Nick Hoffman “Four-Peats” As DIRTcar Nationals Champ; Kyle Strickler Doubles Down For $5K
Story By: MATT PRIEUR / DIRTCAR – BARBERVILLE, FL – The final night of racing for the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds as part of the 48th annual DIRTcar Nationals was also the busiest in the history of the prestigious event.
With the postponement of Saturday’s Last Chance Showdowns and Feature as well as the entire Sunday schedule of events, the Ironmen of the DIRTcar Nationals completed the two postponed shows before the originally scheduled Gator Nationals Championship Feature.
A total of 14 races were conducted over the course of the evening for the UMP Modifieds.
After the Sinking Spring, PA start won the Sunday Gator Qualifier Feature, his first of the week, Kyle Strickler added a $5,000 paycheck to his busy day by winning his second straight Big Gator Feature in two years. The 34-year-old, who now calls Mooresville, NC home, started third in the 30-Lap Feature and drove around early race leader David Stremme on lap seven and withstood a consistent charge from him while dealing with lapped traffic, to become the only repeat winner of the 48th annual DIRTcar Nationals for the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds.
“We’ve had a heck of a week with all the stuff that happened earlier here. We (Strickler and Stremme) might not like each other very much, but we’re both professionals and we definitely put on a show for the fans,” stated Strickler after climbing from his #8 G-Style Transport / Longhorn Chassis machine and earning a total of $5,700 for a night’s work. “But we put our heads down and went to work, and it all worked out. We went out and did what we were supposed to do. Man, this is so awesome, this is such a relief. I’m looking for a Late Model ride for this year. That’s where I want to go looking ahead, and this is the best way I can show what I can do.”
By taking the green flag in the Feature, Nick Hoffman clinched his fourth consecutive DIRTcar UMP Modified DIRTcar Nationals Championship. The 26-year-old driver, originally from Belleville, IL who now calls Mooresville, NC home, recorded one Feature win, two second place finishes, two fourths and a six to wrap up his all-time DIRTcar Nationals best fourth straight title.
“We really weren’t as strong this year down here as we have been in the past,” remarked the driver of his familiar blue #2 Fox Shox / Elite Chassis ride. ” But we were very consistent, even when the car wasn’t capable of winning. To win this deal, though, you have to have consistency and a little bit of luck.”
After the Redraw of the top five finishers from both Big Gator Qualifier Features, Ryan Ayers and David Stremme led the star-studded 28-car field to Chief Starter Dave Farney’s green flag. Stremme edged out to the early race lead, while Ayers and the rest of the field settled in behind them. Strickler moved up to second and began stalking Stremme for the lead as they navigated around the half-mile high-banked dirt oval in DeLeon Spring, FL. Strickler sized up Stremme and on lap seven made his move around the outside of the former NASCAR driver to take over the race lead.
Strickler, Stremme, and later, R.C. Whitwell, who started seventh and had charged his way up to third, all pulled away from the rest of the field. With the laps clicking off, Stremme resurged his efforts to get around Strickler but had to fall back and negotiate the traffic Strickler left in his path. That played a pivotal role in the outcome as Strickler was able to lose Stremme in the traffic and walk away with his second Feature win of the night. With the victory, the sixth of his DIRTcar Nationals career, Strickler moves into a tie for fifth all-time in career wins with 2007 DIRTcar Nationals Champion Steve Arpin.
Stremme finished second for the second time of the night, tying his best finish of the week in one night over Whitwell, while Lucas Lee and NASCAR Xfinity Series star Justin Allgaier completed the top five. Now a four-time DIRTcar Nationals Champion, Hoffman actually finished the worst he had all week in sixth, while Brian Ruhlman was seventh. Taylor Cook, who started 20th, charged up to the eighth finishing position and Tyler Nicely overcame a spin earlier in the race to climb back to ninth after originally starting in 18th. Ayers finished off the final top 10.
David Wietholder, Steve Meyer Jr., Brenden Rassel and Allen Weisser all collected checkered flags in the four Last Chance Showdowns. Officially, 105 DIRTcar UMP Modifieds made at least one appearance during their seven nights of racing during the 48th annual DIRTcar Nationals.
Earlier in the evening, during the conclusion of the Saturday, February 9 show, Paris, TN driver Lucas Lee scored his first career Gator in the Saturday Big Gator Qualifier Feature. The 31-year-old aboard the #40 Brandon Ford / Racecar Engineering entry started on the outside of the front row, and after beating pole-sitter Stremme to the first corner, Lee never looked back en route to his first career Feature Win at Volusia. In doing so, Lee became the ninth different Feature winner and eighth first-time Gator winner of the week.
