7 restart when Morabito got loose in turn two. With just a few laps remaining, Johnson and Morabito quickly approached a slower car. Racing hard, Johnson bobbled and Morabito scooted away, taking the checkered flag and denying Johnson the sweep, but not the championship.
“We won four races. [In the] last one got second-place,” said Outlaws Champion Jayden Johnson. “This is all possible with my sponsors Johnson and Sons Paving, Pavepal, my mom, my dad, my stepmom Lindsey, Justin and Bob.”
The most unpredictable division of the 2023 Winter Nationals were the Young Lions. Through four days and four rounds, the division had produced four different winners. On Friday, Cooper Gaul looked to become a two-time Young Lions feature winner, however, Max Reaves did everything he could to prevent that from happening – and he did. The pair dueling alongside Gage Gilby and Garrett Erwin at the front of the pack was intense. Aggression was high and the final pass for the lead came with 3 laps to go in turn one, when Reaves moved Gaul up the track and battled door-to-door through the two laps to go signal from the flagman. Reaves prevailed and captured the win.
“Last year we came here trying to get the feel of things for Young Lions,” said Young Lions Champion Gage Gilby. “This year we came down with a little more confidence, little more speed, and we got it done.”
Aside from a 13th place finish in Round 2, Gilby finished inside the top three in the other four rounds of Winter Nationals, including a win in Round 4.
Harley Johnson and Brexton Busch had been the best two Beginner Bandolero cars during the 2023 Winter Nationals, with Busch winning two races and Johnson not winning the other two, as both had gone to Gerald White III. Johnson looked to change that on Friday. But the mission to win the fifth and final round came to an early end when on the first lap, Johnson lost control of his Bandolero in turn four and spun, collecting Corbin Cannon, ending both their days. Busch held on, surviving all restarts to win his third Beginner Bandolero race of the week, and clinch the division’s championship.
Busch captured the Beginner Bandolero win in Rounds 1, 3, and 5 of the 2023 Winter Nationals. He finished sixth in Round 2 and fourth in Round 4.
Bloodworth shot to the lead and Viverito filled in the second. A caution on lap 11 for Isaac Kitzmiller spinning in turn three restacked the field. Bloodworth was trailed by Viverito, but markovic took second off turn four on the restart. She wasn’t able to catch Bloodworth, even with two late-race restarts, leading him to take the win for the fifth straight day. In the Chargers B Main, Gracie Crocker lead the first 12 laps until on Lap 13 Karter Beattie passed her and led the final three laps to win the caution-free race. Bloodworth’s victory in the A Main, wrapped up the Chargers championship in a bow, and was the only driver to sweep a division at the 2023 Winter Nationals.
“It’s great to win all five races,” said Bloodworth. “It’s hard to win races, especially in Legend Cars. I had a great opportunity and I couldn’t be here with my dad and mom, gigi, papaw, Doug Stevens, Noah Cornman and 77 Speed Shop. I can’t thank them all enough for getting me here. We’re proud!”
