A Florida tradition continues as the Super DIRTcar Series roars into Volusia Speedway Park for Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals.
The Beasts of the Northeast will be hunting gators for four nights at the “World’s Fastest Half Mile,” starting with 30-lap Features on Wednesday through Friday Feb. 12-14 – each paying $5,000-to-win. Then, the Big Gator championship finale on Saturday, Feb. 15, brings a 50-lap Feature, paying $7,500.
The DIRTcar Late Models will join the Big Blocks on Wednesday, Feb. 12, followed by the World of Outlaws Late Model Series on the final three nights.
TICKETS: DIRTcarNationals.com
If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch every race live on DIRTVision – either at DIRTVision.com or by downloading the DIRTVision App.
Here are the key storylines to watch at DIRTcar Nationals:
Aiming For Three Straight: After earning his second consecutive “Big Gator” trophy in 2024, reigning Super DIRTcar Series champion Mat Williamson has the chance to make history in 2025.
If he wins a third consecutive DIRTcar Nationals Big Gator title, the St. Catharines, ON driver will become the first to win three in a row since the trophy was first given out in 2012.
Williamson is coming off an eight-win season with his Buzz Chew Racing No. 88 team and has won three of the last six Big Block Features at Volusia. “Money Mat” also has 13 consecutive top 10s at DIRTcar Nationalsand five straight top fives.
His next Super DIRTcar Series victory will be his 32nd, breaking a tie with Jack Johnson for ninth on the Series all-time wins list.
All-Star List: Williamson is one of eight drivers expected to compete at DIRTcar Nationals that have won at Volusia since the Series first raced there in 2005.
Matt Sheppard, who’s won two Big Gators, and Stewart Friesen will look to break a three-way tie with Brett Hearn at the top of the all-time wins list with 10 victories at the track.
Sheppard is also chasing 100 Series victories. Entering DIRTcar Nationals, the 10-time champion has 97 career Series wins. If “Super Matt” wins three out of four Features, he’ll join Hearn as the second driver to earn 100 Series victories.
Friesen, meanwhile, is only expected to compete on three of the four nights, as he’ll be splitting time between Volusia and Daytona International Speedway, taking part in another season-opening event with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Joining Williamson, Sheppard, and Friesen as DIRTcar Nationals winners are Larry Wight (4), Rick Laubach (3), Justin Haers (2), Peter Britten, and Jimmy Phelps.
Streaks of Consistency: Anthony Perrego and Erick Rudolph are two drivers who have knocked on the door of Victory Lane at Volusia.
Perrego enters the event with three consecutive top fives at the track and won the Super DIRTcar Series season finale at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in 2024.
Rudolph has been even more consistent than Perrego in the past two seasons, earning six consecutive top five runs, including four podiums and a second-place finish in last year’s DIRTcar Nationals finale.
While Perrego is the Series’ most recent winner, Rudolph is searching for his first win since 2023 when he defended home turf at Ransomville Speedway.
Rising Stars: A trip to Florida is a chance to keep momentum rolling for four drivers rising through the Super DIRTcar Series ranks.
Tim Sears Jr. is making his first stop at DIRTcar Nationals after his best season with the Series. The Hastings, NY driver finished fifth at the end of the year with nine top fives, 11 top 10s, and five podiums.
Jack Lehner, meanwhile, is no stranger to the “World’s Fastest Half Mile,” earning a second-place finish in the DIRTcar Nationals finale in 2023. Like Sears, Lehner had his best season in 2024, finishing sixth in the final standings and in the top 10 in five of the last six races.
Felix Roy, the defending DIRTcar 358 Modified Series champion, finished 2024 with nine top 10s, enough to finish ninth at the end of the season. However, the Napierville, QC driver has yet to earn a top 10 finish at Volusia. “Hollywood” hopes to turn it around in his third trip to DIRTcar Nationals.
While Sears, Lehner, and Roy are all searching for their first Series win, 2024 Rookie of the Year Alex Payne grabbed his first Victory at Brockville Ontario Speedway in September. Now, he’s aiming for his first gator at Volusia.
The Hopewell, NY driver earned his first DIRTcar Nationals top five with a fourth-place finish in last year’s finale.
WHEN AND WHERE
Volusia Speedway Park (1/2-Mile) in Barberville, FL on Feb. 12-15
TRACK RECORD
Volusia Speedway Park: 16.794 by Jamie Mills on Feb. 1, 2015
Big Gator Champions:
2024 – Mat Williamson
2023- Mat Williamson
2022 – Jimmy Phelps
2021 – Max McLaughlin
2020 – Larry Wight
2019 – Larry Wight
2018 – Tim McCreadie
2017 – Brett Hearn
2016 – Matt Sheppard
2015 – Larry Wight
2014 – Stewart Friesen
2013 – Danny Johnson
2012 – Matt Sheppard
Prospective DIRTcar Nationals Entry List:
Car # Name Hometown
1 Billy Pauch Jr. Frenchtown, NJ
2 Jack Lehner Saratoga Springs, NY
3 Justin Haers Phelps, NY
4 Anthony Perrego Montgomery, NY
5H Amy Holland Fulton, NY
6 Matt Stangle Neshanic Station, NJ
7Z Zach Payne Stanley, NY
8 Rich Scagliotta Boundbrook, NJ
9S Matt Sheppard Waterloo, NY
9 Will Thomas Sharpsville, PA
11 Matt Caprara Clayton, NY
11 Ricky Newton Medina, NY
11T Jeff Taylor Chittenango, NY
12 Darren Smith Binghamton, NY
14 C.G. Morey Rutland, VT
14S Brian Swarthout Beaver Dams, N
14B Brendan Darrah Queensbury, NY
15X Justin Stone Middlebury, VT
16X Danny Creeden Wurtsboro, NY
20 Rick Laubach Quakertown, PA
21A Peter Britten Brisbane, QLD
21M Bob McGannon Garnerville, NY
22J Bubba McPhee Rutland, VT
25 Erick Rudolph Ransomville, NY
28 Mario Clair Drummondville, QC
29 Garrett Krummert West Middlesex, PA
30 H.J. Bunting Milford, DE
35 Francois Bellmare Trois-Riviere, QC
44 Stewart Friesen Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
48Too Dave Rauscher Waterloo, NY
51 Ryan Krachun Neshanic Station, NJ
58 Louden Reimert Oley, PA
66 Corbin Millar Perth, ON
70A Alex Payne Hopewell, NY
83X Tim Sears Jr. Hastings, NY
84Y Alex Yankowski Covington Township, PA
88 Mat Williamson St. Catharines, ON
91 Felix Roy Napierville, QC
98H Jimmy Phelps Baldwinsville, NY
99L Larry Wight Phoenix, NY
118 Jim Britt Newtown Square, PA
