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Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals
Volusia Speedway Park | Barberville, Florida
Thursday, February 08, 2024
Race Recap  

BIG GAME GATOR HUNT: David Gravel Cruises to Volusia DIRTcar Nationals Victory on Night Two

All through the off-season David Gravel made it clear he had one goal in mind for 2024 – a World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car championship.

Three consecutive runner-up finishes in the points have continued to build his hunger. He’s ready to make that step. And it took him only two races in the season to make an early statement that he intends for 2024 to be his year.

Gravel led every lap of Thursday’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals Feature at Volusia Speedway Park. The Watertown, CT native started on the pole and drove a flawless 25 laps on his way to win number one of the year with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

The victory marked the latest in a recent hot streak for Gravel at “The World’s Fastest Half Mile.” After going winless in his first 37 Volusia attempts with the Series, Gravel has now reeled off five triumphs in his last eight tries. The five wins are enough to equal him with Daryn Pittman and Steve Kinser for the third most at Volusia with the World of Outlaws. Gravel now owns 89 career Series victories, and his team – Tod Quiring’s Big Game Motorsports – is up to 95.

It’s still extremely early in the season, but Gravel’s win moved him into the points lead by 16 markers. That also means he’s ahead in the Big Gator title hunt at the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals.

“I felt like they did a pretty good job with the racetrack,” Gravel said. “I’ve just got to thank Cody (Jacobs), Zach (Patterson), Scott (Vogelsong), and Stephen (Hamm-Reilly) for working really hard. They’ve given me a great race car since we unloaded on Tuesday night. I’ve also got to thank Tod and his family.”

Gravel’s biggest challenge of the night came right when the green flag flew. The 31-year-old led the way from the pole position with Giovanni Scelzi to his outside. On the opening lap Scelzi managed to muscle his way by Gravel on the top side. But the yellow flag flew right before the lap could be completed as Cory Eliason wound up stopped in Turn 3.

The caution re-racked the field for a complete restart, and Gravel refused to allow Scelzi by on attempt number two. He darted ahead down the front straightaway and slid ahead of Scelzi’s KCP Racing #18 to break his momentum in Turns 1 and 2.

“I was probably a little bit too nice for him going into (Turn) 1 and (Turn) 3,” Gravel said of the first start. “I just knew if I beat him on the start I was going to slide across and take away his momentum that time. Luckily I got a retry.”

From there Gravel got to work building an early lead while behind him Rico Abreu arose to face off with Scelzi for second. On Lap 2 Abreu cleared Scelzi with a slider to settle into the second spot.

As the early laps clicked away Gravel’s lead stayed steady around a second. Normally lapped traffic can cause problems for the leader, but once Gravel reached the tail of the field he actually began to grow his advantage even more as he expertly sliced through traffic. Slightly beyond the halfway point of the main event the distance between Gravel and Abreu ballooned over two seconds.

Right when Gravel appeared headed towards a comfortable win, the yellow lights flashed when Kasey Kahne slowed with issues. The caution set up a seven-lap dash to the finish with Abreu – one of the sport’s current best – right on his tail.

Gravel didn’t flinch on the restart. He powered the Huset’s Speedway/Billion Automotive #2 ahead of Abreu’s #24 machine right away. Abreu remained within striking distance for the first couple laps following the restart. But Gravel proved to be too strong as he stretched the lead over a second and claimed his first checkered flag of 2024.

“I figured Rico probably had a good car late in the race,” Gravel explained. “Ricky (Warner) sets his cars up for the end of those races. I was just hoping I got a really good launch. I got a really good launch, and then I kind of opened the door for him where he could slide me going into (Turn) 1. But I felt like I got a good enough launch, and I wanted to get down that backstretch really, really strong. I wouldn’t open up another opportunity for him, so I risked it going into (Turn) 1 and I knew it would pay off after that.”

Abreu held on to the runner-up spot which pushed his career podium total with the World of Outlaws to 46. After struggling on Wednesday night, Abreu felt encouraged to rebound with an impressive outing despite coming up short of victory.

“He (Gravel) really got away from us and hit his marks,” Abreu said. “When you catch traffic the aero really affects these cars especially when they’re packed like that at the back of the field. It creates all of this turbulence that we have to manipulate as race car drivers to get a little clean air on our nose. I’m just happy with how we’ve performed throughout the week here from last night to tonight. That’s a big positive for our team.”

Completing the top three after starting fifth was Justin Peck aboard the Buch Motorsports #13. It marked Peck’s fourth career podium with The Greatest Show on Dirt. Like Abreu, Peck was happy to bounce back after a sub-par Wednesday showing.