Stremme finished second, while Allgaier posted his best finish of the week in third to complete the podium finishers. Hoffman was fourth and Shon Flannery rounded out the top five. Michael Altobelli Jr. grabbed his best finish of the week in sixth, and Tyler Evans, Jason Beaulieu, Curt Spalding and Brandon Green finished off the top 10. Todd Neiheiser and defending Track Champion Larry Burkins won the Saturday Last Chance Showdowns.
During the Sunday, February 10 show, also postponed due to weather, Strickler started the night off by winning his first Gator of the 2019 DIRTcar Nationals and becoming the 10th different winner in 10 Features leading into the Big Gator Championship. Strickler started on the pole and, after a hard-fought battle with Ruhlman and later Whitwell, led all 20 laps for his first feature win of the night.
Whitwell finished second over Zeke McKenzie, who grabbed his best finish of the week by rounding out the top final top five. Ruhlman and Ayers, with his best finish of the week, were the top five. Trey Harris posted his best finish of the week in sixth, and Will Krup, Ryan Cripe, with his best finish of the DCN, Nicely and Cook completed the top 10.
Mark Whitener won his first Fast Qualifier award of the week with an 18.491, while McKenzie, Ruhlman, Strickler and Bryan Foy won the Heat Races. Gordy Gundaker and Brad Waits scored the triumphs in the Last Chance Showdowns.
The DIRTcar Late Models return to action on Tuesday, February 12 to continue DIRTcar Nationals Late Model Week. It’ll be the final night of competition for the DIRTcar sanctioned Late Models before the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series takes over for the final four night from February 13-16. The Super DIRTcar Big Block Modified Series will move in and take over for the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds also on Tuesday, February 13.
RESULTS, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2019
Modifieds Feature Driver Nbr ------------------------------ ----- 1. Kyle Strickler 8 Mooresville, Nc. 2. David Stremme 35 Mooresville, Nc. 3. Rc Whitwell 96T Longdale, Ok. 4. Lucas Lee 40B Paris, Tn. 5. Justin Allgaier 7 Springfield, Il. 6. Nick Hoffman 2H Mooresville, Nc. 7. Brian Ruhlman 49 Clarklake, Mi. 8. Taylor Cook 21c Stanley, Nc. 9. Tyler Nicely 25 Owensboro, Ky. 10. Ryan Ayers 6A Concord, Nc. 11. Will Krup 19K Mt Carmel, Il. 12. Allen Weisser 25w Peoria, Il. 13. Michael Altobelli Jr. 95 Saxton, Pa. 14. Zeke McKenzie 24z Claypool, In. 15. Shon Flanary 98 Surgoinsville, Tn. 16. David Wietholder 05 Liberty, Il. 17. Trey Harris 57 Hillsboro, Mo. 18. Curt Spalding 5CS Watervliet, Mi. 19. Jason Beaulieu 90 Campbell River, Bc. 20. Brandon Green 51 Walton, Ky. 21. David Reutimann 00D Sherrills Ford, Nc. 22. Tyler Evans 17T Mineral Wells, Wv. 23. Kenny Wallace 36 Imperial, Mo. 24. Ray Bollinger 77 Kewanee, Il. 25. Gordy Gundaker 11G St Charles, Mo. 26. Brendan Rassell 1 Woonsocket, Sd. 27. Ryan Cripe 23 North Manchester, In. 28. Steve Meyer Jr. 1A Staunton, Il.
