RPW Exclusive: Observations From Two Night’s Of The Super DIRTcar Series At Volusia Speedway Park

Column By: JOSEPH PHILLIPS / RPW – BARBERVILLE, FL – February is a month for lovers.

It’s also the month when race cars emerge from cold garages all across America and head down I-95 in pursuit of capturing a Gator.

Volusia Speedway Park is the site for the long-running DIRTcar Nationals, featuring several top short track racing division, including the Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds, aptly-named the Beasts of the Northeast.

Wednesday night kicked off the action with the DIRTcar Late Models running three 20-lap features.

Defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series champion Ricky Thornton Jr. came off his hot start at Ocala and promptly set fast time in time trials and won his feature. Jonathon Davenport and Brandon Overton won the other two main events.

For the Modified portion, Justin Haers and Alex Yankowski were the top two quickest in Group A time trials while Billy Pauch Jr. and Jimmy Phelps did the same in Group B.

Several top drivers had bouts of bad luck though. Anthony Perrego struggled early to find speed but was able to qualify for the feature in the Vinny Salerno-owned no. 4. On the second lap of the feature, the Montgomery NY driver was the victim of a flat left rear Hoosier.

The driver who finished third in Series points last season recovered nicely, however, finishing tenth and was the night’s Hard Charger.

Stewart Friesen and the Halmar 44 team had engines issues on Wednesday and struggled all night. He did come home with an eighth place finish but the engine problems proved to be something they didn’t want to try and diagnose in Florida.

Due to that and his NASCAR Truck Series commitments over at Daytona International Speedway, Friesen and company have decided to pull the plug on their DIRTcar Nationals run.

The track had a heavy cushion and took rubber as the night went on. Ruts were also forming in the corners and the “lip” as it’s called bit several, including Thunder Mountain Speedway regular, Darren Smith. Smith’s night ended with a broken right front shock.

Many other drivers suffered broken suspension parts and there were plenty of shredded tires.

The big story of the feature was at the front of the pack, however. That’s where you found two of the best in Modified racing, Matt Sheppard and Alex Yankowski.

Both drivers were running in the top two spots for most of the night. A spirited debate developed between the veteran and the young gun over restarts. Ultimately, the multi-time Super DIRTcar Series champion Sheppard held off Yankowski and took away the Little Gator. Their back and forth battle actually let Justin Haers slip in between the two on the podium.

Thursday night’s action at the Barberville, FL track was delayed a bit by good ole’ Mother Nature. Track crews worked diligently to get the track in racing shape and even the race teams helped to pack in track.

Compared to night one, the track was super fast and very smooth. The cushion built up over the night and stayed extremely tacky. However, if a car went over the cushion, the results were not as bad as the previous night.

It was the first night the World of Outlaws Late Model Series had a sanctioned feature during the DIRTcar Nationals and Ricky Thornton Jr. was fast again, but that didn’t translate into a trip to victory lane. That was reserved for New Mexico’s Garrett Alberson, who scored his second-career Series checkered flag after starting from the pole.

In Modified competition, Alex Payne set overall fast time in qualifying, stopping the clocks at 17.062.

First-time DIRTcar Nationals competitor, Amy Holland, has been consistent in her debut, running for the HBR team. Heading into Friday night, the Brewerton Speedway Modified winner had qualified for both features and ran consistently in both features.

Dan Creeden in the 16x has struggled all week and did not make Thursday’s feature. The Wurtsboro, NY driver has been caught up on other drivers mishaps as well as struggled to find a set up that works with the changing track conditions.

In the second Last Chance Qualifier of the night, Rick Laubach got out of shape and was hit by another car. Laubach’s no. 20 steered to the inside wall and was heavily damaged from the impact.

Australian Pete Britten drew the pole for the night’s feature with Yankowski drawing the outside front row. Previous night’s winner, Sheppard, fired from ninth and when the green flew, Kid Rocket Yankowski shot into the lead.

That was a spot he didn’t give up.

The main story of the race was the battle behind him. Britten held the runner-up spot until he was passed by Erick Rudolph on the ninth lap.

Matt Williamson and Larry Wight had a strong battle for third with both drivers pulling off beautiful slide jobs in the waning laps hat were the best moves of the race.

Pete Britten ended up coming home fifth on the night with Sheppard not moving anywhere, bringing his no. 9s home ninth.

For some teams, it has been business as usual this week. For others it’s been a grind. Heading into Friday, two more night’s of action await to see who would take home the “Big Gator” trophy.