Chris Madden made the pass for the lead just before the halfway mark in Monday night’s DIRTcar Nationals, and drove on to score the DIRTcar Late Model win and a coveted Gator Trophy at Florida’s Volusia Speedway Park.
Madden chased down pole sitter Brian Shirley, who paced the opening 12 laps of the 30-lap feature, but Madden used the high line around the half mile dirt oval to close on him before making the move for the top spot on lap 13.
From there, Madden went on to score the victory. Shirley held on to finish in second, with Tyler Erb in third, Zebulon, Georgia’s Shane Clanton in fourth and Dennis Erb, Jr. in fifth.
G.R. Smith, Brandon Overton, Eric Wells, Brandon Sheppard and Chase Junghans rounded out the top ten finishers.
In DIRTcar UMP Modifieds action, Nick Hoffman battled with Jacob Hawkins side-by-side for several laps before finally taking the lead on lap 24. From there, Hoffman went on to score the victory and the $5,000 Gator Championship.
It’s the third “Big Gator” of Hoffman’s career.
Hawkins finished in second, with Will Krup in third, Kenny Wallace in fourth and Tyler Nicely in fifth.
Taylor Cook, David Stremme, Robbie Eilers, Todd Neiheiser and Johnny Broking rounded out the top ten finishes.
For more information on the DIRTcar Nationals, visit DirtcarNationals.com.
Volusia Speedway Park – Barberville, FL
DIRTcar Nationals – Feb. 20, 2017
UMP DIRTcar Racing Late Models
1. 44- Chris Madden
2. 3s- Brian Shirley
3. 91- Tyler Erb
4. 25- Shane Clanton
5. 28E- Dennis Erb, Jr.
6. 22*- G.R. Smith
7. 116- Brandon Overton
8. 18- Eric Wells
9. 1- Brandon Sheppard
10. 18c-Chase Junghans
11. 7- Rick Eckert
12. 14M- Morgan Bagley
13. 72- Mike Norris
14. 7F-Jason Fitzgarald
15. 99B-Boom Briggs
16. 9- Devin Moran
17. 2c-Joey Coulter
18. 0v- Coleby Frye
19. 39- Tim McCreadie
20. 99jr- Frank Heckenast, Jr.
21. 1*- Chub Frank
22. 15- Steve Francis
23. 40B- Kyle Bronson
24. 93- Donald Bradsher
DIRTcar UMP Modified Notebook
1. 2-Nick Hoffman
2. 13-Jacob Hawkins
3. K9-Will Krup
4. 36-Kenny Wallace
5. 25-Tyler Nicely
6. 21C-Taylor Cook
7. 35-David Stremme
8. 3E-Robbie Eilers
9. 72-Todd Neiheiser
10. 45J-Johnny Broking
11. 77-Ray Bollinger
12. 49-Brian Ruhlman
13. 90-Jason Beaulieu
14. 33-Jeff Mathews
15. 8-Kyle Strickler
16. 28BX-Robert Garnes
17. 22T-Tony Anderson
18. 64JR-Billy Workman, Jr.
19. 2×4-Chase Collins
20. 4-Mike Learman
21. 3L-Jeff Leka
22. 9G-Ernie Gingerich
23. 65-Josh Rice
24. 9-Ken Schrader
25. 10Y-Trent Young
26. 24Z-Zeke McKenzie
27. 54-Larry Burkins
28. 98F-Derek Fisher
