Story By: JORDAN DELUCIA / DIRTCAR – BARBERVILLE, FL – A special field of DIRTcar UMP Modifieds are headed to Volusia Speedway Park for the 11th annual Emil & Dale Reutimann Memorial this Thursday–Saturday, Nov. 21–23, chasing a win in one of the most prestigious Modified events of the year.
A $10,000 grand prize and the signature Crystal Tractor trophy await the winner of the 50-lap main event Saturday night — held in memory of Emil Reutimann Jr, Dale Reutimann and family friend Gordon Stone, who were victims of a drunk driving crash while traveling to a race in September 1973.
The program begins with a practice session for all divisions on Thursday, Nov. 21. Hot Lap/Qualifying and Showdown Features for the UMP Modifieds highlight Friday’s program alongside a full show for 602 Late Models, Crown Vics and Thunder Stocks. Modified redraw, Last Chance Showdowns and the 50-lap main event are on-tap for Saturday, while DIRTcar Pro (604) Late Models and 3/4-Modifieds support the show.
Here are the drivers to watch and storylines to follow this weekend:
BEAK BUILT SPECIAL — 2022 Reutimann Memorial winner Ethan Dotson returns to Volusia in a DIRTcar UMP Modified this weekend, piloting a specially prepared Beak Built Chassis.
Dotson, the 25-year-old Super Late Model talent from Bakersfield, CA, has been tapped to drive David Reutimann’s personal UMP Modified in the race that honors the famed racing family. Reutimann founded the Beak Built Chassis company in his post-NASCAR career and will have multiple cars in the field over the weekend — including his father and 2022 Volusia UMP Modified track champion, 83-year-old Buzzie Reutimann.
Dotson attended the 2023 Reutimann Memorial and was one of the early frontrunners after setting quick time over all 49 entrants. However, terminal mechanical failure struck him on the opening lap of his Showdown Feature, putting an early end to his chances for a repeat before completing a single lap of racing.
BIG GATOR, LITTLE TRACTOR — Kyle Strickler was victor of the 2018 Reutimann Memorial at Ocala Speedway but has now turned his attention to winning a second Crystal Tractor trophy this weekend at Volusia.
Strickler, the 2023 Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals UMP Modified Big Gator champion from Mooresville, NC, is coming off a headline UMP Modified victory in the World Short Track Championship finale at The Dirt Track at Charlotte three weeks ago, topping a field of 38 cars to claim the $4,000 grand prize and his fourth career win in the event. That night, he was driving a brand-new Elite Chassis built by brand owner Nick Hoffman — a two-time Reutimann Memorial winner (2021, 2023).
Strickler has pre-entered into this weekend’s events and will compete for a record-tying second Reutimann Memorial win with the new car. He last entered the event in 2021, when he retired early to a 25th-place finish after starting fifth on the grid.
FLORIDA–GEORGIA LINK — Two years ago, Ashton Winger made his UMP Modified debut at Volusia and had a strong showing in the 2022 Reutimann Memorial, winning a Showdown Feature, starting on the outside pole of the Feature and holding on to finish second driving the Mathews Motorsports #33.
The 24-year-old from Hampton, GA, will team with car owner Jeff Mathews, of Brandon, FL, for this weekend’s events. Mathews is a past winner of the Reutimann Memorial, taking the checkered flag in 2017 when the race was held at Ocala Speedway in Ocala, FL.
Since joining the Mathews stable at the end of the 2022 season, Winger has been strong in the Mathews Motorsports No. 12 Super Late Model, winning three DIRTcar-sanctioned Features in 2024 and capturing eighth place in the national points standings.
TRACK CHAMP — Seth Geary dominated the weekly UMP Modified scene at Volusia in 2024, capturing the track championship on the strength of five wins and six top-fives in seven races.
Geary, of Gibsonton, FL, won a total of seven DIRTcar-sanctioned Features in 2024 across Volusia, Ocala and Hendry County Motorsports Park. For those efforts, he also captured the DIRTcar Mid-Florida Region championship by over 200 points. Of his seven career appearances in the event, Geary has a best finish of seventh in 2021.
NEW TALENT — Maryland racer Mitch Thomas will make his second career appearance in the Reutimann Memorial this weekend, one year after a strong showing in his debut last November.
The 18-year-old made his presence felt early in last year’s one-day show, winning a Showdown Feature to lock him into the main event, where he started fourth on the grid and finished 14th. Despite the struggle in the end, Thomas has showed speed and the ability to win on the half-mile of Volusia before with two wins in DIRTcar Nationals action (2023, 2024).
This year, Thomas was strong in DIRTcar competition as one of only 10 drivers in the nation to win 10 or more UMP Modified Features. A total of 10 wins in 29 recorded starts around the Virginia/West Virginia/Ohio Valley area was good enough to rank him 46th in the national points standings.
PAST WINNERS:
• 2014 – Austin Sanders
• 2015 – David Reutimann
• 2016 – David Reutimann
• 2017 – Jeff Mathews
• 2018 – Kyle Strickler
• 2019 – David Stremme
• 2020 – Tyler Nicely
• 2021 – Nick Hoffman
• 2022 – Ethan Dotson
• 2023 – Nick Hoffman