Ashton Winger has certainly bolstered his list of firsts these last few years.

His 2022 season had been highlighted by a first Georgia-Florida Speedweeks victory at Volusia Speedway Park. Last year, his 16-victory assault marked his new single-season high, which included a maiden DIRTcar Summer Nationals title and first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series triumph.

On Friday at Buckshot Speedway in Clanton, Ala., the 24-year-old of Hampton, Ga., breezed to his first career Schaeffer’s Spring Nationals victory — a 5.102-second triumph in miniseries round No. 4 of 13 — over a 32-car field that featured southeastern standouts Garrett Smith, Joseph Joiner, Kyle Bronson and Spencer Hughes, among others.

Winger had to come from the sixth-starting spot for the $7,553 victory, but that was an afterthought once he stormed around pole-starting David Breazeale to lead the final 34 of 40 laps.

“Shoot, I felt like we were pretty good all night,” Winger told Spring Nationals announcer Cody Earley in victory lane. “The (qualifying) groups were pretty even tonight. Barely got beat in qualifying there. It’s hard when you start sixth. It’s a 40-lap sprint. Thanks to Ray (Cook) and everybody for giving us a place to race. I actually enjoy coming over here to Buckshot. It’s a different place that we haven’t been to a whole lot.”

Friday’s win is Winger’s second of the season, both of which over his last three races. Winger won last Friday’s opener of the 20th annual Tuckassee Toilet Bowl Classic at Clarksville (Tenn.) Speedway for a cool $10,000. The night after, he finished runner-up to Max Blair in the Toilet Bowl Classic finale.

“It’s cool to be in such awesome equipment and race good cars, and be competitive,” said Winger, who’s entering his second full season aboard the Jeff Mathews-owned No. 12 Rocket Chassis.

Winger’s lone hurdle of the feature came with six laps remaining when he nearly ran into the back of a slower car trying to exit the racetrack and into the infield rounding backstretch. But even then, that didn’t slow him down.

“I think everybody kind of figured (the groove would) sit around that bottom,” Winger said when asked about his thought process managing traffic. “We came here last year, and I thought it raced pretty good. You can get out over there (where) it crowns a little bit.

“If you can get to where you can leave where it’s wet on the top, you can shoot down the backstretch pretty far. It was cool racing with David there. He’s one of my favorite guys to race in the pits. He’s such a good guy. It’s cool to see him run good there when he does.

“As I said, I can’t say enough about the race car itself and everybody who puts this deal together.”

This story is from DirtonDirt.com's Dispatches section. To visit DirtonDirt.com, click here.

Schaeffer's Spring Nationals Results From Buckshot

Schaeffer's Spring Nationals Points Through Round 4 Of 13

1. Donald McIntosh 752 points
2. Pearson Lee Williams (-2)
3. Ethan Dotson (-38)
4. Christian Hanger (-38)
5. Brandon Overton (-170)

2024 Schaeffer's Spring Nationals Series Schedule

Thursday, February 29 — Waycross Motor Speedway, Waycross, GA - $7,553 to win (Ethan Dotson)

Friday, March 1 — Swainsboro Raceway, Swainsboro, GA - $10,053 to win (Rained out)

Saturday, March 2 — Senoia Raceway, Senoia, GA - $10,053 to win (Rained out)

Friday, March 29 — I-75 Raceway, Sweetwater, TN - $10,053 to win (Brandon Overton)

Saturday, March 30 — Tazewell Speedway, Tazewell, TN - $21,000 to win (Dale McDowell)

Friday, April 5 — Buckshot Speedway, Clanton, AL - $7,553 to win (Ashton Winger)

Saturday, April 6 — East Alabama Motor Speedway, Phenix City, AL - $10,053 to win

Friday, April 19 — Ponderosa Speedway, Junction City, KY - $7,553 to win

Saturday, April 20 — Lake Cumberland Speedway, Burnside, KY - $10,053 to win

Friday, May 3 — Sugar Creek Raceway, Blue Ridge, GA - $7,553 to win

Saturday, May 4 — Dixie Speedway, Woodstock, GA - $10,053 to win

Friday, May 10 — Natural Bridge Speedway, Natural Bridge, VA - $10,053 to win

Saturday, May 11 — Beckley Motor Speedway, Mount Hope, WV - $20,053 to win

Saturday, May 25 — North Georgia Speedway, Chatsworth, GA - $10,053 to win

Sunday, May 26 — Duck River Raceway Park, Wheel, TN - $10,053 to win

* All events to be broadcast LIVE to subscribers of FloRacing