Modifieds B-Feature 1 Driver Nbr ------------------------------ ----- 1. David Wietholder 05 Liberty, Il. 2. Dale Kelley 22K Plant City, Fl. 3. Jonathan Taylor 5T Saltsburg, Pa. 4. Chad Roush 32 Reedsville, Oh. 5. Joey Miller 15 Lakeville, Mn. 6. Matt Altiers 2A Lewis Center, Oh. 7. Gene Nicholas 11N Lowell, Ar. 8. Bobby Regot 4uw St. Peters, Mo. 9. Ryan Fowler 6F Pace, Fl. 10. Todd Neiheiser 72 Panama City, Fl. 11. Will Norris 71n Bells, Tn. 12. Scotty Kincaid 12K Rising Sun, In. 13. Bobby Miles 27 Owensboro, Ky. 14. Paul Miles 28M Owensboro, Ky. 15. Tyler Davis. 65 Haysville, Ks. Modifieds B-Feature 2 Driver Nbr ------------------------------ ----- 1. Steve Meyer Jr. 1A Staunton, Il. 2. Brad Waits 24 Rochester, Mn. 3. Gordy Gundaker 11G St Charles, Mo. 4. Buzzie Reutimann 00 Zephyrhills, Fl. 5. Joe Graf Jr 17 Mahwah, Nj. 6. Joey Lee 662 Farina, Il. 7. Mike Learman 4L Woodstock, Il. 8. Dave Baldwin 6B Perrysville, In. 9. Larry Mott 06Z Leesburg, Fl. 10. Bryan Foy 7F Lacombe, La. 11. Ken Schrader 9 Concord, Nc. 12. Justin Haley 11 Mooresville, Nc. 13. Jesse Rupe 11R Sophia, Wv. 14. Jason Gross 12 Cushing, Wi. 15. Mark Beard 28 Mt. Pleasant, Mi. Modifieds B-Feature 3 Driver Nbr ------------------------------ ----- 1. Brendan Rassell 1 Woonsocket, Sd. 2. David Reutimann 00D Sherrills Ford, Nc. 3. Ray Bollinger 77 Kewanee, Il. 4. Garret Stewart 67 Leesburg, Fl. 5. Chase Collins 2x4 Jacksonville, Fl. 6. Kenny Wallace 36 Imperial, Mo. 7. Scott Fritz 01 Erie, Pa. 8. Jeff Thomas 07 Petaluma, Ca. 9. Steve Stevenson 14s St Jacob, Il. 10. Brad Goff 41 Zanesville, Oh. 11. Robbie Eilers 14E Highland, Il. 12. Mark Enk 40 St Ann, Mo. 13. Larry Burkins 54 St. Augustine, Fl. 14. Bill Lewis 118L Fountain City, In. Modifieds B-Feature 4 Driver Nbr ------------------------------ ----- 1. Allen Weisser 25w Peoria, Il. 2. Johnny Collins 54c Jacksonville, Fl. 3. Mikey Kopka 90K Astor, Fl. 4. Michael McGee 11m Mayville, Ny. 5. Will Long 45L Clayton, Nc. 6. Gary Bentley A-1 St Charles, Mo. 7. Mark Whitener 5 Middleburg, Fl. 8. Evan Taylor 7JT Saltsburg, Pa. 9. Spencer Hughes 7h Meridian, Ms. 10. Austin Holcombe 8A Elm City, Nc. 11. Scott Green 25G Derby, Ks. 12. Jason Garver 27G Starke, Fl. 13. Jesse Strange 85E Marion, In. 14. Matt Crafton 88 Mooresville, Nc. Sunday, February 10, 2019 Results Modifieds Feature Driver Nbr ------------------------------ ----- 1. Kyle Strickler 8 Mooresville, Nc. 2. Rc Whitwell 96T Longdale, Ok. 3. Zeke McKenzie 24z Claypool, In. 4. Brian Ruhlman 49 Clarklake, Mi. 5. Ryan Ayers 6A Concord, Nc. 6. Trey Harris 57 Hillsboro, Mo. 7. Will Krup 19K Mt Carmel, Il. 8. Ryan Cripe 23 North Manchester, In. 9. Tyler Nicely 25 Owensboro, Ky. 10. Taylor Cook 21c Stanley, Nc. 11. Steve Meyer Jr. 1A Staunton, Il. 12. Allen Weisser 25w Peoria, Il. 13. Brad Waits 24 Rochester, Mn. 14. Michael McGee 11m Mayville, Ny. 15. Gordy Gundaker 11G St Charles, Mo. 16. Scott Green 25G Derby, Ks. 17. Mike Learman 4L Woodstock, Il. 18. Austin Holcombe 8A Elm City, Nc. 19. Justin Haley 11 Mooresville, Nc. 20. Evan Taylor 7JT Saltsburg, Pa. 21. Dave Baldwin 6B Perrysville, In. 22. Will Long 45L Clayton, Nc. 23. Ken Schrader 9 Concord, Nc. 24. Spencer Hughes 7h Meridian, Ms. Modifieds B-Feature 1 Driver Nbr ------------------------------ ----- 1. Gordy Gundaker 11G St Charles, Mo. 2. Evan Taylor 7JT Saltsburg, Pa. 3. Mark Beard 28 Mt. Pleasant, Mi. 4. Joey Lee 662 Farina, Il. 5. Jeff Thomas 07 Petaluma, Ca. 6. Mark Whitener 5 Middleburg, Fl. 7. Larry Mott 06Z Leesburg, Fl. 8. Dylan Browning 6DB Jacksonville, Fl. 9. Robbie Eilers 14E Highland, Il. 10. Tyler Davis. 65 Haysville, Ks. Modifieds B-Feature 2 Driver Nbr ------------------------------ ----- 1. Brad Waits 24 Rochester, Mn. 2. Michael McGee 11m Mayville, Ny. 3. Jason Garver 27G Starke, Fl. 4. Matt Crafton 88 Mooresville, Nc. 5. Matt Altiers 2A Lewis Center, Oh. 6. Jesse Strange 85E Marion, In. 7. Joe Graf Jr 17 Mahwah, Nj. 8. Mikey Kopka 90K Astor, Fl. 9. Jake Gibbon 1G Cleveland, Nc.
