Dirt on Dirt - Rain during prelims forces Volusia cancellation

February 17

Volusia Speedway Park,

Barberville, FL

Sanction: World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series (Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals) - $12,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated February 17, 9:44 pm)

Rain during prelims forces Volusia cancellation

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Brandon Overton won a heat race before rain scuttled the night’s action.

Key notes: Rain that hit midway through World of Outlaws Case Late Model heat races cancelled the program after a steady mist wouldn't let up. ... The event was second of three scheduled WoO programs during the 52nd annual Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. … In DIRTcar action, Hudson O’Neal and Tim McCreadie topped Monday and Tuesday’s $7,000 opening rounds while McCreadie, Brandon Overton and Chris Madden each collected $5,000 victories in Wednesday’s Triple 20’s features. … Bobby Pierce captured Thursday's $10,000-to-win WoO feature. ... Saturday's finale pays a DIRTcar Nationals-record $20,000-to-win.

Who to watch: Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., has notched four consecutive top-three finishes at Volusia, including victories on Tuesday and Wednesday, collecting over $12,000.

Points chase: Before Volusia Friday: 1. Chris Madden (804); T2. Brian Shirley (794); T2. Kyle Bronson (794); 4. Ryan Gustin (790); T5. Max Blair (786); T5. Nick Hoffman (786); 7. Brandon Sheppard (780); 7. ; 8. Dennis Erb Jr. (772); 9. Bobby Pierce (770); 10. Tanner English (746); 11. Payton Freeman (740); 12. Gordy Gundaker (738).

Current weather: Misty conditions, 73°F

Car count: 54

Fast qualifier: Bobby Pierce

Time: 16.345 seconds

Heat race winners: Brandon Overton, Tim McCreadie, Dale McDowell

Next series race: February 18, Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL) $20,000

Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

From staff reports

BARBERVILLE, Fla. — Updates and results from the fifth round of the 52nd annual Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, highlighted by a $12,000-to-win Super Late Model feature event (results unofficial):

Rained out

Light rain, accompanied by brisk winds, began falling before the start of the fourth WoO Late Model heat and never gave officials a chance to rework the track, forcing cancellation of the event. The program went under rain delay at 7:26 p.m. and the cancellation was announced nearly two hours later.

While there was a quite heavy burst of rain starting at 7:45 p.m. and lasting for several minutes, the heavier precipitation had largely ended by 8 p.m. Track crews planned to recondition the track and go back to action, but misty conditions never let up, forcing the cancellation. Volusia wraps up Georgia-Florida Speedweeks on Saturday with a $20,000-to-win WoO event.

Heat results

(Eight laps; top three transfer)

First heat finish: Brandon Overton, Ricky Thornton Jr., Jordan Koehler, Brandon Sheppard, Kyle Bronson, Brian Booze, Trevor Gundaker, Colton Flinner, Shane Clanton.

Second heat finish: Tim McCreadie, Max Blair, Jimmy Owens, Chase Junghans, Frank Heckenast Jr., Dylan Thompson, Jason Sarver, Brenden Smith, Blake Spencer.

Third heat finish: Dale McDowell, Devin Moran, Kyle Strickler, Blair Nothdurft, Donny Schatz, Mason Zeigler, Nevin Gainey, Mike Benedum. Scratched: Hunt Gossum.

Pre-race notes

Friday’s afternoon high temperature rose into the mid-80s, but for the first time all week there’s a chance of precipitation — a slight chance, but a chance nonetheless. The skies began clouding up late in the afternoon and the tail end of a cold front passing over Florida includes a thin line of showers that forecasts say could threaten the track, at least for a short period of time, early in the evening. … Fifty-four cars are signed in for the second night of World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series action; the only changes from Thursday are the absence of David Breazeale of Four Corners, Miss., who headed home early due to engine trouble, and Stacy Boles of Clinton, Tenn., who is expected back for Saturday’s finale. … The feature’s 29-car starting field includes five provisionals: one for 2022 driver points; one for ’22 owner points; one for the highest non-qualifier in this year’s standings; and two emergency provisionals. … Ashton Winger of Hampton, Ga., who won a WoO A-main last year at Volusia, is hoping for a better night after loading up early on Thursday. He spun and lightly nosed into the inside wall while running second late in his Thursday heat, prompting his Jeff Mathews-owned team to scratch from further competition rather than risk starting at the rear of a B-main. … Chase Junghans of Manhattan, Kan., enjoyed his best night of Speedweeks on Thursday — heat victory and fourth-place feature finish — on the day that his parents were in the pits for the first time during his long stint in the Southeast. Did having his mother and father on hand get him back on the right track after some struggles? He thought their presence might have helped. “I’m going to get cardboard cutouts made of them and put them alongside the trailer when they can’t be here,” Junghans quipped with a laugh. … Shane Clanton of Zebulon, Ga., set a WoO record on Thursday, starting the 644th feature of his career to snap a tie with Rick Eckert of York, Pa., atop the category. He brushed off the milestone, though, saying that he doesn’t feel like he deserves it yet. “Take two (starts) out,” Clanton asserted. “Last night was the second time I used an emergency provisional (thus forfeiting start money) so I’m not counting those two races.” Clanton’s previous emergency provisional came on April 10, 2010, at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway, where he rallied from the rear to finish eighth in the Illini 100. (He finished 27th in Thursday’s A-main.)