“The thing was maneuverable,” Peck said. “I could run the top pretty good. I could run the bottom pretty good. When I was trying to throw sliders, I didn’t necessarily have to slide across the slick. I could kind of keep the left-rear (tire) planted and drive up across the track. Hats off to my guys. I didn’t feel like we were really good yesterday at all. The thing seemed to be pretty fast all night. Qualified good, and it raced good in dirty air.”

Giovanni Scelzi and Donny Schatz rounded out the top five.

An 18th to sixth run gave Logan Schuchart the night’s KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Brian Brown snagged Simpson Quick Time in Sea Foam Qualifying – the eighth of his career.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four were claimed by Rico Abreu, Brent Marks, and Justin Peck. Corey Day topped Milton Hershey School Heat Two.

David Gravel won the Toyota Racing Dash.

The Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown belonged to Bill Balog.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars battle at Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals for the third consecutive night on Friday, Feb. 9. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[1]; 2. 24-Rico Abreu[3]; 3. 13-Justin Peck[5]; 4. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[2]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz[16]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart[18]; 7. 21-Brian Brown[4]; 8. 19-Brent Marks[6]; 9. 83-Michael Kofoid[9]; 10. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[7]; 11. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[22]; 12. 41-Carson Macedo[10]; 13. 39M-Anthony Macri[11]; 14. 14-Corey Day[8]; 15. 49-Brad Sweet[14]; 16. 48-Danny Dietrich[19]; 17. 26-Zeb Wise[20]; 18. 5T-Ryan Timms[17]; 19. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[12]; 20. 17B-Bill Balog[21]; 21. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[15]; 22. 7S-Landon Crawley[25]; 23. 8-Cory Eliason[23]; 24. 9-Kasey Kahne[24]; 25. 1-Brenham Crouch[13]; 26. 6-Bill Rose[26]

