Dennis Erb Jr.
There are a number of words that come to mind when asked to describe Dennis Erb Jr. Gritty, hard-working, independent, dedicated, quiet and reserved are terms that would likely be used by just about anyone in a conversation regarding the Carpentersville, Illinois native. However, most people would probably not label the 49-year-old racer as emotional.
In fact, though, Erb was emotional as he accepted the accolades for winning Monday night’s Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series feature at East Bay Raceway Park. It was his first victory with that series since he last won at this same Tampa, Florida track back in 2015.
After posting the fastest time in Group B qualifying, Erb earned a front row starting spot for the feature by winning his heat race. However, the No. 28 Rocket Chassis fell back as far as fifth in the early going of the main event on what proved to be a bottom-dominate speedway. But the veteran driver was able to quickly make his way back to the front, moving around Brandon Overton for the race lead just past the halfway mark.
“It feels really good,” Erb said in his post-race interview with MavTV Plus. “We’ve struggled here in the past for a while. We’ve always had some good cars, running up front. We were getting around here pretty good tonight. We fell back a little bit but the car was working real good and we peddled our way back up there for the lead.”
Erb had to fight off a late challenge from Hudson O’Neal to earn the $5,000 win.
“Hell, I was just trying to hit my marks there at the end,” he pointed out. “I knew we had a strong field behind us. The longer the race was, my car got better. I really didn’t want to see those cautions at the end but we were at least able to hang on.”
Erb’s last East Bay and Lucas Oil triumph came while at the wheel of a C.J. Rayburn Race Car. The legendary car builder died on New Year’s Day as a result of pneumonia brought on by Covid-19. In victory lane, the driver lamented his former car builder and mentor’s passing.
“To get down here and pick up another win is a really good feeling,” Erb described. “I’d like to dedicate this win to C.J. Rayburn. I won many races in his cars down here and not having him down here this year, it hurts a lot. This one’s for him.”
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