A ‘Nice’ Night at Volusia — DIRTCar Nationals Night 3 Notes
BY JIM MURDOCH
Way back in my writing classes in high school, we were told never to use the word “nice” because it simply doesn’t say much.
But don’t tell that to the feature winner of the UMP Modifieds Tyler Nicely, who picked up the win in the 20 lap feature in spectacular style.
Midway through the event, Nicely battled wheel-to-wheel for at least a half dozen laps with race leader Brian Ruhlman, before taking over the top spot. But NASCAR hot shoe Ty Dillon had other ideas, closing in on Nicely in the final laps.
Coming out of turn 4 in heavy lapped traffic Dillon made one last attempt, pulling up alongside of Nicely, but Nicely’s momentum carried him across the checkers first, and he took home the $1000 first prize check and trophy.
The All Star Circuit of Champions put on another stellar 30 lap feature. Donny Schatz started mid pack but wasted no time moving his way through the field and lapped traffic.
The race was slowed once when Paul McMahon got into the turn 1 fence and flipped, bringing out the red. But Schatz was able to negotiate traffic the best, passing leader Jason Johnson with ten laps to go and pulling away from the field to take home the $5000 check.
Gator Bites:
Many drivers complimented the track prep crew on a much smoother and drier surface than previous nights. The slower track led to more side by side racing and even a 4-wide battle on the last lap in the modified feature.
Car counts were up slightly. 30 All Star Sprints signed in as well as 63 UMP modifieds.
I got to see old friend and former Thunder Road, VT street stock star-turned-promoter Justin St. Louis and his boss, Devil’s Bowl Speedway general manager Mike Bruno. They put together an ambitious schedule for 2016 at the West Haven, VT Speedway running 14 shows on the asphalt on Saturdays, and 13 dates on the infield dirt track on Sunday evenings. That’s right, dirt track racing returns to the Rutland area on Sunday’s in Vermont this year. Both tracks will carry a NASCAR sanction for the 2016 season. St. Louis says he expects a number of drivers to compete on both surfaces with minimal changes needed in the respected divisions. As far as he knows, St. Louis says it’s the only short track in the nation featuring the best of asphalt and dirt racing on the same lot.
