Austin Dillon was able to capture the checkered flag on the opening night of the 2011 DIRTcar Nationals. (image credit: dirtcarnationals.com)
The DIRTcar Nationals kicked off Tuesday with the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds. Austin Dillon, grandson of the famed Richard Childress, topped the 73 entries in Tuesday night’s competition in Barberville, FL. Dillon was able to top the other big names of Clint Bowyer, Ken Schrader, Kenny Wallace, and younger brother Ty Dillon. For more information on the remainder of the DIRTcar Nationals visit http://www.DIRTcarNationals.com
Clint Bowyer has made it back to back wins, by winning on Wednesday and Thursday night of the 2011 DIRTcar Nationals. (image credit: Dirtcarnationals.com)
The following night it was Bowyer’s turn. Starting on the outside pole, he was able to hold off the rest of the field in DIRTcar UMP Modified feature on the second night of action. Wednesday night’s race in the 40th annual DIRTcar Nationals marks Bowyer’s first win at the 1/2 mile Volusia Speedway. Ken Schrader and Austin Dillon were also able to post top 5 finishes of 2nd and 4th.
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On the third night of the twelve night event, Bowyer had his work cut out for him. Starting 17th, Bowyer worked his way to the front and caught a break when the leader Austin Dillon had engine woes with less than 10 laps to go. Bowyer was then able to seal the deal passing then leader Ryan Gustin for the win. The rest of the top 5 were Gustin, Ty Dillon, Ken Schrader, and Jon Henry.
So far in the first two days of Sprint Car competition it has been all Sammy Swindell. (image credit: dirtcarnationals.com)
In the O’Reilly Auto Parts All Star Circuit of Champions events thus far, Sammy Swindell has found himself on the top of the heap on both Wednesday and Thursday. Swindell, starting 9th on the first night of Sprint Car competition, was able to get around Steve Kinser on lap 7 of the event. He never looked back and took home the win in the 30 lap A-main. Hard charging teammate Craig Dollansky was able to post a 2nd place finish. On Thursday night, a new track record was set on the Sprint Car side by Paul McMahan, driver for Kasey Kahne Racing. His lap of 12.569 shattered the previous benchmark of 12.948 set four years ago. However, this stellar speed would not be enough to take down Swindell. Starting fourth, he found himself in victory lane for the second night in a row with Stevie Smith, Cody Darrah, Dale Blaney, Kraig Kinser filling out the rest of the top 5. The Action continues on friday when the World of Outlaw Sprint Cars take to the famed half-mile with the UMP modifieds for day four of the 12 day DIRTcar Nationals.
