BARBERVILLE, Fla. – Sunshine and palm trees await the World of Outlaws Late Models as they gear up for their second appearance at Volusia Speedway Park in 2022.
Gator hunting goes from Feb. 16-19, but not before handling unfinished business.
The week kicks off with the 30-lap, $10,000-to-win feature, postponed from Sunshine Nationals, on Wednesday afternoon. After that is complete, qualifying begins for the first (of four) 40-lap, $10,000-to-win DIRTcar Nationals features, in the quest for a Big Gator trophy.
Drivers will accumulate points through the four World of Outlaws features and the two DIRTcar Late Model features on Feb. 14-15 to determine a weeklong points champion. The Sunshine Nationals make up feature during Wednesday’s program will not count toward the weekly total.
Last month, Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., opened the season with a heartwarming victory during Sunshine Nationals in his first race after beating cancer. McDowell dominated the event, leading all 30 laps and holds the points lead entering DIRTcar Nationals. He also has a chance to go back-to-back, as he’ll start second in the held over feature from Sunshine.
Atop the list of drivers McDowell will have to fend off is defending DIRTcar Nationals champion Devin Moran, who also picked up a DIRTcar Nationals Feature win last year. The Dresden, Ohio, driver held off challenges from Bobby Pierce, putting together a consistent week to win his first Big Gator trophy.
While those drivers are hungry to find Victory Lane again, the World of Outlaws regulars will likely have something to say about it.
Four-time series champions Brandon Sheppard and Josh Richards lead the World of Outlaws’ charge, hoping to escape the Florida sun with the points lead. They’re also on the cusp of history, as Richards leads Sheppard 78-77 in the race for most World of Outlaws wins.
Even though all eyes are on Sheppard and Richards, a mix of veterans and rookies will try to keep them at bay.
Dennis Erb Jr. and Chris Madden are coming off top-five finishes in the season opener and hope to keep that momentum rolling into February. Max Blair, who leads the race for Rookie of the Year, is also off to a hot start with an eighth-place finish.
Another driver to keep an eye on is 2021 World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year Tyler Bruening, who scored his fourth straight top-10 at Volusia in January.