Fast Talk presented by MD3 and Five Star Bodies
Fast Talk: Reviewing Volusia's Gator Week
With conclusion of Volusia’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals now marking the midpoint of Georgia-Florida Speedweeks, our roundtable checks in for the weekly feature presented by MD3 and Five Star Race Cars Bodies (edited for clarity and length):
Discuss Nick Hoffman’s big Volusia week capped by his Big Gator trophy.
Kevin Kovac, DirtonDirt senior writer: Hoffman won one Late Model feature at Volusia in both 2024 and ’25. This year, of course, he captured three — all in succession, becoming the first to pull off that hat trick since Jimmy Owens in 2020 — which quite nicely trends with his steady improvement since going full-time full-fender racing in 2023 with car owner Tye Twarog. He’s an extremely talented and focused driver who’s just getting better and better, and I’d say Hoffman becoming a prolific Dirt Late Model winner at Volusia just like he was in a modified is a sign that he’ll also win even more this year everywhere else. Will he overcome Bobby Pierce for the World of Outlaws title? That’s still to be determined, but it should be pointed out that Hoffman's points finishes have gone from fifth to third to second, so there’s only one more place for him to go, and that's up.
Kyle McFadden, DirtonDirt staff reporter: It’s not necessarily a coming-out party as Hoffman has been steadily climbing the sport’s echelon for several seasons now. In some ways, though, it still feels like one. Now regarded as one of the most consistent drivers in Dirt Late Model racing, Hoffman hadn’t quite shown the ability to win at an elite, bunches-at-a-time rate. Three straight DIRTcar Nationals victories may be the clearest sign yet that he’s closer than ever to truly having something for Bobby Pierce in the race toward the World of Outlaws title. Hoffman has gotten better and better each year since earning his full-time ride with Tye Twarog Racing in 2023, and that appears to be no different to start ’26.
Aaron Clay, DirtonDirt weekend editor: Wow, what an impressive performance by Hoffman. But are we really surprised? As we were reminded, he now possess 36 Gator trophies (24 little Gators, 12 big) after notching his first career week-long points title in Late Model competition. That big Gator joins a family that includes seven consecutive between 2015-’22 in modified action. Hoffman has his own cool Volusia Gator shrine at his house, but maybe the Barberville, Fla., facility can honor him in some way down the line, possibly a statue or a plaque commemorating his dominant stretch.
Mike Ruefer, contributing DirtonDirt photographer: I think the question for Hoffman has been whether all his success and dominance in the mod ranks would fully transfer to the Late Model at Volusia. We found this past week it did. It’s taken a few years. but now we’re seeing Nick Hoffman the Late Model driver becoming a proven national super star. Call me old fashioned, but I believe if you want to be excellent at something you do just that one thing and perfect your skill. Out with Nick Hoffman being the star modified driver and enter the Late Model star. If his Volusia prowess continues elsewhere he could find his way to a championship by year’s end.
And add your thoughts about another Volusia competitor.
McFadden: Brandon Sheppard finally looks back to form during Georgia-Florida Speedweeks — at Volusia Speedway Park, at least. Sheppard and Rocket1 Racing struggled during Speedweeks last year, managing an 11.8 average finish across 16 events, a slow start that set them back into the Lucas Oil season and hampered them the rest of the year. This time, momentum is on their side. Through nine races, Sheppard owns a 6.0 average finish with one victory, three podiums and seven top-10s. If he and Rocket1 can replicate those numbers at All-Tech and Ocala, they should be well positioned heading into March.
Ruefer: I have to comment about the buzz Dallon Murty created. It’s good to see sharp young talent from other divisions enter the Super Late Model ranks. Everyone in Iowa has seen him win over and over in IMCA’s stock car and modified divisions. Something that was overlooked and not mentioned by the announcer was how good he was last year in a Late Model for the first time while racing on Joe Kosiski's Malvern Bank-sponsored tours. Murty proved himself quickly, racing against tough competitors and scoring six victories, including some healthy paydays. I saw him drive at many of those races and could see he had the talent to go to the next level. Volusia is just a precursor and it will be exciting to watch him progress against the best in Super Late Model competition.
