Dirt on Dirt - Hoffman cruises, claims fourth DIRTcar Nat'ls win

February 12

Volusia Speedway Park,

Barberville, FL

Sanction: World of Outlaws Late Model Series (Federated DIRTcar Nationals) - $12,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated February 13, 5:00 pm)

Hoffman cruises, claims fourth DIRTcar Nat'ls win

Federated DIRTcar Nationals

Nick Hoffman
Tim McCreadie
Bobby Pierce
Tyler Erb
Chris Madden
Ethan Dotson
Ricky Thornton Jr.
Brandon Sheppard
Drake Troutman
Josh Rice
Hudson O'Neal
Ryan Gustin
Daulton Wilson
Garrett Alberson
Jake Timm
Tristan Chamberlain
Trey Mills
Brent Larson
Logan Zarin
Ross Robinson
Dennis Erb Jr.
Dustin Sorensen
Mike Marlar
Tyler Bruening
Eli Johnson
Brenden Smith
Kyle Strickler
Cody Overton

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Nick Hoffman and hardware from his fourth career DIRTcar Nationals victory.

What won the race: Firing off from outside the front row and never letting up, Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., led all 35 laps of Thursday's Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals fourth round for a commanding second victory in a row at Volusia Speedway Park. Hoffman beat Tim McCreadie to the line by a distant 5.270 seconds for the $12,000 payday, his fourth career Late Model victory at Volusia and 12th career World of Outlaws Series triumph.

Quotable: “That race was probably won with the pill draw. (My son) Maddox here, got me the two (spot). I watched those later heat races, those guys restarting on the cushion or starting the race on the cushion and they were letting that go,” Hoffman explained. “For me, it was a no-brainer to just try and catch that moisture and beat (Chris Madden) down the front straightaway, which I was able to do.”

Key notes: All four of Hoffman's Volusia victories have come in the DIRTcar Nationals, including wins in consecutive starts after topping one of Wednesday's 20-lap split-field semifeatures. ... He now has 34 overall gator trophies (23 little Gators; 11 big Gators) across Late Model and modified action, including awards for week-long points titles. ... Hoffman now leads WoO and DIRTcar Nationals points after his first series victory since last Sept. 12 at Georgia's Needmore Speedway, also worth $12,000. ... Just as he did in a Jan. 24 Sunshine Nationals victory, Tim McCreadie — making his 500th WoO start — rode the low line from 22nd and took the runner-up spot from Bobby Pierce as they completed the 33rd lap. ... The 10th-starting Pierce made a bold fifth-to-second move on a lap-13 restart but never had anything for Hoffman before slipping to third. ... Tyler Erb finished fourth after contact with Ryan Gustin triggered the lap-13 caution. Gustin's right-front tire made contact with Erb's left side, sending Gustin spinning in turn two; he was credited with 12th. ... Ethan Dotson improved 14 spots to finish sixth. ... Josh Rice gained nine spots to complete the top-10 finishers. ... In addition to the Erb-Gustin tangle on lap 13, the race was slowed one other time on lap five when Cody Overton slowed from 10th and retired. ... The 35-lap opener lasted 17 minutes with 16 starters completing the distance. ... Brandon Sheppard won his 50th career WoO heat race. ... Max Blair failed to transfer out of the second heat after Garrett Alberson attempted to clear him with a turn-two slide job, the resulting contact sent Blair hard into the turn-two wall and ended his night. ... Dan Ebert scratched after motor trouble in time trials; Ebert's team has swapped engines in preparation for Friday's DIRTcar Nationals fifth round.

On the move: Runner up Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., started 22nd.

Winner's sponsors: Hoffman’s Tye Twarog Racing Longhorn Chassis is powered by an Andy Durham Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from NOS Energy Drink, C&W Trucking, Petroff Towing, Tri Valley Equipment Sales, LoneWolf Petroleum, Haulin’ Haskells, Holdren Construction, Pivotal Propane, Bilstein Shocks, Eibach Springs, VP Racing Fuels and Wehr’s Machine.

Points chase: WoO after Volusia Thursday: 1. Nick Hoffman (570); 2. Brandon Sheppard (567); 3. Tim McCreadie (562); 4. Bobby Pierce (545); 5. Tyler Erb (542); 6. Chris Madden (524); 7. Ryan Gustin (517); 8. Dennis Erb Jr. (516); 9. Ricky Thornton Jr. (514); 10. Drake Troutman (513). DIRTcar Nationals after Thursday: 1. Nick Hoffman (273); 2. Cody Overton (252); 3. Hudson O’Neal (250); 4. Tyler Erb (234); 5. Ryan Gustin (228).