PRO
FEATURE 5 (25 Laps): 1. 24-Joel Smith[1]; 2. 56-Ethan Norfleet[3]; 3. 32-Jensen Jorgensen[8]; 4. 51-Donovan Strauss[2]; 5. 28R-Landon Rapp[5]; 6. 23-Tristan McKee[10]; 7. 1-Alex McCollum[9]; 8. 77-Jason Alder[11]; 9. 62-Landen Lewis[7]; 10. 5-Garrett Gumm[6]; 11. 72-Nick Woodall[4]; 12. 8-Colin Stocker[12]; 13. 78-Colton Crocker[14]; 14. 45-Jacob Bradley[13]; 15. 84-Xavier King[15]; 16. (DNS) 57-Bryce Applegate; 17. (DNS) 84B-Kyle Beattie; 18. (DNS) 88-Cameron Bolin; 19. (DNS) 46-Kaleb Bradley; 20. (DNS) 22-Gianni Esposito; 21. (DNS) 4NH-Thomas Everson; 22. (DNS) 00-Gavin Graham; 23. (DNS) B1-Brenton Irving; 24. (DNS) 16-Josh Speas; 25. (DNS) 2-Austin Thompson
-FINAL POINTS-
- 482 – Donovan Strauss (3 wins)
- 453 – Jensen Jorgensen
- 451 – Landen Lewis
- 439 – Joel Smith (1 win)
- 410 – Ethan Norfleet
- 405 – Landon Rapp
- 405 – Alex McCollum
- 398 – Jason Alder
- 390 – Tristan McKee
- 389 – Garrett Gumm
- 382 – Colin Stocker
- 371 – Nick Woodall
- 358 – Colton Crocker
- 355 – Xavier King
- 345 – Bradley Jacob
- 329 – Cameron Bolin (1 win)
- 280 – Kaleb Bradley
- 266 – Josh Speas
- 265 – Thomas Everson
- 238 – Austin Thompson
- 204 – Gianni Esposito
- 130 – Brenton Irving
- 63 – Bryce Applegate
- 60 – Gavin Graham
- 0 – Kyle Beattie
MASTERS
FEATURE 5 (25 Laps): 1. 77-Robbie Woodall[1]; 2. 21M-Josh Mullins[2]; 3. 93-Kevin Rollins[7]; 4. 77B-Darrell Buckingham[5]; 5. 66-Daryl Mahar[6]; 6. 57-Kevin Foisy[4]; 7. 84-Lee Jordan[3]; 8. 40-Brian Weimer[8]; 9. 5M-Brandon Mckenzie[11]; 10. 5-Brandin Wrisley[9]; 11. 19-John Robbins[10]; 12. 08B-Spencer Bragg[13]; 13. 31-Giles Martin[12]; 14. 08-Steve Gareau[16]; 15. 87-Mike Mazzagatti[14]; 16. 19D-Donald McCormick[17]; 17. 10-Rob Alestock[19]; 18. 15-Scott Kinsman[20]; 19. 09V-Brad Vanhouton[18]; 20. 24-Ray Fitzgerald[15]; 21. (DNS) 2B-Chris Byerly; 22. (DNS) 9-Corey Crisafulli; 23. (DNS) 57H-Scott Heintz; 24. (DNS) 78-Andy James; 25. (DNS) H2O-Doug Stevens; 26. (DNS) 2-Jim Sylvester; 27. (DNS) 09-Michael Van Houten Jr.
-FINAL POINTS-
- 497 – Josh Mullins (4 wins)
- 454 – Robbie Woodall (1 win)
- 440 – Kevin Foisy
- 430 – Brandon McKenzie
- 428 – Darrell Buckingham
- 423 – Kevin Rollins
- 416 – Brian Weimer
- 389 – John Robbins
- 373 – Brandin Wrisley
- 364 – Steve Gareau
- 354 – Ray Fitzgerald
- 351 – Daryl Mahar
- 351 – Giles Martin
- 350 – Mike Mazzagatti
- 339 – Donald McCormick
- 334 – Rob Alestock
- 325 – Scott Kinsman
- 306 – Brad Van Houten
- 294 – Jim Sylvester
- 242 – Lee Jordan
- 210 – Spencer Bragg
- 202 – Chris Byerly
- 198 – Scott Heintz
- 0 – Doug Stevens
- 0 – Andy James
- 0 – Corey Crisafulli
- 0 – Michael Van Houten Jr.
SEMI-PRO
FEATURE 5 (25 Laps): 1. 17-Mason Lastra[1]; 2. 08-Carson Haislip[3]; 3. 60-Shawn English[5]; 4. 77-Jadan Bowling[2]; 5. 55-George Phillips[4]; 6. 72-Luke Yarbrough[6]; 7. 01-Brody Gunter[16]; 8. 98-Sean McElearney[13]; 9. 66-Owen Mahar[17]; 10. 9-Jackson Reynolds[8]; 11. 8-Trevor Wester[7]; 12. 31M-Sam Mazzo[19]; 13. 0-Jerrod Holle[12]; 14. 31-Jason Treschl[22]; 15. 9C-Michael Crafton[9]; 16. 81-Karlin Ray[10]; 17. 71-Nick Morabito[21]; 18. 9V-Chase VanHouten[14]; 19. 164-Tyler Ledbetter[20]; 20. 4-Preston Wrisley[24]; 21. 51J-Josh Inglis[23]; 22. 22-Taylor Corum[11]; 23. 5X-Jesse Martinez[15]; 24. 9W-Sterling Wrisley[18]
