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DIRTcar Nationals
Volusia Speedway Park | Barberville, Florida
Friday, February 12, 2021
Race Recap  

BRINGING SEXY BACK: Brandon Overton claims first DIRTcar Nationals victory

The dread that flowed through Brandon Overton’s veins like snake venom was extracted Friday night with the help of a golden gator.

Overton, who historically hadn’t run well at Volusia Speedway Park and had bad luck throughout the first few races of the 2021 50th DIRTcar Nationals – breaking a motor and wrecking a car – found his anti-venom and dominated the 40-lap World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Feature. The event was round three for the Series during the DIRTcar Nationals and round five for the Late Model Big Gator championship.

He drew the fourth-place starting position but got to move up to the outside pole when Bobby Pierce – initially supposed to start second – had motor issues and moved to the rear in Reid Millard’s #14 car.

Once Overton saw the green flag, he never saw his closest competitors again. He didn’t even feel their pressure as he had a half-a-track lead for most of the race with his #76 car. Overton led from green to checkered, picking up his 14th career World of Outlaws victory and first at Volusia Speedway Park.

“Big Sexy” Brandon Overton’s helmet along with his victorious bath of confetti / Jacy Norgaard photo

“Hell, man, I’m excited. I’ve been wanting one of these gators (trophies) for a long time,” said Overton, commonly known as Big Sexy. “I finally got me one.

“I’ve had the lowest of lows here driving other people’s cars and my own stuff. I’ve never been really good here. So, to finally get it is a relief, I’m telling you. I dread every time I look at that schedule and see Volusia. I’m like, ‘God, I suck there.’ I don’t want to go there. But we keep working on it and working on it and we finally got it.”

While Overton dominated, Devin Moran began dusting the Big Gator championship throne for himself to sit on. He had another impressive run, charging from eighth to second, powering around the outside of those in front of him. With that run, he’s nearly clinched the Big Gator championship as Pierce – his closest competitor – didn’t finish the race.

Moran initially wasn’t even sure he was going to come to Volusia for the DIRTcar Nationals. His decision to come and play earned him his first Volusia Speedway Park win on Thursday and a strong chance of securing his first Big Gator trophy.

“It really sucks for Bobby,” Moran said. “He was a lot better than me in that Heat Race. He was probably going to have something for Brandon there in the Feature. We just missed it a little bit. Got in the wall there a little bit halfway through and took me out of contention there… All in all it was still a good night.”

Florida-native Kyle Bronson ran second for the majority of the event with Brent Larson having a career run in third behind him – looking to claim his first podium finish. The two began to cut into Overton’s four-second lead while the leader was stuck in traffic. But with five laps to go, hearts broke around the half-mile speedway when Larson’s left rear tire blew. He was able to finish but had to settle for a 16th-place finish.

While Larson had to bear the weight of disappointment once again, he was still able to end the night with his head held high. Especially having won his second career Drydene Heat Race and beating current Series points leader Kyle Strickler to get it.

“Strickler is leading point and undoubtedly the star here the past couple of weeks,” Larson said. “To be able to beat him going into (turn) one and beat him in that Heat Race is a big confidence builder.”

Bronson, who won the Series’ season-opening race at Volusia during the Sunshine Nationals ended up settling for third. However, his run moved him up to second in Series points – currently 68 points behind Strickler, who finished sixth – his worst finish in the first five races of the season.

Brandon Overton (left) leads Kyle Bronson (middle) and Chris Madden (right) / Jacy Norgaard photo

“Our car has been good all week,” Bronson said. “We’ve just had stupid stuff happen. Broke a distributor cap. Should’ve ran in the top-five the other day and a tire blew out. Things just haven’t gone our way. We had a pretty fast car all week. Things just haven’t been great. Overall, these guys have been working hard and his Longhorn car has been good all week. We just have to be a little bit better.”

While Overton was able to find his anti-venom at Volusia, three-time defending champion Brandon Sheppard is still looking for his. He finished 11th and fell to sixth in points – 80 points behind Strickler. He’s yet to secure a top-five finish this season. His championship rival last year, Ricky Weiss, was involved in a crash on the front stretch with six laps to go. It dropped him to a 22nd-place finish.

All of them will have one more chance to claim a gator trophy on Saturday when the two-week-long DIRTcar Nationals comes to an epic conclusion.

UP NEXT
The World of Outlaws Morton Building Late Model Series, on Saturday, Feb. 13, will run the final night of the 50th DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park and crown a new Big Gator Champion. For tickets, click HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVision.

