By Tom Coughlin
Beginning on last Wednesday the big block modifieds of the Super DIRTcar Series were at Volusia Speedway Park near Barbersville, Florida, for the Federated Auto Parts-DIRTcar Nationals. 43 modifieds signed-in for their opportunity to win a small Gator (trophy) in the 30-lap $5,000 to win feature. Billy Pauch Jr. and Matt Sheppard would start on the front row to begin the feature. Pauch had a short-lived lead before Sheppard took over with Alex Yankowski following Sheppard into second. Just as Yankowski was closing in on Sheppard the red flag was out on lap 12 for Garrett Krummert as he took a hard hit into the outside wall. Stewart Friesen would just miss being collected in this mishap, but he did lose several positions in the field. Sheppard and 20-year-old Yankowski would battle side by side with some contact for a number of laps. Sheppard would eventually earn the feature victory with Justin Haers and Yankowski completing the podium. Area drivers finished as follows; Peter Britten 7, Friesen would recover to finish 8, Anthony Perrego 10, Justin Stone 11, Chris Curtis 16, and Jack Lehner 17.
Joining the modifieds on Wednesday were the DIRTcar late model division, there were three 20-lap features held. Ricky Thornton Jr., Jonathan Davenport, and Brandon Overton were the three different feature winners. Former northeast modified driver Tim McCreadie would finish fifth to Overton.
Drivers were forced to wait out a brief rain delay on Thursday night at Volusia Speedway Park. Britten would redraw the pole for the 30-lap feature, with 2024 Fonda Speedway modified champion Alex Yankowski on the outside pole. Kid Rocket (Yankowski) would jump out and grab the early lead and never look back as he fought off a number of challenges from Batman Britten and later Erick Rudolph. Yankowski was joined on the podium by Rudolph and Mat Williamson. Area drivers finished in this order Britten 5, Stone 10, Perrego 11, Lehner 18, and Curtis 25, Due to engine problems that happened during Wednesday night’s opening race. Friesen would sit out Thursday at Volusia, hoping to possibly be able to compete in Saturday's finale.
Due to rain the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series was also forced to postpone practice at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday afternoon.
Friday, was night three at Volusia and would see Australian native Peter Britten earn the win in the 30-lap, $5,000 modified division feature. Alex Payne and Erick Rudolph would complete the podium. Area drivers finished in this order; Yankowski 5, Lehner 6, Perrego 10, Curtis 22, and Stone was a dnf in 26.
Friesen was at the two and one half mile Daytona International Speedway on Friday night for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series-Fresh From Daytona 250. Due to an infraction while going through pre-race inspection, Friesen would be forced to start at the tail end of the field in 35th. At points during the 100-lap race he was up to sixth.
However, after a late race penalty for speeding on pit road, Friesen would end up finishing 23rd. Corey Heim crossed the finish line in second. However, he was declared the winner of the Truck race after Parker Kligerman was disqualified in post-race inspection and credited with a last place finish. By earning stage points during the race Friesen is currently listed as being in 19th. in points.
William Byron was in the ninth position entering the last lap of Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series-Daytona 500. However, he survived the last lap melee to win the race for the second year in a row.
Saturday night was the finale for the 2025 SDS Nationals. Going into the event five drivers were within twenty points of claiming the 2025 Big Gator. Friesen was able to secure a ride in Yankowski’s backup car to be able to compete.
It took ten plus years, but Erick Rudolph who started 11th. Claimed his first Gator in winning the 50-lap $7,500 feature, with Mat Williamson and Matt Sheppard filling the podium. Area drivers finished in this order Friesen 6, Lehner 7, Yankowski 8, Perrego 13, Britten 18, and Curtis 26.
Yankowski’s eighth place finish was enough to clinch the DIRTcar Nationals Championship and bring home the Big Gator. The modified division held four night's of racing and saw four different winners Ricky Thornton Jr. received the Big Gator for the late model division Felix Roy Racing announced this week that the twenty year old driver from Quebec, Canada will be competing weekly in the big block modified division at Albany-Saratoga Speedway in a car prepared by Elmo's Speed & Supply. Roy is optimistic that this program will help with his efforts on the Super DIRTcar Series and his overall big block driving.
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