B Feature 1 (12 Laps): 1. 71-Nick Morabito[1]; 2. 31-Jason Treschl[6]; 3. 51J-Josh Inglis[3]; 4. 4-Preston Wrisley[5]; 5. 26-JT Poole[2]; 6. 84-Noah Healey[4]; 7. 96-John Palmer Pisle[8]; 8. 316-Adam Walker[7]; 9. 51-Leroy Kimball[9]; 10. (DNS) 18-Chris Kuhn; 11. (DNS) 04-Cameron Murray; 12. (DNS) 64-Lucas Vera
-FINAL POINTS-
- 461 – Carson Haislip (1 win)
- 443 – Mason Lastra (3 wins)
- 432 – George Phillips
- 432 – Sean McElearney
- 408 – Trevor Wester
- 394 – Jadan Bowling (1 win)
- 394 – Michael Crafton
- 394 – Owen Mahar
- 390 – Shawn English
- 384 – Jackson Reynolds
- 384 – Luke Yarbrough
- 370 – Sam Mazzo
- 368 – Jerrod Holle
- 360 – Nick Morabito
- 353 – Jesse Martinez
- 345 – Karlin Ray
- 344 – Taylor Corum
- 338 – Sterling Wrisley
- 337 – Chase Van Houten
- 329 – Brody Gunter
- 329 – Tyler Ledbetter
- 325 – Preston Wrisley
- 249 – Lucas Vera
- 210 – Cameron Murray
- 130 – Josh Inglis
- 70 – Jason Treschl
- 62 – Chris Kuhn
- 0 – JT Poole
- 0 – Adam Walker
- 0 – John Palmer Pisle
- 0 – Leroy Kimball
- 0 – Noah Healey
YOUNG LIONS
FEATURE 5 (25 Laps): 1. 88-Max Reaves[4]; 2. 25-Gage Gilby[9]; 3. 8-Cooper Gaul[1]; 4. 9-Garrett Erwin[8]; 5. 95-London McKenzie[15]; 6. 79-Neal Dulin[16]; 7. 18-Alex Meggs[3]; 8. 24-Ayden Christensen[10]; 9. 23-Beckham Malone[6]; 10. 36-Ty Fredrickson[11]; 11. 29-Cole Robie[13]; 12. 33-Clayton Bohanon[20]; 13. 93-Aidan Walker[17]; 14. 21-Nathan Lyons[18]; 15. 31-Darren Krantz Jr[2]; 16. 62-Keelan Harvick[5]; 17. 10-Kevin Davis[19]; 18. 12-Ayrton Brockhouse[14]; 19. 81-Hunter Jordan[7]; 20. 124-Jackson Denton[12]
-FINAL POINTS-
- 457 – Gage Gilby (1 win)
- 455 – Garrett Erwin
- 450 – Cooper Gaul (1 win)
- 427 – Max Reaves (1 win)
- 423 – London McKenzie
- 414 – Jackson Denton (1 win)
- 396 – Beckham Malone
- 390 – Keelan Harvick
- 387 – Neal Dulin
- 386 – Ty Fredrickson
- 379 – Ayrton Brockhouse (1 win)
- 376 – Cole Robie
- 373 – Nathan Lyons
- 372 – Hunter Jordan
- 371 – Darren Krantz Jr.
- 370 – Alex Meggs
- 363 – Aidan Walker
- 343 – Kevin Davis
- 234 – Ayden Christensen
- 132 – Isaac Kitzmiller
- 74 – Clayton Bohanon
OUTLAWS
FEATURE 5 (20 Laps): 1. 17-Ben Morabito[3]; 2. 8-Jayden Johnson[1]; 3. 24-Ayden Christensen[5]; 4. 88-Cohen Henze[6]; 5. 2M-Killian McMann[2]; 6. 24B-Bryson Brinkley[14]; 7. 38-Emma Britt[4]; 8. 8E-Carter Erickson[7]; 9. 78-Atley Wiese[8]; 10. 33-Cullen O'Connor[15]; 11. 15-Alison Johnson[13]; 12. 000-Lincoln Johnson[19]; 13. 35-Owen Zacharias[12]; 14. 21-Sarah Whitesell[16]; 15. 9-TJ Moon[10]; 16. 97-Daniel Vandenburg[9]; 17. 41-Mandi Lee[17]; 18. 68-Wyatt Dent[11]; 19. 2-Lily Whynot[18]; 20. (DNS) 31-Darren Krantz Jr
-FINAL POINTS-
- 497 – Jayden Johnson (4 wins)
- 468 – Ayden Christensen
- 464 – Killian McMann
- 424 – Ben Morabito (1 win)
- 423 – TJ Moon
- 418 – Alison Johnson
- 407 – Cohen Henze
- 400 – Atley Wiese
- 398 – Emma Britt
- 396 – Bryson Brinkley
- 380 – Cullen O’Connor
- 374 – Owen Zacharias
- 372 – Carter Erickson
- 367 – Wyatt Dent
- 362 – Daniel Vandenburg
- 346 – Sarah Whitesell
- 341 – Lincoln Johnson
- 339 – Mandi Lee
- 334 – Lily Whynot
- 0 – Darren Krantz Jr.
