Night 1 of Volusia Speedway Park’s DIRTcar Winternationals Is In the Books

Barberville, FL (February 3, 2010)  The first night of Volusia Speedway Park’s DIRTcar Winternationals was a success.  With 44 O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars in the upper pits and 74 DIRTcar UMP Open Wheel Modifieds throughout the pits, there were plenty of cars for all the fans.

 

It took six heats of Modifieds and four heats of Sprints to set the field for the 30 lap All Star Circuit of Champions feature race and the 20 lap DIRTcar UMP Modified race.  And yes, there were some very scary moments last night when one Sprint Car almost climbed the fence in turn 2 taking out an RV and a modified driver had one heck of a end-over-end barrel roll in turns 3 and 4.  Luckily, none of the drivers were hurt which was truly a blessing.

 

As the night air got cooler, you could see couples snuggle in their blankets as the gentleman gently wrapped his arm around his lady.  As the air got cooler and cooler, I doubt a pin would have fit between the two as they snuggled for the warmth of their bodies.

 

More and more beanies were put on as the sprints took to the track bringing with their fast speed even more cool air.  Only eight laps were needed for the heat race but it was eight laps of some pretty cool breeze racing for the fans.

 

As you watched the small pieces of mud fly into the track lights as if it were 10,000 little moths surrounding the lights, the night went fast.

 

Only a few local drivers came out on Night 1 to try their driving skills against drivers from all over the country.  Rob Underwood, the 2009 DIRTcar Open Wheel Modified Champion for Volusia Speedway Park; Garrett Stewart who recently just switched to the Modifieds after wheeling a Sportsman most all of 2009; Buzzie Reutimann, who just finished racing at East Bay Raceway Park and is probably the best known Modified driver in Florida and Kyle Bronson, the most recent winner at Volusia Speedway Park in the Open Wheel Modifieds winning the Janaury Jump-Start feature.

 

Kyle Bronson came closest to racing his way into the A-Main for the All Stars but missed it by one spot finishing fourth in his B-Main race.  Buzzie Reutimann finished sixth in the same race as Bronson and did not make the race.  Buzzie’s son David will take the wheel of the #00 Modified tonight at Volusia Speedway Park.

 

Rob Underwood was looking really good to make the A-Main after setting fast time in his hot laps qualifying over Kenny Schrader but had problems in his heat race, the drive shaft broke, and was unable to make the B-Main which meant that there was no way he could make the A-Main. 

 

Garrett Stewart was unable to qualify and found himself wrecked before lap 1 was down in his heat race giving him a pretty hard hit for his very first DIRTcar UMP Modified Winternationals event.  But all racers know, you never say never and hopefully all will return tonight for another shot at the gold.

 

Racing returns Thursday, February 4, at Volusia Speedway Park at 7:30 pm.  Tonight will feature the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars and the DIRTcar UMP Open Wheel Modifieds.   General Admission is $29 and with each ticket, fans get a Fan Pit Pass which lets you get up close and personal with the great drivers in the upper pits.

Camping is allowed at Volusia Speedway Park with Track Side Preferred Motor Home Parking at $300 per week and campground parking at $25.00 per night. And if you can’t make it to Volusia, you can watch the racing live each night at DIRTVISION. com.

 
Volusia Speedway Park is located 15 miles west of Ormond Beach, FL on State Road 40. Additional information and updates will be available on the website – www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com, or call 386-985-4402.