BARBERVILLE, Fla. — In Saturday night’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals finale, Brandon Sheppard did what can sometimes feel like an impossible task at Volusia Speedway Park — overtake Nick Hoffman.
The driver of the NOS Energy Drink No. 9 had been victorious in his last three starts, and led the opening laps in pursuit of his fourth win in a row. But past halfway, the 2024 champion of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series had something to say about that.
With 18 laps remaining in the 50-lap main event, Sheppard found some grip on the bottom of turns one and two while Hoffman slid his way through the middle. The two raced side-by-side down the backstretch before Hoffman drove it deep into turn three, leaving Sheppard room to keep it low and take the lead at the flagstand.
From then on, it was all Sheppard en route to his record-extending 88th World of Outlaws triumph. Seven of those have come at DIRTcar Nationals as part of his 10 overall wins in the event between World of Outlaws and DIRTcar competition.
“I was able to run second for a long time there, kind of see what Nick was doing,” Sheppard said. “Where he was struggling at compared to what I was doing and where I was struggling at. Just kind of compensate for that, and I was able to find a couple lines that I could make a little time on him. I kind of waited and got him to move around a little bit by showing him the nose. I felt really good through (turns) one and two, so we were just able to capitalize.”
Sheppard’s overall performance across the six nights of Late Model racing at DIRTcar Nationals wasn’t enough for his fourth Big Gator, as that honor went to the driver he passed in Hoffman. Hoffman crossed the line fourth to finish the week with three victories, five top-fives and a worst finish of seventh. After winning the award seven years in a row in the modified ranks, Hoffman joins Tim McCreadie as the second driver in DIRTcar Nationals history to win the Big Gator in more than one division.
“To race for a whole week here, it takes a lot,” Hoffman said. “Not having any issues, no DNFs or anything, it went about as smooth as it could, I feel like.”
Reigning WoO champ Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., raced his way forward from his 19th starting spot to finish second, while Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., took the last spot on the podium.
Feature lineup
(50 laps)
Row 1: Nick Hoffman, Blair Nothdurft
Row 2: Brandon Sheppard, Tyler Erb
Row 3: Chris Madden, Ryah Gustin
Row 4: Brenden Smith, Dan Ebert
Row 5: Brandon Overton, Hudson O'Neal
Row 6: Carson Ferguson, Dustin Sorensen
Row 7: Ricky Thornton Jr., Garrett Alberson
Row 8: Tyler Bruening, Sam Seawright
Row 9: Dallon Murty, Max Blair
Row 10: Bobby Pierce, Josh Rice
Row 11: Drake Troutman, Chase Junghans
Row 12: Kyle Strickler, Tyler Wyant
Row 13: Tim McCreadie, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 14: Cody Overton, Ethan Dotson
Row 15: Jake Timm, Tristan Chamberlain
Row 16: Brent Larson
Consolation race results
(10 laps; top three transfer)
First consolation: Bobby Pierce, Drake Troutman, Kyle Strickler, Kyle Bronson, Tim McCreadie, Cody Overton, Tristan Chamberlain, Mike Marlar, Tyler Millwood, Daulton Wilson, Jake Timm, Ross Robinson, Jackson Hise, Reid Millard, Preston Luckman. Scratched: Boom Briggs, Matthew Larson, Austin Howes, Beckham Malone.
Second consolation: Josh Rice, Chase Junghans, Tyler Wyant, Logan Zarin, Todd Morrow, Frank Heckenast Jr., Jason Riggs, Luke Morey, Eli Johnson, Dennis Erb Jr., Trey Mills. Scratched: Austin Smith, Jordan Koehler, Evan Koehler, Cade Dillard, Michael Leach, Stacy Boles, Ethan Dotson, Brent Larson.
Heat race recap
Fast qualifier Chris Madden cruised to victory in the first heat (Beckham Malone scratched from the heat because of fuel pressure issues). ... Ryan Gustin led all the way in the second heat. ... DIRTcar Nationals points leader Nick Hoffman dominated the third heat in another caution-free affair despite battling a fuel leak. ... Brandon Sheppard captured the fourth heat, the first winner who didn't start on the pole (the night's first caution appeared on the sixth lap for a slowing Dennis Erb Jr., who broke a rear end running third). ... Tyler Erb captured the fifth heat. ... Two cautions slowed the fifth heat: third-running Ethan Dotson slowed for a lap-three caution; his car was pushed to the pits with a broken rear end. Two laps later, fourth-running Jordan Koehler spun in turn one. ... In the sixth and final heat, Blair Nothdurft blazed to the checkers from the pole, handling what he termed a rough surface.