RESULTS
Morton Buildings Feature (40 Laps) – 1. 76-Brandon Overton [4][$10,000]; 2. 9-Devin Moran [8][$6,000]; 3. 40B-Kyle Bronson [1][$3,500]; 4. 44-Chris Madden [7][$2,800]; 5. OE-Rick Eckert [6][$2,500]; 6. 8-Kyle Strickler [12][$2,300]; 7. 28-Dennis Erb [10][$2,200]; 8. 16-Tyler Bruening [11][$2,100]; 9. 29V-Darrell Lanigan [14][$2,050]; 10. 14-Josh Richards [18][$2,000]; 11. 1-Brandon Sheppard [13][$1,600]; 12. 97-Cade Dillard [15][$1,400]; 13. 72-Mike Norris [17][$1,200]; 14. 17M-Dale McDowell [19][$1,100]; 15. 58-Ross Bailes [23][$1,050]; 16. B1-Brent Larson [3][$1,000]; 17. 18-Chase Junghans [26][$110]; 18. 385-Mark Whitener [21][$1,000]; 19. 56-Tony Jackson [5][$1,000]; 20. 99B-Boom Briggs [24][$1,000]; 21. O-Scott Bloomquist [9][$1,000]; 22. 7-Ricky Weiss [20][$1,000]; 23. 19R-Ryan Gustin [16][$1,000]; 24. 25-Shane Clanton [22][$1,000]; 25. 6-Blake Spencer [27][$110]; 26. 54-David Breazeale [25][$110]; 27. OS-Ryan Scott [28][$110]; 28. 32-Bobby Pierce [2][$1,000]; Hard Charger Award: 18-Chase Junghans[+9]

Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 40B-Kyle Bronson, 16.152; 2. 76-Brandon Overton, 16.165; 3. O-Scott Bloomquist, 16.313; 4. 56-Tony Jackson, 16.376; 5. OE-Rick Eckert, 16.405; 6. 16-Tyler Bruening, 16.415; 7. 1-Brandon Sheppard, 16.442; 8. 17M-Dale McDowell, 16.447; 9. 3S-Brian Shirley, 16.519; 10. 97-Cade Dillard, 16.521; 11. 72-Mike Norris, 16.552; 12. 54-David Breazeale, 16.596; 13. 33-Jeff Mathews, 16.619; 14. 58-Ross Bailes, 16.654; 15. 385-Mark Whitener, 16.755; 16. 1st-Johnny Scott, 16.772; 17. 14G-Joe Godsey, 16.901; 18. 6-Blake Spencer, 17.023; 19. 14B-John Baker, 18.482

Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 32-Bobby Pierce, 16.138; 2. 8-Kyle Strickler, 16.148; 3. 9-Devin Moran, 16.43; 4. B1-Brent Larson, 16.546; 5. 28-Dennis Erb, 16.546; 6. 44-Chris Madden, 16.554; 7. 7R-Ross Robinson, 16.659; 8. 76N-Blair Nothdurft, 16.684; 9. 14-Josh Richards, 16.773; 10. 19R-Ryan Gustin, 16.807; 11. 29V-Darrell Lanigan, 16.811; 12. 18-Chase Junghans, 16.834; 13. 7-Ricky Weiss, 16.849; 14. 25-Shane Clanton, 16.85; 15. 31-Tyler Millwood, 16.983; 16. 99B-Boom Briggs, 17.216; 17. 14M-Reid Millard, 17.273; 18. 89-G.R. Smith, 17.464; 19. OS-Ryan Scott, 17.516