Time trials

First group
1. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 16.411
2. Tim McCreadie (39), Watertown, N.Y., 16.422
3. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 16.497
4. Shane Clanton (25), Zebulon, Ga., 16.501
5. Max Blair (111B), Centerville, Pa., 16.550
6. Donny Schatz (15), Fargo, N.D., 16.561
7. Jordan Koehler (114) Mount Airy, N.C., 16.563
8. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 16.567
9. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 16.591
10. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 16.614
11. Frank Heckenast Jr. (99Jr), Frankfort, Ill., 16.647
12. Kyle Strickler (8), Mooresville, N.C., 16.662
13. Brandon Sheppard (b5), New Berlin, Ill., 16.668
14. Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 16.713
15. Blair Nothdurft (76), Sioux Falls, S.D., 16.786
16. Brian Booze (B2), Greencastle, Pa., 16.891
17. Jason Garver (01), Starke, Fla., 17.055
18. Nevin Gainey (01G), Ft. White, Fla., 17.126
19. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 17.137
20. Blake Spencer (6S), St. Augustine, Fla., 17.206
21. Mason Zeigler (25z), Chalk Hill, Pa., 17.213
22, Colton Flinner (48), Allison Park, Pa., 17.343
23. Dylan Thompson (99T), Paducah, Ky., 17.561
24. Mike Benedum (25), Salem, W.Va., 17.629
25. Trevor Gundaker (14G), St. Charles, Mo., 17.652
26. Brenden Smith (17SS), Dade City, Fla., 18.018
27. Hunt Gossum (99G), Mayfield, Ky., no time
Second group
1. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 16.345
2. Hudson O'Neal (1), Martinsville, Ind., 16.373
3. Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 16.549
4. Brian Shirley (8), Chatham, Ill., 16.698
5. Boom Briggs (99B), Bear Lake, Pa., 16.762
6. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 16.845
7. Gordy Gundaker (11G), St. Charles, Mo., 16.861
8. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 16.864
9. Michael Norris (10), Sarver, Pa., 16.865
10. Ashton Winger (12), Hampton, Ga., 16.918
11. Mike Spatola (89), Manhattan, Ill., 16.925
12. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 16.956
13. Brent Larson (B1), Lake Elmo, Minn., 17.109
14. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 17.111
15. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 17.137
16. Tanner English (96V), Benton, Ky., 17.150
17. Todd Cooney (30), Des Moines, Iowa, 17.261
18. Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La., 17.268
19. Payton Freeman (22*), Commerce, Ga., 17.301
20. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 17.305
21. Johnny Scott (1ST), Las Cruces, N.M., 17.421
22. Mark Whitener (5), Middleburg, Fla., 17.438
23. Chase Osterhoff (130), Kankakee, Ill., 17.507
24. Freddie Carpenter (C4), Parkersburg, W.Va., 17.553
25. Logan Martin (36), West Plains, Mo., 17.570
26. Dustin Walker (14W), Peculiar, Mo., 17.580
27. Reid Millard (14R), Jefferson City, Mo., 17.600

Friday’s schedule

(All times local)
1 p.m.: Pits open
4:30 p.m.: Drivers’ meeting
5 p.m. Grandstands open
5:15 p.m.: Hot laps
- Super Late Models
- Modifieds
Qualifying
- Super Late Models
- Modifieds
6:50 p.m.: Opening ceremonies
7 p.m.: Heat races
- Super Late Models (8 laps)
- Modifieds (8 laps)
Consolations
- Super Late Models (10 laps)
- Modifieds (10 laps)
Features
- Super Late Models (40 laps)
- Modifieds (30 laps)