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Results  
Feature Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
1102David Gravel 250.00024Running150$12,000
23+124Rico Abreu 25-1.289Running146$8,000
35+213Justin Peck 25-2.245Running144$5,000
42-218Giovanni Scelzi 25-3.3121Running142$3,200
516+1115Donny Schatz 25-3.606Running140$2,800
618+121SLogan Schuchart 25-4.095Running138$2,600
74-321Brian Brown 25-5.512Running136$2,400
86-219Brent Marks 25-5.972Running134$2,300
99083Michael Kofoid 25-6.554Running132$2,200
107-37BCTyler Courtney 25-6.608Running130$2,000
1122+1117Sheldon Haudenschild 25-7.670Running128$1,800
1210-241Carson Macedo 25-9.013Running126$1,600
1311-239MAnthony Macri 25-9.382Running124$1,400
148-614Corey Day 25-9.855Running122$1,200
1514-149Brad Sweet 25-10.382Running120$1,200
1619+348Danny Dietrich 25-11.015Running118$1,200
1720+326Zeb Wise 25-11.648Running116$1,200
1817-15TRyan Timms 25-12.725Running114$1,200
1912-73ZBrock Zearfoss 25-12.898Running112$1,200
2021+117BBill Balog 24-1 LapsRunning110$1,200
2115-615HSam Hafertepe Jr24-1 LapsRunning108$1,200
2225+37SLandon Crawley 24-1 LapsRunning106$125
232308Cory Eliason 23-2 LapsDNF104$1,200
242409Kasey Kahne 17-8 LapsDNF102$1,200
2513-121Brenham Crouch 16-9 LapsDNF102$1,200
262606Bill Rose 8-17 LapsDNF102$125
KSE Hard Charger: Logan Schuchart
Last Chance Showdown Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
11017BBill Balog 00.000Running0$0
22017Sheldon Haudenschild 0-0.106Running0$0
34+18Cory Eliason 0-3.603Running0$0
45+19Kasey Kahne 0-4.453Running0$0
53-270Kraig Kinser 0-6.538Running0$500
67+188Austin McCarl 0-7.359Running0$400
76-11AJacob Allen 0-8.208Running0$350
88022Riley Goodno 0-9.299Running0$300
913+45Spencer Bayston 0-10.574Running0$300
109-144Chris Martin 0-11.887Running0$300
1114+30Justin Whittall 0-12.239Running0$200
1210-224DDanny Sams III0-13.590Running0$200
1311-211MBrendan Mullen 0-13.755Running0$200
1412-216THKevin Newton 0-5.972Running0$200
Dash 1 Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
12+12David Gravel 00.000Running0$0
21-118Giovanni Scelzi 0-1.959Running0$0
34+124Rico Abreu 0-2.987Running0$0
46+221Brian Brown 0-3.887Running0$0
57+213Justin Peck 0-5.262Running0$0
63-319Brent Marks 0-5.894Running0$0
78+17BCTyler Courtney 0-6.772Running0$0
85-314Corey Day 0-7.526Running0$0
C Main Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
1105Spencer Bayston 00.000Running0$0
2200Justin Whittall 0-1.363Running0$0
3306GBryan Gossel 0-5.144Running0$150
47+37BBen Brown 0-6.063Running0$150
510+597UKRyan Harrison 0-6.783Running0$150
65-164Andy Pake 0-8.963Running0$125
74-316GAustyn Gossel 0-12.252Running0$125
86-26Bill Rose 0115.191DNS0$0
98-17SLandon Crawley 0115.191DNS0$0
109-115KCreed Kemenah 0115.191DNS0$125
Heat 1 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11024Rico Abreu 00.000Running
24+27BCTyler Courtney 0-1.252Running
35+283Michael Kofoid 0-2.560Running
42-21Brenham Crouch 0-6.530Running
58+35TRyan Timms 0-7.202Running
67+170Kraig Kinser 0-8.077Running
73-417BBill Balog 0-10.347Running
811+344Chris Martin 0-11.017Running
96-35Spencer Bayston 0-11.612Running
109-164Andy Pake 0-13.272Running
1110-115KCreed Kemenah 0-13.272DNS
Heat 2 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11014Corey Day 00.000Running
24+218Giovanni Scelzi 0-1.218Running
32-139MAnthony Macri 0-2.475Running
46+215HSam Hafertepe Jr0-3.646Running
53-248Danny Dietrich 0-5.844Running
65-19Kasey Kahne 0-7.003Running
77088Austin McCarl 0-7.480Running
88011MBrendan Mullen 0-9.994Running
9906GBryan Gossel 0-11.088Running
101007BBen Brown 0-13.918Running
Heat 3 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
12+119Brent Marks 00.000Running
21-121Brian Brown 0-2.291Running
34+141Carson Macedo 0-3.503Running
43-149Brad Sweet 0-4.931Running
5501SLogan Schuchart 0-6.330Running
66017Sheldon Haudenschild 0-7.137Running
7701AJacob Allen 0-8.875Running
88024DDanny Sams III0-9.292Running
910+10Justin Whittall 0-9.906Running
1011+16Bill Rose 0-12.721Running
119-297UKRyan Harrison 014.115Running
Heat 4 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
12+113Justin Peck 00.000Running
21-12David Gravel 0-1.021Running
34+13ZBrock Zearfoss 0-2.622Running
45+115Donny Schatz 0-2.962Running
53-226Zeb Wise 0-3.926Running
67+18Cory Eliason 0-4.957Running
78+122Riley Goodno 0-5.673Running
810+216THKevin Newton 0-7.186Running
99016GAustyn Gossel 0-8.118Running
106-47SLandon Crawley 0163.784Running
Qualifying Flight 1 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
11424Rico Abreu St. Helena, CA13.3420.000
21114Corey Day Clovis, CA13.389-0.047
3181Brenham Crouch Lubbock, TX13.398-0.056
4139MAnthony Macri Dillsburg, PA13.433-0.091
51917BBill Balog North Pole, AK13.442-0.100
6848Danny Dietrich Gettysburg, PA13.453-0.111
7167BCTyler Courtney Indianapolis, IN13.473-0.131
8518Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA13.475-0.133
9383Michael Kofoid Penngrove, CA13.501-0.159
1099Kasey Kahne Enumclaw, WA13.518-0.176
11105Spencer Bayston Lebanon, IN13.526-0.184
121515HSam Hafertepe JrSunnyvale, TX13.591-0.249
13470Kraig Kinser Bloomington, IN13.715-0.373
14288Austin McCarl Altoona, IA13.734-0.392
1565TRyan Timms Oklahoma City, OK13.801-0.459
161311MBrendan Mullen Grand Forks, ND13.889-0.547
17764Andy Pake Felton, MN13.971-0.629
18176GBryan Gossel Windsor, CO14.102-0.760
191215KCreed Kemenah Alvada, OH14.123-0.781
20207BBen Brown Marshall, MO14.140-0.798
212144Chris Martin Ankeny, IA14.216-0.874
Qualifying Flight 2 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
11221Brian Brown Higginsville, MO13.2220.000
2132David Gravel Watertown, CT13.378-0.156
31519Brent Marks Myerstown, PA13.395-0.173
4113Justin Peck Monrovia, IN13.399-0.177
51849Brad Sweet Grass Valley, CA13.430-0.208
62126Zeb Wise Angola, IN13.471-0.249
7341Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA13.483-0.261
863ZBrock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA13.497-0.275
991SLogan Schuchart Hanover, PA13.509-0.287
101715Donny Schatz Fargo, ND13.523-0.301
11417Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH13.617-0.395
1277SLandon Crawley Benton, AR13.649-0.427
1381AJacob Allen Hanover, PA13.668-0.446
1428Cory Eliason Visalia, CA13.754-0.532
151624DDanny Sams IIINorth Port, FL13.797-0.575
161422Riley Goodno Knoxville, IA13.825-0.603
171097UKRyan Harrison Rothwell, NTH13.888-0.666
18516GAustyn Gossel Windsor, CO14.009-0.787
19190Justin Whittall Vincentown, NJ14.058-0.836
201116THKevin Newton Terre Haute, IN14.170-0.948
21206Bill Rose Plainfield, IN14.444-1.222
Hot Laps Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
13619Brent Marks Myerstown, PA13.5730.000
24226Zeb Wise Angola, IN13.703-0.130
33522Riley Goodno Knoxville, IA13.824-0.251
43815Donny Schatz Fargo, ND13.828-0.255
5342David Gravel Watertown, CT13.834-0.261
6400Justin Whittall Vincentown, NJ13.856-0.283
73321Brian Brown Higginsville, MO13.879-0.306
83949Brad Sweet Grass Valley, CA13.888-0.315
9273ZBrock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA13.931-0.358
10287SLandon Crawley Benton, AR13.953-0.380
113724DDanny Sams IIINorth Port, FL13.966-0.393
122517Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH13.972-0.399
13301SLogan Schuchart Hanover, PA13.978-0.405
141917BBill Balog North Pole, AK14.111-0.538
152441Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA14.183-0.610
162213Justin Peck Monrovia, IN14.188-0.615
17238Cory Eliason Visalia, CA14.204-0.631
181424Rico Abreu St. Helena, CA14.249-0.676
19416Bill Rose Plainfield, IN14.273-0.700
20291AJacob Allen Hanover, PA14.318-0.745
213197UKRyan Harrison Rothwell, NTH14.445-0.872
22167BCTyler Courtney Indianapolis, IN14.501-0.928
23207BBen Brown Marshall, MO14.570-0.997
24181Brenham Crouch Lubbock, TX14.600-1.027
25105Spencer Bayston Lebanon, IN14.772-1.199
263216THKevin Newton Terre Haute, IN14.817-1.244
271311MBrendan Mullen Grand Forks, ND14.823-1.250
281114Corey Day Clovis, CA14.825-1.252
29383Michael Kofoid Penngrove, CA14.826-1.253
30518Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA14.865-1.292
31288Austin McCarl Altoona, IA14.884-1.311
322144Chris Martin Ankeny, IA14.960-1.387
33139MAnthony Macri Dillsburg, PA14.985-1.412
34848Danny Dietrich Gettysburg, PA15.031-1.458
351215KCreed Kemenah Alvada, OH15.037-1.464
36470Kraig Kinser Bloomington, IN15.121-1.548
3799Kasey Kahne Enumclaw, WA15.154-1.581
381515HSam Hafertepe JrSunnyvale, TX15.216-1.643
3965TRyan Timms Oklahoma City, OK15.401-1.828
40764Andy Pake Felton, MN15.873-2.300
41176GBryan Gossel Windsor, CO0.00013.573
422616GAustyn Gossel Windsor, CO0.00013.573
DIRTVision Highlights  
Event Info  

Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals
Thursday, February 08, 2024
Volusia Speedway Park
1500 East State Road 40
Barberville, Florida 32130 

Event Description
Kick off the racing season with two full weeks of racing in Florida at the World's Fastest Half-Mile, Volusia Speedway Park!

Week 1: World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and DIRTcar UMP Modifieds
Week 2: World of Outlaws Late Models, DIRTcar Late Models, Super DIRTcar Series, USAC Non-Wing Sprint Cars


World of Outlaws Sprint Cars & Late Models: $12K, $12K, $20K to win!

Series Racing
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, DIRTcar UMP Modifieds

Event Schedule
1PM Pit Gates open
4PM Grandstand Gates open
5:30PM Hot Laps/Qualifying
6:50PM Opening Ceremonies
Racing to follow

See Detailed Schedule
*All times Eastern

Event Hashtag
#FLinFeb

Related Documents
 https://dirtcarnationals.com/

Ticket Options  
Options And Prices
TICKETS

Grandstand Type
Bleachers, Chairbacks

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

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
$30 a day for dry camping, $80 for electric/water/sewer.

Frequently Asked Questions  
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

Credit Card Use
Pit Gate, Ticket Window

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
$30 a day for dry camping, $80 for electric/water/sewer.

Track Info  

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

Track Phone
(386) 985-4402

Track Email
[email protected]

Track Type
0.500; dirt 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
Competitor Info  

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