[Read More]
Results  
Feature Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
10-176Brandon Overton 400.000Running0$0
20-29Devin Moran 40-2.887Running0$0
30-340BKyle Bronson 40-4.092Running0$0
40-444Chris Madden 40-5.396Running0$0
50-5OERick Eckert 40-5.716Running0$0
60-68Kyle Strickler 40-7.006Running0$0
70-728Dennis Erb Jr40-8.068Running0$0
80-816Tyler Bruening 40-8.545Running0$0
90-929VDarrell Lanigan 40-9.279Running0$0
100-1014Josh Richards 40-9.322Running0$0
110-111Brandon Sheppard 40-9.442Running0$0
120-1297Cade Dillard 40-10.365Running0$0
130-1372Mike Norris 40-10.389Running0$0
140-1417MDale McDowell 40-11.894Running0$0
150-1558Ross Bailes 40-12.557Running0$0
160-16B1Brent Larson 40-13.026Running0$0
170-1718Chase Junghans 40-13.738Running0$0
180-18385Mark Whitener 40-14.275Running0$0
190-1956Tony Jackson Jr.40-14.399Running0$0
200-2099BBoom Briggs 39-1 LapsRunning0$0
210-21OScott Bloomquist 37-3 LapsRunning0$0
220-227Ricky Weiss 35-5 LapsRunning0$0
230-2319RRyan Gustin 35-5 LapsRunning0$0
240-2425Shane Clanton 34-6 LapsRunning0$0
250-256Blake Spencer 34-6 LapsRunning0$0
260-2654David Breazeale 33-7 LapsRunning0$0
270-27OSRyan Scott 7-33 LapsRunning0$0
280-2832Bobby Pierce 2-38 LapsRunning0$0
FOX Factory Hard Charger:
Last Chance Showdown Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
00014BJohn Baker 00.000Running0$0
10-172Mike Norris 100.000Running0$0
20-217MDale McDowell 10-0.785Running0$0
30-3385Mark Whitener 10-1.908Running0$0
40-43SBrian Shirley 10-4.650Running0$0
50-533Jeff Mathews 10-5.586Running0$0
60-658Ross Bailes 10-7.526Running0$0
70-754David Breazeale 10-7.812Running0$0
80-814GJoe Godsey 10-9.151Running0$0
90-91stJohnny Scott 10-9.844Running0$0
100-106Blake Spencer 10-9.991Running0$0
Last Chance Showdown 2 Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
0007RRoss Robinson 00.000Running0$0
00089G.R. Smith 00.000Running0$0
10-114Josh Richards 100.000Running0$0
20-27Ricky Weiss 10-1.473Running0$0
30-325Shane Clanton 10-2.502Running0$0
40-418Chase Junghans 10-3.880Running0$0
50-531Tyler Millwood 10-4.864Running0$0
60-699BBoom Briggs 10-6.556Running0$0
70-776NBlair Nothdurft 10-7.020Running0$0
80-8OSRyan Scott 10-9.285Running0$0
90-914MReid Millard 10-18.408Running0$0
Heat 1 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
10-140BKyle Bronson 80.000Running
20-2OERick Eckert 8-2.496Running
30-3OScott Bloomquist 8-3.773Running
40-41Brandon Sheppard 8-4.850Running
50-572Mike Norris 8-5.827Running
60-63SBrian Shirley 8-6.335Running
70-7385Mark Whitener 8-7.865Running
80-833Jeff Mathews 8-10.075Running
90-914GJoe Godsey 8-11.403Running
100-1014BJohn Baker 8-12.071Running
Heat 2 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
10-176Brandon Overton 80.000Running
20-256Tony Jackson Jr.8-1.544Running
30-316Tyler Bruening 8-3.218Running
40-497Cade Dillard 8-4.182Running
50-517MDale McDowell 8-4.902Running
60-654David Breazeale 8-4.928Running
70-71stJohnny Scott 8-6.993Running
80-86Blake Spencer 8-8.575Running
90-958Ross Bailes 8-11.548Running
Heat 3 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
10-132Bobby Pierce 80.000Running
20-29Devin Moran 8-0.803Running
30-328Dennis Erb Jr8-3.215Running
40-429VDarrell Lanigan 8-4.778Running
50-514Josh Richards 8-5.478Running
60-67Ricky Weiss 8-6.489Running
70-731Tyler Millwood 8-8.739Running
80-87RRoss Robinson 8-9.953Running
90-9OSRyan Scott 8-18.384Running
100-1014MReid Millard 8-19.026Running
Heat 4 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
10-1B1Brent Larson 80.000Running
20-244Chris Madden 8-2.246Running
30-38Kyle Strickler 8-3.594Running
40-419RRyan Gustin 8-4.590Running
50-525Shane Clanton 8-5.363Running
60-618Chase Junghans 8-5.913Running
70-776NBlair Nothdurft 8-6.826Running
80-899BBoom Briggs 8-8.270Running