Modifieds Heat 1 Driver Nbr ------------------------------ ----- 1. Zeke McKenzie 24z Claypool, In. 2. Rc Whitwell 96T Longdale, Ok. 3. Justin Haley 11 Mooresville, Nc. 4. Austin Holcombe 8A Elm City, Nc. 5. Taylor Cook 21c Stanley, Nc. 6. Gordy Gundaker 11G St Charles, Mo. 7. Mark Beard 28 Mt. Pleasant, Mi. 8. Tyler Davis. 65 Haysville, Ks. DNF. Larry Mott 06Z Leesburg, Fl. DNS Mark Whitener 5 Middleburg, Fl. Modifieds Heat 2 Driver Nbr ------------------------------ ----- 1. Brian Ruhlman 49 Clarklake, Mi. 2. Ryan Ayers 6A Concord, Nc. 3. Ryan Cripe 23 North Manchester, In. 4. Steve Meyer Jr. 1A Staunton, Il. 5. Mike Learman 4L Woodstock, Il. 6. Joey Lee 662 Farina, Il. DNF. Evan Taylor 7JT Saltsburg, Pa. DNF. Jeff Thomas 07 Petaluma, Ca. DNS Robbie Eilers 14E Highland, Il. DNS Dylan Browning 6DB Jacksonville, Fl. Modifieds Heat 3 Driver Nbr ------------------------------ ----- 1. Kyle Strickler 8 Mooresville, Nc. 2. Will Krup 19K Mt Carmel, Il. 3. Dave Baldwin 6B Perrysville, In. 4. Tyler Nicely 25 Owensboro, Ky. 5. Allen Weisser 25w Peoria, Il. 6. Brad Waits 24 Rochester, Mn. 7. Michael McGee 11m Mayville, Ny. 8. Jesse Strange 85E Marion, In. 9. Matt Crafton 88 Mooresville, Nc. 10. Matt Altiers 2A Lewis Center, Oh. Modifieds Heat 4 Driver Nbr ------------------------------ ----- 1. Spencer Hughes 7h Meridian, Ms. 2. Trey Harris 57 Hillsboro, Mo. 3. Will Long 45L Clayton, Nc. 4. Ken Schrader 9 Concord, Nc. 5. Scott Green 25G Derby, Ks. 6. Jason Garver 27G Starke, Fl. 7. Joe Graf Jr 17 Mahwah, Nj. 8. Mikey Kopka 90K Astor, Fl. DNS Jake Gibbon 1G Cleveland, Nc. Modifieds Qualifying 1 Driver Nbr ------------------------------ ----- 1. Mark Whitener 5 Middleburg, Fl. 2. Justin Haley 11 Mooresville, Nc. 3. Austin Holcombe 8A Elm City, Nc. 4. Zeke McKenzie 24z Claypool, In. 5. Rc Whitwell 96T Longdale, Ok. 6. Taylor Cook 21c Stanley, Nc. 7. Larry Mott 06Z Leesburg, Fl. 8. Mark Beard 28 Mt. Pleasant, Mi. 9. Gordy Gundaker 11G St Charles, Mo. 10. Tyler Davis. 65 Haysville, Ks. Modifieds Qualifying 2 Driver Nbr ------------------------------ ----- 1. Brian Ruhlman 49 Clarklake, Mi. 2. Ryan Ayers 6A Concord, Nc. 3. Ryan Cripe 23 North Manchester, In. 4. Mike Learman 4L Woodstock, Il. 5. Robbie Eilers 14E Highland, Il. 6. Evan Taylor 7JT Saltsburg, Pa. 7. Jeff Thomas 07 Petaluma, Ca. 8. Steve Meyer Jr. 1A Staunton, Il. 9. Joey Lee 662 Farina, Il. DNS Dylan Browning 6DB Jacksonville, Fl. Modifieds Qualifying 3 Driver Nbr ------------------------------ ----- 1. Dave Baldwin 6B Perrysville, In. 2. Kyle Strickler 8 Mooresville, Nc. 3. Will Krup 19K Mt Carmel, Il. 4. Allen Weisser 25w Peoria, Il. 5. Matt Altiers 2A Lewis Center, Oh. 6. Tyler Nicely 25 Owensboro, Ky. 7. Michael McGee 11m Mayville, Ny. 8. Matt Crafton 88 Mooresville, Nc. 9. Brad Waits 24 Rochester, Mn. 10. Jesse Strange 85E Marion, In. Modifieds Qualifying 4 Driver Nbr ------------------------------ ----- 1. Spencer Hughes 7h Meridian, Ms. 2. Will Long 45L Clayton, Nc. 3. Trey Harris 57 Hillsboro, Mo. 4. Jason Garver 27G Starke, Fl. 5. Ken Schrader 9 Concord, Nc. 6. Scott Green 25G Derby, Ks. 7. Mikey Kopka 90K Astor, Fl. 8. Joe Graf Jr 17 Mahwah, Nj. DNS Jake Gibbon 1G Cleveland, Nc.