Heat race results
(Eight laps; top three transfer)
First heat: Chris Madden, Brenden Smith, Ricky Thornton Jr., Drake Troutman, Tim McCreadie, Cody Overton, Jake Timm, Bom Briggs, Jackson Hise. Scratched: Beckham Malone.
Second heat: Ryan Gustin, Brandon Overton, Tyler Bruening, Bobby Pierce, Mike Marlar, Tyler Millwood, Daulton Wilson, Preston Luckman, Austin Howes.
Third heat: Nick Hoffman, Carson Ferguson, Dallon Murty, Kyle Strickler, Kyle Bronson, Tristan Chamberlain, Ross Robinson, Matthew Larson, Reid Millard.
Fourth heat: Brandon Sheppard, Dan Ebert, Garrett Alberson, Trey Mills, Logan Zarin, Jason Riggs, Todd Morrow, Michael Leach, Stacy Boles, Dennis Erb Jr.
Fifth heat: Tyler Erb, Hudson O'Neal, Sam Seawright, Tyler Wyant, Austin Smith, Jordan Koehler, Evan Koehler, Eli Johnson, Ethan Dotson.
Sixth heat: Blair Nothdurft, Dustin Sorensen, Max Blair, Josh Rice, Frank Heckenast Jr., Chase Junghans, Cade Dillard, Luke Morey, Brent Larson.
Time trials
Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
- Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 15.227
- Ryan Gustin (19r), Marshalltown, Iowa, 15.474
- Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 15.491
- Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 15.513
- Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 15.516
- Dallon Murty (13), Chelsea, Iowa, 15.529
- Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 15.534
- Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 15.582
- Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 15.586
- Tim McCreadie (9), Watertown, N.Y., 15.630
- Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 15.636
- Kyle Strickler (8), Mooresville, N.C., 15.707
- Drake Troutman (22*), Hyndman, Pa., 15.717
- Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 15.742
- Matthew Larson (8), Lake Elmo, Minn., 15.750
- Cody Overton 97), Evans, Ga., 15.798
- Daulton Wilson (58v), Fayetteville, N.C., 15.813
- Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 15.849
- Boom Briggs (99B), Bear Lake, Pa., 15.849
- Tyler Millwood (31), Kingston, Ga., 15.895
- Ross Robinson (7), Georgetown, Del., 15.917
- Jackson Hise (388), Ocala, Fla., 15.920
- Preston Luckman (77), Coos Bay, Ore., 15.960
- Tristan Chamberlain (20tc), Richmond, Ind., 15.986
- Jake Timm (49), Winona, Minn., 16.108
- Austin Howes (17), Lewistown, Mo., 16.493
- Reid Millard (14R), Jefferson City, Mo., 17.120
- Beckham Malone (23), Rock Hill, S.C., no time
Group B
- Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 15.494
- Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, 15.506
- Blair Nothdurft (76), Renner, S.D., 15.524
- Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 15.557
- Jordan Koehler (114), Mount Airy, N.C., 15.576
- Dustin Sorenson (19), Rochester, Minn., 15.578
- Michael Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 15.603
- Sam Seawright (16), Rainsville, Ala., 15.623
- Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 15.638
- Dan Ebert (60), Lake Shore, Minn., 15.651
- Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 15.673
- Frank Heckenast Jr. (99jr), Frankfort, Ill., 15.703
- Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 15.718
- Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 15.750
- Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 15.760
- Logan Zarin (1z), Hookstown, Pa., 15.763
- Austin Smith (11), Cedartown, Ga., 15.765
- Josh Rice (11), Crittenden, Ky., 15.800
- Todd Morrow (T1), Penton, Ala., 15.807
- Evan Koehler (114k), Mount Airy, N.C., 15.847
- Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La., 15.859
- Trey Mills (14), St. Augustine, Fla., 15.861
- Eli Johnson (55), Clewiston, Fla., 15.968
- Brent Larson (B1), Lake Elmo, Minn., 16.075
- Stacy Boles (11B), Clinton, Tenn., 16.101
- Tyler Wyant (24), Oil City, Pa., 16.121
- Luke Morey (49), Denver, N.C., 16.126
- Jason Riggs (81), College Grove, Tenn., 16.151
Saturday’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 (50 laps)
- Late Models (50 laps)
