The nights of the 50th annual DIRTcar Nationals here at Volusia Speedway Park are starting to wind down. On Wednesday, February 10th, the final segment of the racing schedule began as for the final four nights of Late Model racing, the World of Outlaws Late Model series will be in charge of running the program while the Big Blocks of the DIRT Car series would run their second of five nights of scheduled action.
While the cars that would run the Late Model series are pretty much the same ones that have been running earlier this week(there was actually only one new entrant on Wednesday) some of the technical standards and rules of administration have been changed with the Outlaws in change. The so called "droop rule" returns again and while their wasn't too much in the way of inspections the last two nights as UMP ran the show, a formal inspection of each car was required on this night before that car could hit the track. I did not hear that anyone failed tech and let's hope that this is the last we hear about the "droop rule" all week. Fifty one Late Models would sign in to race on Wednesday with Jason Fitzgerald and Dale McDowell still on the grounds but opting not to race while Reid Millard flew back to Missouri to attend to business and young Trevor Gundaker would drive his car on this night with hopes of also getting the ride on Thursday.
The Big Blocks would again field thirty two cars with no new ones showing up with was not surprising while everyone that had trouble on Tuesday night would reappear. I talked to twelve year old Derrick McGrew as he and crew worked on fixing their car which he had on its lid the night before. They were able to get the car fixed but to cover their bases, they had called someone to deliver their back up car just in case and it was sitting in their pit area on an open trailer if needed, which would turn out not to be necessary.
The program on Wednesday, despite it being under different administration, would mirror the Late Model show from Tuesday. Six heats would qualify three cars a piece and then three Last Chance races would add another six cars. The real only difference was when it came to provisional starters. There were few with UMP while half the field seemingly took an emergency provisional on Wednesday to start the main, as we are again counting points. In fact, a gigantic field of thirty five cars was scheduled to start the main event with two unable to make the call. Still, it was one of the biggest fields of Late Models that I have seen in quite some time, probably back to the WISSOTA 100's where they start thirty three cars, three wide as eleven provisional entrants were allowed by WoO officials.
Drivers are also remaining on the track when they go a lap down or perhaps have to make a pit stop and under ordinary circumstances would just park for the night. They are now point racing and every lap counts so they stay on the track which adds to the congestion and sometimes the excitement as the fast cars weave through the traffic. On this night, twenty nine cars would still be running at the finish with six a lap down and only four that didn't finish and only one of them likely a WoO point chaser.
The track was very interesting on this night. The big dip in turn one that had seen cars go airborne across several racing divisions earlier this week was gone but it was replaced by a couple of rather significant holes in turn three that had not been there before. Where they suddenly materialized from, I can not say but they certainly were a point of emphasis from the drivers. Also, the track itself was very tricky on Wednesday. It was black and slick but because it was so humid, in spots it almost made the track drive like it was wet slick and driver after driver would comment on how tricky and technical it was and that how each lap it could change drastically. While this made it a chore for the drivers, it made it fun for us fans as we saw by far the most entertaining Late Model race so far here this year.
And there was also plenty of drama with late race problems eliminating three of the top five contenders. Bobby Pierce led early as he looked to be the first repeat winner in the Late Models. However, Ricky Thornton Jr then took over the top spot and led for a number of laps. Pierce and Devin Moran put on an extraordinary battle for second as they traded slide jobs and cross over maneuvers, often times just missing each other by inches in a hair raising high speed game of chance.
Pierce would regain the lead following a yellow flag when Kyle Bronson blew a tire and the last seven laps would be filled with drama. First, Moran would lose power following a restart and stack up the field behind him. He was rear ended by Brandon Overton at high speed and while both cars would be eliminated, it could have been a lot worse. Then Pierce would jump the cushion, hit the wall and be done also.
Suddenly, Kyle Strickler, who started fourth but slumped back at the start, came back on a charge to the front and shot into the lead as the changing through the field continued. Brandon Sheppard got cut off by Mike Norris in turn three, giving B-Shepp a flat tire but before Sheppard slowed, he managed to retaliate and dump Norris in turn one, triggering the final yellow of the event. It was a very un-Sheppard like move but perhaps the long time down here in Florida without a win and with this being a point race has led to some frustration in the Rocket pit.
After all kinds of wildness, the last two laps was pretty mellow as Strickler pulled away to what would have been a seemingly impossible win at the halfway point of the race. Hudson O'Neal would keep his nose clean and gradually work his way up to second with a frustrated Thornton Jr settling for third in what was a highly entertaining, if just a bit lengthy, main event.
In the interest of brevity, the Big Blocks eliminated their Last Chance race and just used their four qualifying heats to set their field for the main event. However, unlike the Late Models where only the heat race winners would redraw, the top two in each Big Block heat would redraw for their starting positions with defending Big Block Super Dirt Series champion Mat Williamson drawing the pole.
However, he didn't dominate despite the good starting spot as he was run up the track early by Max McLaughlin who was then passed by Erick Rudolph who would lead the next eighteen laps until the lone yellow would slow the action. Slowly inching his way into contention was last night's winner Stewart Friesen who had earlier been quick qualifier.
He worked his way into position and when the lone yellow flew on lap eighteen, he was ready to make his move. Showing superiority over the field, he was able to jump to the outside of Rudolph on the restart and make a rare outside pass. After that he pulled away as he drove on for his second straight win of the week.
The other drivers will likely be happy to see him move on to his Truck series ride at Daytona but I am told that he plans to race on Thursday night here before missing Friday night's events. Mike Maresca, who gave up his Late Model ride to focus on the Big Blocks this week, made a nice drive up late in the contest to complete the top three.
The running tally on the gators found another one slipping in over night and there were three in the Gator Pond for the Thursday night show. One of the security guards was monitored their activities and told me that there was a missing person report from that area of the track and was checking to see if one of the gators had a particularly satisfying smile on his face, but I think the security guard was pulling my leg. Better he than the gators though.
Among the people I visited with in the pits on this night was Davenport Speedway promoter and car owner Ricky Kay. He told me that he is ready for a big season at Davenport for 2021 and that they have a number of special events on their schedule including a co-promotion with Cody Sommer. He has been attending the Racing Promotion Monthly seminars the last couple of days as he is really committed to learning more about the promoting aspect of racing, not just the track prep but all the other things that go with making a racing program successful.
He also did mention that son Justin will have two Late Models for 2021, one for IMCA racing and one for the Kosiski Series plus open shows.
Thursday night the same two divisions will be in action once again at VSP as the rest of the week looks like a race against Mother Nature to get shows in.
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