Rain wins first Big Gator Championship qualifier night for DIRTcar UMP Modifieds

[NickHolt]

Rain wins first Big Gator Championship qualifier night for DIRTcar UMP Modifieds

DELEON SPRINGS, FL — Feb. 9, 2019 — The DIRTcar UMP Modifieds were to race in the first of two Big Gator Championship Qualifier Nights on Saturday, February 9 at Volusia Speedway Park. It was to be Night #5 of the 48th annual DIRTcar Nationals for the Ironmen of the DIRTcar Nationals. Half of the 104 teams that had competed in the DIRTcar Nationals through the first four nights got through their Heat Races with threatening skies all around the half-mile high-banked dirt oval in DeLeon Springs, FL.

As post-race ceremonies were happening on the front stretch at the conclusion of the World of Outlaw NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature, Mother Nature made her second appearance of the night. Unfortunately, enough moisture had fallen and continued to drench the facility, forcing DIRTcar Racing & DIRTcar Nationals Officials to postpone the two Last Chance Showdowns and Feature for the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds to Monday, February 11.

Prior to, and in between rain delays, Lucas Lee scored his first Fast Qualifier award of the week with an 18.358 = 98.050mph, and he won his Heat Race. Ryan Fowler, Brandon Green and David Stremme picked up the other Heat Race triumphs. In the Redraw of the Heat Race winners, Stremme and Lee drew the front row, with Fowler and Green drawing the third and fourth spots.

The second half of the field, those who did not participate on Saturday night, will take over for the second (now first) Big Gator Championship Qualifier Night on Sunday, February 10. The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will race in their final night at Volusia also on Sunday to complete Sprint Car Week and crown the first 2019 Big Gator Champion.

Then on Monday, February 11, the show will start with the conclusion of Saturday’s program for the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds — two Last Chance Showdowns and a 20-Lap Feature. Once those are over, DIRTcar Nationals Late Model Week begins at Volusia with the first of two nights of action for the DIRTcar Super Late Models. It’s also the 15th annual Big Gator Championship Night and the crowning of the 2019 Big Gator Champion for the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds.

The World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series takes over Late Model Week starting on Wednesday, February 13, with the Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modifieds replacing the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds starting on Tuesday, February 12.

For more information about the remaining seven nights of the 48th annual DIRTcar Nationals and to order tickets, please call: 1 (844) DIRT-TIX or visit dirtcarnationals.com

You can also follow the DIRTcar UMP Modified portions all week long, as well as the DIRTcar Super Late Model portion of the DCN starting on Monday throughout race week by visiting the DIRTcar Racing Social Media outlets. Just search for “DIRTcar Racing” on both Facebook and Twitter as well as the DIRTcar Nationals Twitter page at: @DIRTcarNats for the very latest updates from Volusia Speedway Park and the 48th annual DIRTcar Nationals.

 

Last Chance Showdown Starting Lineups
Big Gator Championship Qualifier 1 Feature Starting Line-Up

Row 1: 35 David Stremme - 40b Lucas Lee
Row 2: 6f Ryan Fowler - 51 Brandon Green
Row 3: 7 Justin Allgaier - 2h Nick Hoffman
Row 4: 98 Shon Flannery - 90 Jason Beaulieu
Row 5: 22k Dale Kelley - 17t Tyler Evans
Row 6: 41 Brad Goff - 5cs Curt Spalding
Row 7: 1 Brenden Rassel - 14s Steve Stevenson
Row 8: 4uw Bobby Regot - 95 Michael Altobelli Jr.
Row 9: 15 Joey Miller - 05 David Wietholder
Row 10: 36 Kenny Wallace - 00d David Reutimann
Row 11: LCS 1 Winner - LCS 2 Winner
Row 12: LCS 1 Runner-Up - LCS 2 Runner-Up