Clay: A driver we talked a lot about towards the beginning of last week, Brandon Overton had a very successful two-week stretch during Georgia-Florida Speedweeks action between Jan. 30-Feb. 14, amassing four consecutive feature victories and six top-five finishes, while earning more than $52,000. It still doesn’t feel like the elder Overton is back to his very best self, but he’s definitely closer and more competitive compared to last year's middling season. Hopefully we can see them continue to massage and improve upon Overton’s effort, as the Late Model world just seems right with him running well and winning races.
Kovac: Something just felt right seeing Brandon Sheppard back in victory lane at Volusia in the Rocket Chassis house car. The pair combined for eight victories and two DIRTcar Nationals titles from 2017-20 — highlighted by Sheppard’s amazing sweep of four WoO features in ’19 — but they went winless in 2021-22 and again last year in their first season back together after a two-year break. Team owner Mark Richards was typically low-key about Sheppy’s Saturday triumph, but you could also sense it was deeply satisfying for him and his driver. They needed a signal that things might be like old times again after a relatively quiet ’25 (a modest four wins), and winning Volusia’s finale was certainly it.
Chomp into another Gator Week topic.
Ruefer: I’m still a newbie to the Dirtcar Nationals. It’s a grind at six continuous with two divisions. The Wednesday night program by splitting the field into thirds for semifeatures is a unique format that gives everyone a chance to race for a Gator trophy. The surprise was Michael Leach holding off a stout Daulton Wilson for his first Super Late Model victory. The victory lane celebration was exciting and exuberant for Michael and his supporters. Volusia is a difficult track to crack. The level of competition is high and to collect a trophy there is a real achievement. It makes the long days and short nights worthwhile.
Clay: This topic got plenty of traction (pun intended) this week, but Volusia Speedway’s surface offered great racing amidst unpredictable conditions. The new clay material offered fast, hammer-down conditions early in the evening, only to widen and become dry-slick, while still providing spots of moisture. Experienced veterans like Tim McCreadie (Thursday’s fourth round) and Bobby Pierce (Saturday’s sixth round) gained more than 15 positions apiece in each night’s feature event. In fact, among the five nights that featured one full-field main event, each night’s hard charger gained an average of 15.4 positions, per night. There was certainly plenty of passing at Volusia.
Kovac: Aside from Hoffman’s win in the second of Wednesday’s triple 20s, the DIRTcar-sanctioned semifeatures produced two great stories in victors Michael Leach and Tyler Erb. The 22-year-old pulled off the rare feat of winning for the first time in Super Late Model action during Speedweeks — Kyle Bronson was the last driver to it in 2014 — so it was no surprise he was ecstatic. Leach certainly introduced his outgoing personality to the Dirt Late Model world on one of the biggest stages possible. And Erb was quite thrilled with his triumph as well because it was his first-ever at Volusia, a place that’s been a thorn in his side for a decade. Will Volusia become Erb’s favorite Florida track in the wake of East Bay’s closure? The checkered flag helps, but his bad luck in Saturday’s finale (started fourth but bounced in turn two and broke his car’s J-bar and driveshaft) didn’t.
McFadden: I’ll also discuss Michael Leach’s victory. Sure, it was a split-field, 20-lap dash from the pole, but the 22-year-old still had to fend off Daulton Wilson and Ryan Gustin. And it’s not as though the field lacked star power: Bobby Pierce, Tim McCreadie, Dennis Erb Jr. and Kyle Bronson, albeit nonfactors, were all in the race, too. As Kevin noted in his column last week, and as I also wrote when profiling Leach at Charlotte’s World Finals, he’s approached Super Late Model seat time with a willingness to pay his dues and endure the growing pains, trusting the process will shape him into a competitive driver. This week at Volusia looks like early proof that the maturation is beginning to bear fruit.
Provide a mini-preview as the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series launches.
Clay: At the conclusion of Volusia’s DIRTcar Nationals, with several Lucas Oil competitors in preseason mode, I’m perplexed as to who is the Lucas favorite. Ricky Thornton Jr. started his season ablaze, winning in a one-off Adam Family Motorsports effort in his home state, but uncharacteristically struggled in nine starts at Volusia, with a best finish of fifth twice (Jan. 22 Sunshine Nationals opener, Feb. 14 DIRTcar Nationals finale). Devin Moran struggled just as much, qualifying for only three of six main events last week. Hudson O’Neal, a four-time winner in 2026 including at Volusia, might be poised to take early control of the Lucas title chase.