90-989G.R. Smith 5-3 LapsRunning
Qualifying Flight 1 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
1040BKyle Bronson Brandon, FL16.1520.000
2076Brandon Overton Evans, GA16.165-0.013
30OScott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN16.313-0.161
4056Tony Jackson Jr.Lebanon, MO16.376-0.224
50OERick Eckert York, PA16.405-0.253
6016Tyler Bruening Decorah, IA16.415-0.263
701Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL16.442-0.290
8017MDale McDowell Chickamauga, GA16.447-0.295
903SBrian Shirley Chatham, IL16.519-0.367
10097Cade Dillard Robeline, LA16.521-0.369
11072Mike Norris Fairbury, IN16.552-0.400
12054David Breazeale Four Corners, MS16.596-0.444
13033Jeff Mathews Brandon, FL16.619-0.467
14058Ross Bailes Clover, SC16.654-0.502
150385Mark Whitener Middleburg, FL16.755-0.603
1601stJohnny Scott Las Cruces, NM16.772-0.620
17014GJoe Godsey Bedford, IN16.901-0.749
1806Blake Spencer St Augustine, FL17.023-0.871
19014BJohn Baker Norman Park, GA18.482-2.330
Qualifying Flight 2 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
1032Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL16.1380.000
208Kyle Strickler Mooresville, NC16.148-0.010
309Devin Moran Dresden, OH16.430-0.292
40B1Brent Larson Lake Elmo, MN16.546-0.408
5028Dennis Erb JrCarpentersville, IL16.546-0.408
6044Chris Madden Gray Court, SC16.554-0.416
707RRoss Robinson Georgetown, DE16.659-0.521
8076NBlair Nothdurft Renner, SD16.684-0.546
9014Josh Richards Shinnston, WV16.773-0.635
10019RRyan Gustin Marshalltown, IA16.807-0.669
11029VDarrell Lanigan Union, KY16.811-0.673
12018Chase Junghans Manhattan, KS16.834-0.696
1307Ricky Weiss Headingley, MB16.849-0.711
14025Shane Clanton Zebulon, GA16.850-0.712
15031Tyler Millwood Kingston, GA16.983-0.845
16099BBoom Briggs Bear Lake, PA17.216-1.078
17014MReid Millard Jefferson City, MO17.273-1.135
18089G.R. Smith Statesville, NC17.464-1.326
190OSRyan Scott PITTSFIELD, PA17.516-1.378
Hot Laps Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
109Devin Moran Dresden, OH16.2330.000
2044Chris Madden Gray Court, SC16.432-0.199
3014Josh Richards Shinnston, WV16.552-0.319
4029VDarrell Lanigan Union, KY16.603-0.370
5032Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL16.622-0.389
6019RRyan Gustin Marshalltown, IA16.680-0.447
7025Shane Clanton Zebulon, GA16.727-0.494
8028Dennis Erb JrCarpentersville, IL16.732-0.499
9099BBoom Briggs Bear Lake, PA16.762-0.529
1001Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL16.809-0.576
11089G.R. Smith Statesville, NC16.813-0.580
120B1Brent Larson Lake Elmo, MN16.903-0.670
13031Tyler Millwood Kingston, GA16.933-0.700
1407RRoss Robinson Georgetown, DE16.990-0.757
15076NBlair Nothdurft Renner, SD17.072-0.839
16058Ross Bailes Clover, SC17.082-0.849
17076Brandon Overton Evans, GA17.097-0.864
18072Mike Norris Fairbury, IN17.193-0.960
190OERick Eckert York, PA17.218-0.985
200OScott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN17.316-1.083
2108Kyle Strickler Mooresville, NC17.380-1.147
22014MReid Millard Jefferson City, MO17.425-1.192
23018Chase Junghans Manhattan, KS17.539-1.306
24033Jeff Mathews Brandon, FL17.541-1.308
25056Tony Jackson Jr.Lebanon, MO17.732-1.499
26016Tyler Bruening Decorah, IA17.862-1.629
270OSRyan Scott PITTSFIELD, PA17.890-1.657
28014BJohn Baker Norman Park, GA17.893-1.660
2903SBrian Shirley Chatham, IL17.993-1.760
30040BKyle Bronson Brandon, FL18.151-1.918
31097Cade Dillard Robeline, LA18.214-1.981
3206Blake Spencer St Augustine, FL18.236-2.003
330385Mark Whitener Middleburg, FL18.248-2.015
34017MDale McDowell Chickamauga, GA18.361-2.128
3501stJohnny Scott Las Cruces, NM18.665-2.432
36014GJoe Godsey Bedford, IN19.293-3.060
37054David Breazeale Four Corners, MS19.596-3.363
DIRTVision Highlights  
Event Info  