BANDITS
FEATURE 5 (20 Laps): 1. 2-Wyatt Coffey[1]; 2. 26-Laquan McCoy[6]; 3. 11-Bryson Carlbert[3]; 4. 87-Chloe Mazzagatti[12]; 5. 14-Parker Davis[10]; 6. 9S-Jack Smith[9]; 7. 24-Colt Johnson[5]; 8. 88-Grayson Ikard[16]; 9. 9-Carson Sherman[13]; 10. 22-Bentley Thompson[4]; 11. 46-Lane Christensen[2]; 12. 13-Luka Dib[15]; 13. 3-Levi Morrow[8]; 14. 37-Carson Cauble[17]; 15. 04J-James Monolo[11]; 16. 18-Matthew Laprade[14]; 17. 38L-Billy Lee[7]
-FINAL POINTS-
- 470 – Wyatt Coffey (1 win)
- 455 – Colt Johnson (1 win)
- 453 – Jack Smith
- 443 – LaQuan McCoy (1 win)
- 436 – Lane Christensen (2 wins)
- 424 – Billy Lee
- 409 – Chloe Mazzagatti
- 406 – Bryson Carlbert
- 403 – Bentley Thompson
- 396 – Parker Davis
- 393 – Carson Cauble
- 379 – Levi Morrow
- 374 – Carson Sherman
- 365 – Matthew Laprade
- 364 – Luka Dib
- 344 – James Monolo
- 285 – Grayson Ikard
CHARGERS
FEATURE 5 (15 Laps): 1. 24-Austin Bloodworth[1]; 2. 87-Anastasia Markovic[4]; 3. 88J-Joseph Viverito[3]; 4. 1X-Cameron White[7]; 5. 20-Evan McKnight[2]; 6. 99-Spencer Bradshaw[5]; 7. 23-Josh Lowe[6]; 8. 06-Olivia Murray[8]; 9. 97-Isaac Kitzmiller[9]; 10. 1-Austin Harrison[10]; 11. 4-Katelyn Hicks[12]; 12. 88-Phoenyx Kimball[11]
B Feature 1 (15 Laps): 1. 7-Karter Beattie[2]; 2. 78-Gracie Crocker[1]; 3. 51K-Aiden King[4]; 4. 13-Ayden Brockhouse[3]; 5. 75-Makenna Crocker[6]; 6. 51-Raven Kimball[5]; 7. 25-Nate Morris[7]; 8. 29-Kendall VanHouten[8]; 9. (DNS) 08-Noah Haislip; 10. (DNS) 57H-Gabe Heintz; 11. (DNS) 9-Abi Johnson; 12. (DNS) 84-Brandon Montgomery
-FINAL POINTS-
- 500 – Austin Bloodworth (5 wins)
- 454 – Anastasia Markovic
- 451 – Joseph Viverito
- 418 – Spencer Bradshaw
- 414 – Phoenyx Kimball
- 410 – Josh Lowe
- 405 – Cameron White
- 399 – Evan McKnight
- 371 – Gracie Crocker
- 366 – Olivia Murray
- 358 – Makenna Crocker
- 357 – Ayden Brockhouse
- 357 – Raven Kimball
- 348 – Austin Harrison
- 347 – Katelyn Hicks
- 347 – Nate Morris
- 346 – Aiden King
- 326 – Karter Beattie
- 325 – Kendall Van Houten
- 306 – Clayton Bohanon
- 256 – Isaac Kitzmiller
- 192 – Abi Johnson
- 64 – Brandon Montgomery
- 63 – Noah Haislip
- 0 – Gabe Heintz
BEGINNER BANDOLERO
FEATURE 5 (20 Laps): 1. 54-Brexton Busch[2]; 2. 66-Evan Johnson[4]; 3. 80-Bryson Nichols[6]; 4. 16-Matt Hodges[3]; 5. 75J-Allee Johnson[7]; 6. 75-Jay Hemenway[9]; 7. 18-Michael Mazzagatti[12]; 8. 5F-Christopher Flynn[11]; 9. T2-Camden Truett[13]; 10. 38-Gerald White III[5]; 11. 7-Harley Johnson[1]; 12. 5-Corbin Cannon[10]; 13. (DNS) 8X-Addison Martinez; 14. (DNS) 9C-Roo Reaves; 15. (DNS) 83-Hudson Ruff
-FINAL POINTS-
- 477 – Brexton Busch (3 wins)
- 460 – Gerald White III (2 wins)
- 435 – Matt Hodges
- 434 – Harley Johnson
- 430 – Camden Truett
- 423 – Evan Johnson
- 416 – Allee Johnson
- 404 – Michael Mazzagatti
- 392 – Christopher Flynn
- 380 – Corbin Cannon
- 376 – Bryson Nichols
- 353 – Jay Hemenway
- 168 – Hudson Ruff
- 72 – Addison Martinez
- 0 – James Monolo
- 0 – Roo Reaves