Current weather: Clear, 55°F

Car count: 58

Fast qualifier: Cody Overton

Time: 15.567 seconds

Polesitter: Chris Madden

Heat race winners: Cody Overton, Chris Madden, Nick Hoffman, Brandon Sheppard, Tyler Erb, Drake Troutman

Consolation race winners: Josh Rice, Ethan Dotson

Provisional starters: Dennis Erb Jr., Jake Timm, Brent Larson, Logan Zarin, Trey Mills, Eli Johnson

Next series race: February 13, Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL) $12,000

Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

From staff reports

BARBERVILLE, Fla. — Updates from Thursday’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals fourth round, featuring a 35-lap, $12,000-to-win main event for World of Outlaws Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Firing off from the outside front row and never letting up, Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., led all 35 laps of Thursday's Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals fourth round for a commanding second victory in a row at Volusia Speedway Park. Hoffman beat Tim McCreadie to the line by a distant 5.270 seconds for the $12,000 payday, his fourth career Late Model victory at Volusia and 12th career World of Outlaws Series triumph.

Feature lineup

(35 laps)

Row 1: Chris Madden, Nick Hoffman
Row 2: Drake Troutman, Brandon Sheppard
Row 3: Tyler Erb, Cody Overton
Row 4: Ricky Thornton Jr., Hudson O'Neal
Row 5: Daulton Wilson, Bobby Pierce
Row 6: Tristan Chamberlain, Brenden Smith
Row 7: Kyle Strickler, Ryan Gustin
Row 8: Garrett Alberson, Tyler Bruening
Row 9: Mike Marlar, Ross Robinson
Row 10: Josh Rice, Ethan Dotson
Row 11: Dustin Sorensen, Tim McCreadie
Row 12: Dennis Erb Jr., Jake Timm
Row 13: Brent Larson, Logan Zarin
Row 14: Trey Mills, Eli Johnson

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top two transfer)

First consolation: Josh Rice, Dustin Sorensen, Cade Dillard, Carson Ferguson, Jackson Hise, Tyler Wyant, Todd Morrow, Luke Morey, Jake Timm, Preston Luckman, Jason Riggs, Beckham Malone, Evan Koehler, Matthew Larson, Brent Larson, Glenn Styres, Reid Millard, Frank Heckenast Jr. Scratched: Logan Zarin, Max Blair.

Second consolation: Ethan Dotson, Tim McCreadie, Chase Junghans, Devin Moran, Michael Leach, Kyle Bronson, Brandon Overton, Trey Mills, Sam Seawright, Boom Briggs, Dennis Erb Jr., Dallon Murty, Austin Howes, Austin Smith, Eli Johnson, Tyler Millwood, Stacy Boles. Scratched: Jordan Koehler, Dan Ebert, John Garvin Jr.

Heat race recap

Cody Overton outdueled fourth-starting Ricky Thornton Jr. in the early going then held him off on a late restart, winning the first heat race by 0.613 of a second. Second-starting Kyle Strickler held on for the third and final transfer spot into Thursday’s 35-lap main event. The night’s first caution flew on the sixth lap when Evan Koehler attempted to avoid contact with Jake Timm, spinning in the middle of turns one and two; Koehler continued but could only work his way back to ninth. … Chris Madden was unfazed by a mid-race restart, leading all eight laps and winning the second heat by 1.045 seconds over fourth-starting Daulton Wilson. Garrett Alberson finished third after his turn-two slide job narrowly cleared Max Blair, only for Blair to hit Alberson’s left-rear tire and hop the cushion before slamming the outside wall; Blair was OK but needed a tow back to the pits. … Nick Hoffman cruised to win the third heat, leading the entire distance and crossing the line 0.693 of a second ahead of fourth-starting Tristan Chamberlain. Mike Marlar held off race-long challenges from Dustin Sorensen for the third and final transfer position into the $12,000-to-win DIRTcar Nationals feature. … Tyler Erb earned a flag-to-flag victory in the fifth heat, beating Bobby Pierce to the checkers by 0.778 of a second. Tyler Bruening started and finished third, joining Erb and Pierce in punching his ticket into the night’s main event. … Second-starting Drake Troutman dominated the sixth and final heat race, leading all eight laps and crossing the line 2.512 seconds ahead of fourth-starting Brenden Smith. Fifth-starting Ross Robinson rounded out the top-three finishers as polesitter Michael Leach slipped to fourth. Dan Ebert was scheduled to start third before scratching with motor trouble following time trials; Ebert's team has swapped the engine in preparation of Friday's fifth round.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top three transfer)

First heat: Cody Overton, Ricky Thornton Jr., Kyle Strickler, Josh Rice, Logan Zarin, Jake Timm, Jackson Hise, Jason Riggs, Evan Koehler, Glenn Styres.