Kovac: Aaron made a good point — Devin Moran and Ricky Thornton Jr., who finished 1-2 in last year’s Lucas Oil standings, aren’t roaring into the tour’s opening stretch while Hudson O’Neal (fourth in last year’s final standings) already has four victories split between two teams. Throw in the fact that last year’s third-place finisher, Jonathan Davenport, isn’t chasing the series in ’26 and guys like Brandon Sheppard (fifth in ’25 points) and Brandon Overton (seventh) have early momentum with their Speedweeks victories and there’s some intrigue to spice up the Lucas Oil campaign.
McFadden: A month ago, Ricky Thornton Jr.’s reunion with Anthony Burroughs and Justin Tharp, with Zach Frields still part of the Koehler Motorsports team, looked nearly unmatchable on paper entering the Lucas Oil season, especially with Jonathan Davenport no longer on tour. But after a month of Speedweeks, that gap may not be as wide as we thought. Brandon Overton’s resurgence and Brandon Sheppard’s strong start have added intrigue to what initially appeared as perhaps Thornton’s title to lose. All-Tech Raceway is one of Thornton’s best tracks, so this week should provide a clearer gauge. Devin Moran, meanwhile, was largely a nonfactor in three of his four Volusia starts, raising the question of how quickly he can find his footing as Speedweeks continues. It’s far too early to project how the title race will shake out as the season has yet to start, of course. Speedweeks momentum certainly carries over into the year ahead, so that’s something to still monitor in the opening Lucas Dirt weekend of 2026.
Ruefer: It’s Year Two without East Bay Raceway and it feels closer to normal with this year’s schedule, except Golden Isles becomes the anchor. The kickoff at All-Tech Raceway will kick off the first three nights and there won’t be any World of Outlaw interlopers with that tour doing its own thing at Hendry County. So it’s mano a mano among declared Lucas Oil regulars. Ocala Speedway isn’t East Bay, but I really like it. Its unique shape and clay keeps it interesting. I think Hudson O’Neal keeps his hot early season success going with a few victories along the way.
Will upcoming post-Daytona 500 Speedweeks events carry the same cachet as races in the previous era of the miniseries?
Kovac: Winning these shows will still carry more importance, or at least notoriety, than other races of similar lengths and payoffs, simply because they’ll garner major attention with only a few other races going on. But how many WoO drivers will boost the Lucas Oil fields? The Hendry County doubleheader for the Outlaws this weekend goes head-to-head with Lucas Oil’s All-Tech action, and then we’ll have to see how many of them stick around for Ocala and Golden Isles. The big thing still to be seen, however, is the “feel” of the Lucas Oil stretch with the races coming after the Daytona 500 that is the traditional anchor of Speedweeks. It already felt weird that everybody wasn’t heading home at Volusia’s Saturday finale. What will the atmosphere be like at the Lucas Oil races (and Hendry County for that matter)?
McFadden: Too early to tell, honestly. I do look forward to making my way to All-Tech this week and then Ocala the following week to experience this new-look Speedweeks. The car counts have been pretty steady this Speedweeks, so that’s a promising plus. I’ve counted 88 different drivers have entered at least one event across 12 Speedweeks races with 16 events remaining. By my math last year, 130 drivers entered at least one Speedweek event. I’m curious where that number will stand after March 7’s Speedweeks finale at Golden Isles Speedway.
Clay: That’s the big unknown entering this year’s Georgia-Florida Speedweeks. I’ve only been working in the industry a short period of time, but this feels like the most discombobulated, disjointed Speedweeks. There's less continuity or connection between events — and normally we’d be done by now, with the Daytona 500 capping the usual month-long activities. But, this year, we’re just getting started with another 12 Super Late Model races slated this month before wrapping up with a four-race finale at Georgia’s Golden Isles Speedway in early March. It’s certainly nothing like any Speedweeks — if we still call it that? — than we've previously experienced.
Ruefer: If the weather is warmer like it should be, I think extending Speedweeks is a great decision. The last few years, the early February temps have been cold, and that’s not great racing weather. Breaking tradition is hard for many of us — myself included. If this goes off without a hitch, I can see more people taking their (later) winter vacation around the schedule and heading south. Once the dust has settled, the series schedule makers for 2027 need collaboration to not schedule on top of each other. It’s just better that way for all. There will be lessons learned from this year and next year the new tradition should even be better.