DIRTcar Nationals
Friday, February 12, 2021
Volusia Speedway Park
1500 East State Road 40
Barberville, Florida 32130 

Event Description
The biggest event in DIRTcar racing kicks off the season at the World’s Fastest Half-Mile!

Series Racing
World of Outlaws Late Model Series

Support Divisions
Super DIRTcar Series

To Win Amount
$10,000.00

Event Schedule
10:00 a.m. — Pit gates open
11:00 a.m. — Transporter parking
1:00 p.m. — Pit Pass sales begin (noon on Feb. 2 & 8, 10am on Feb 7) & Will Call opens
3:00 p.m. — Pit areas secured, credentials & Pit Passes required
5:00 p.m. — Grandstand gates open & Fan Pit Pass booth opens in Midway
5:15 p.m. — Hot Laps followed by Qualifying
6:50 p.m. — Opening Ceremonies
7:00 p.m. — Racing

SUNDAY FEB 7 TIMES HAVE MOVED UP SO THAT FANS CAN WATCH THE SUPER BOWL:

7:00 a.m. — Pit gates open & transporter parking resumes
10:00 a.m. — Pit Pass sales begin & Will Call opens
10:45 a.m. — Pit areas secured, credentials & Pit Passes required
1:00 p.m. — Grandstand gates open & Fan Pit Pass booth opens in Midway
2:00 p.m. — Hot Laps followed by Qualifying
3:00 p.m. — Opening Ceremonies, followed by Racing


*All times Eastern

Event Hashtag
#FLinFeb

Ticket Options  
Options And Prices
$39 GA
$45 Reserved
$49 Premium Reserved
Tickets

Grandstand Type
Bleachers, Chairbacks

Reserved Seating
Reserved seating offers the best and highest seats in the house.

Handicapped Seating Location
All Handicap seating is the first rows of each section

Pit Pass Price
Daily pit passes are $35 for DIRTcar members and $40 for non-members. Three-day pit pass packages are available. Package prices are $100 for DIRTcar members and $120 for non-members. Dates of the packages are Feb. 2-4, Feb. 5-7, Feb. 8-10 and Feb. 11-13.

Pit Age Requirement
There is no age restriction in the pits. Anyone 17 years of age or younger will need to fill out a minor waiver form and be accompanied by an adult.

Pit Gate Location
East or West side of the Track.

Parking Cost
General Parking Free

Handicapped Parking Location
Handicap parking spots available. All spots are first come first serve.

Camping Availability
Electric Hookup, Non-Electric, Onsite, Sanitary Facility, Showers

Camping Cost
Single Day Dry Camp $30
Single Day Water/Electric $75 (Special Event $80)
Single Day Full Hook Up $100
Weekend Dry Camp $60
Weekend Electric/Water $150
Weekend Full Hook Up $200


Frequently Asked Questions  
Support Divisions
Super DIRTcar Series

To Win Amount
$10,000.00

Reserved Seating
Reserved seating offers the best and highest seats in the house.

Type of Grandstand
Bleachers, Chairbacks

Stadium Seating
Stadium seats are allowed as long as they don't conflict with the aisle behind you.

Handicapped Seating
All Handicap seating is the first rows of each section

Handicapped Parking
Handicap parking spots available. All spots are first come first serve.

Pit Age Limit
There is no age restriction in the pits. Anyone 17 years of age or younger will need to fill out a minor waiver form and be accompanied by an adult.

Pit Gate Location
East or West side of the Track.

Personal Coolers
Six-pack maximum cooler size. No alcohol. No glass.

ATMs
1

Alcohol Sales
Beer is available for purchase at the track.

Smoking Policy
No smoking in the Grandstands.


Parking Cost
General Parking Free

Camping Availability
Electric Hookup, Non-Electric, Onsite, Sanitary Facility, Showers

Camping Cost
Single Day Dry Camp $30
Single Day Water/Electric $75 (Special Event $80)
Single Day Full Hook Up $100
Weekend Dry Camp $60
Weekend Electric/Water $150
Weekend Full Hook Up $200


Track Info  

Volusia Speedway Park
1500 East State Road 40
Barberville, Florida 32130 

Track Phone
(386) 985-4402

Track Email
[email protected]

Track Size
0.482

Track Type
D-shaped oval

Sprint Car Track Record
12.569s by Paul McMahan on 2-10-11; 360 Sprint Car: 14.160 sec. by Brenham Crouch on Jan. 27, 2023; Non-Wing: 16.362s by Thomas Meseraull on Feb. 14, 2023

Late Model Track Record
Super: 15.100 sec. by Bobby Pierce on Jan. 19, 2024

Closest Airport
Daytona International Airport

Other Airport
Orlando Sanford

Pit Gate Location
East or West side of the Track.

Track Map

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