Second heat: Chris Madden, Daulton Wilson, Garrett Alberson, Tyler Wyant, Cade Dillard, Preston Luckman, Beckham Malone, Matthew Larson, Reid Millard, Max Blair.

Third heat: Nick Hoffman, Tristan Chamberlain, Mike Marlar, Dustin Sorensen, Todd Morrow, Carson Ferguson, Frank Heckenast Jr., Luke Morey, Brent Larson.

Fourth heat: Brandon Sheppard, Hudson O'Neal, Ryan Gustin, Ethan Dotson, Sam Seawright, Chase Junghans, Devin Moran, Trey Mills, Austin Howes, Eli Johnson.

Fifth heat: Tyler Erb, Bobby Pierce, Tyler Bruening, Brandon Overton, Austin Smith, Boom Briggs, Dallon Murty, Dennis Erb Jr., Tyler Millwood, John Garvin Jr.

Sixth heat: Drake Troutman, Brenden Smith, Ross Robinson, Michael Leach, Tim McCreadie, Kyle Bronson, Jordan Koehler, Stacy Boles. Scratched: Dan Ebert.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Cody Overton (97), Evans, Ga., 15.567
2. Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 15.593
3. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 15.607
4. Kyle Strickler (8s), Mooresville, N.C., 15.659
5. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 15.702
6. Dustin Sorensen (19), Rochester, Minn., 15.773
7. Logan Zarin (1z), Moon Township, Pa., 15.776
8. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 15.777
9. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 15.830
10. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 15.856
11. Daulton Wilson (58v), Fayetteville, N.C., 15.860
12. Tristan Chamberlain (20tc), Richmond, Ind., 15.911
13. Josh Rice (11R), Crittenden, Ky., 15.926
14. Cade Dillard (97D), Robeline, La., 15.935
15. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 15.954
16. Evan Koehler (114k), Mount Airy, N.C., 15.960
17. Tyler Wyant (24), Oil City, Pa., 15.995
18. Todd Morrow (T1), Penton, Ala., 16.022
19. Jackson Hise (388), Ocala, Fla., 16.081
20. Beckham Malone (23), Rock Hill, S.C., 16.084
21. Frank Heckenast Jr. (99jr), Frankfort, Ill., 16.131
22. Jake Timm (49), Winona, Minn., 16.241
23. Matthew Larson (8), Lake Elmo, Minn., 16.424
24. Luke Morey (49m), Zeeland, Mich., 16.452
25. Jason Riggs (81), College Grove, Tenn., 16.460
26. Preston Luckman (77), Coos Bay, Ore., 16.478
27. Brent Larson (B1), Lake Elmo, Minn., 16.625
28. Glenn Styres (0), Ohsweken, Ontario, 16.982
29. Reid Millard (14R), Jefferson City, Mo., 17.534
Group B
1. Brandon Sheppard (1s), New Berlin, Ill., 15.652
2. Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, 15.665
3. Michael Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 15.673
4. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 15.688
5. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 15.710
6. Drake Troutman (22*), Hyndman, Pa., 15.785
7. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 15.804
8. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 15.834
9. Dan Ebert (60), Lake Shore, Minn., 15.874
10. Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 15.885
11. Austin Smith (11), Cedartown, Ga., 15.900
12. Brenden Smith (19m), Dade City, Fla., 15.906
13. Trey Mills (14), St. Augustine, Fla., 15.932
14. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 15.940
15. Ross Robinson (7), Georgetown, Del., 15.942
16. Sam Seawright (16s), Rainsville, Ala., 15.980
17. Dallon Murty (13), Chelsea, Iowa, 15.992
18. Jordan Koehler (114), Mount Airy, N.C., 16.021
19. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 16.058
20. Boom Briggs (99B), Bear Lake, Pa., 16.136
21. Tim McCreadie (9m), Watertown, N.Y., 16.152
22. Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 16.227
23. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 16.227
24. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 16.249
25. Eli Johnson (55E), Clewiston, Fla., 16.272
26. Tyler Millwood (31), Kingston, Ga., 16.389
27. Stacy Boles (11B), Clinton, Tenn., 16.452
28. Austin Howes (17), Lewistown, Mo., 16.659
29. John Garvin Jr. (J4), Sarver, Pa., 16.697

Thursday’s schedule

(All times local)
8 a.m. - Pits open
1 p.m. - Ticket and pit pass sales open
2 p.m. - Competitor registration opens
3 p.m. - Pits closed and cleared
3:45 p.m. - Grandstands, midway closed and cleared
4 p.m. - Grandstands open
4:45 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting (WoO command center)
5:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Modified hot laps
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified time trials (2 laps)
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Modified heats (8 laps)
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Modified consolations (10 laps)
Intermission/WoO redraw
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Feature events
- Modifieds (30 laps)
- Late Models (35 laps)