Saturday, February 9, 2019 Results
Modifieds Feature Driver Nbr ------------------------------ ----- 1. Lucas Lee 40B Paris, Tn. 2. David Stremme 35 Mooresville, Nc. 3. Justin Allgaier 7 Springfield, Il. 4. Nick Hoffman 2H Mooresville, Nc. 5. Shon Flanary 98 Surgoinsville, Tn. 6. Michael Altobelli Jr. 95 Saxton, Pa. 7. Tyler Evans 17T Mineral Wells, Wv. 8. Jason Beaulieu 90 Campbell River, Bc. 9. Curt Spalding 5CS Watervliet, Mi. 10. Brandon Green 51 Walton, Ky. 11. Dale Kelley 22K Plant City, Fl. 12. Brad Goff 41 Zanesville, Oh. 13. Ryan Fowler 6F Pace, Fl. 14. Brendan Rassell 1 Woonsocket, Sd. 15. Todd Neiheiser 72 Panama City, Fl. 16. David Reutimann 00D Sherrills Ford, Nc. 17. Paul Miles 28M Owensboro, Ky. 18. Kenny Wallace 36 Imperial, Mo. 19. David Wietholder 05 Liberty, Il. 20. Chase Collins 2x4 Jacksonville, Fl. 21. Joey Miller 15 Lakeville, Mn. 22. Steve Stevenson 14s St Jacob, Il. 23. Bobby Regot 4uw St. Peters, Mo. 24. Larry Burkins 54 St. Augustine, Fl.
Modifieds B-Feature 1 Driver Nbr ------------------------------ ----- 1. Todd Neiheiser 72 Panama City, Fl. 2. Chase Collins 2x4 Jacksonville, Fl. 3. Gene Nicholas 11N Lowell, Ar. 4. Chad Roush 32 Reedsville, Oh. 5. Scotty Kincaid 12K Rising Sun, In. 6. Buzzie Reutimann 00 Zephyrhills, Fl. 7. Jason Gross 12 Cushing, Wi. 8. Will Norris 71n Bells, Tn. 9. Scott Fritz 01 Erie, Pa. 10. Bobby Miles 27 Owensboro, Ky. 11. Jesse Rupe 11R Sophia, Wv. 12. Bill Lewis 118L Fountain City, In. 13. Gary Bentley A-1 St Charles, Mo. 14. Jonathan Taylor 5T Saltsburg, Pa. Modifieds B-Feature 2 Driver Nbr ------------------------------ ----- 1. Larry Burkins 54 St. Augustine, Fl. 2. Paul Miles 28M Owensboro, Ky. 3. Garret Stewart 67 Leesburg, Fl. 4. Ray Bollinger 77 Kewanee, Il. 5. Johnny Collins 54c Jacksonville, Fl. DNF. Mark Enk 40 St Ann, Mo. DNS Robert Poole 25p Sherrills Ford, Nc. DNS David Taylor 14 Fayettville, Nc. DNS Hunter Gustafson 15G Howey In The Hills, Fl. DNS Nathan Huffingham N8 Earlton, Fl. DNS John E Baker 22J French Lick, In. DNS Josh Harris 22 Utica, Ky.
