While most of the United States was shrouded in snow and chilly conditions, Volusia Speedway Park shone with three weeks of racing to open the 2026 racing season.
The 55th edition of Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals packed 13 days of action across 17 total days, with six national-touring divisions hunting for the coveted Big Gator title.
Amongst the highlights included new records, career milestones, triumphant comebacks, packed crowds, and new activities that shaped the start of a new year in dirt track racing.
Get up to speed with the top storylines from the Barberville, FL facility’s marquee event, then plan for the 56th Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals from Feb. 4-20 by renewing at MyDirtTix.com or by calling (844)-DIRT-TIX.
SUNSHINING START: Tyler Courtney’s first weekend back behind the wheel of a Sprint Car could not have gone any better at Volusia.
Recharged after a crash at Eldora Speedway that sidelined the remainder of his 2025 schedule, Courtney’s first weekend back in the No. 7BC machine with the American Sprint Car Series started with two consecutive wins on Thursday and Friday – his first at Volusia since winning with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series in 2024.
After Brady Bacon took the final 360 Sprint Car checkered flag on Monday, the Indianapolis, IN native finished fourth to clinch his first career Big Gator title.
KOEHLER’S SHOW: The “Ironmen of DIRTcar Nationals” tackled eight nights of racing at the “World’s Fastest Half Mile,” but it was Koehler Motorsports that earned the most honors among DIRTcar UMP Modified squads.
Between Ricky Thornton Jr, Jordan Koehler, and Evan Koehler, the NC-based operation garnered a combined nine Feature wins. Over the days leading up to the Gator Championship Feature, four little gators from Thornton, three from Jordan, and one from Evan summed up the week’s points racing.
In Saturday’s 30-lap finale, Jordan held his ground against Thornton to reach a new career milestone with the Gator Championship triumph and the Big Gator points crown. At 24 years old, the Mt. Airy, NC driver is the youngest driver to earn the honors since Nick Hoffman in 2016.
CONCRETE GATOR: The PA Posse owned the bragging rights to a 410 Sprint Car Big Gator title for the first time this year.
Dillsburg, PA’s Anthony Macri took the honors after three consecutive nights of placing his No. 39M inside the top five, including a third-place run on the opening night and his first Volusia Speedway Park victory in the Saturday finale.
Hot on Macri’s tail through the three nights of season-opening competition were World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car full-timers Carson Macedo and Michael “Buddy” Kofoid. While Macedo finished on the podium each night and Kofoid took victory in Friday’s program, the “Concrete King” edged the two racers by a mere two-point margin for the 2026 honors.
TWICE AS NICE: Since winning at “World’s Fastest Half Mile” for the first time in 2024, Logan Seavey has evolved into the dominant driver of the USAC Non-Wing Sprint Cars at DIRTcar Nationals.
In 2026, the Sutter, CA driver opened Monday night’s portion with triumph against Brady Bacon, then finished second to Jake Swanson on Tuesday, securing his place as the first Non-Wing Sprint Car driver to earn two Big Gator titles.
In his last six starts with the division at Volusia, Seavey owns four little gators, five total podiums, and a worst Feature finish of sixth place.
MONEY BAGGING: Reigning Super DIRTcar Series champion Mat Williamson has grown to become an annual threat for the Big Gator Championship since his first taste of the crown in 2023.
He claimed back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024 before finishing second to Alex Yankwoski last year. Looking for redemption, Williamson earned a fourth-place finish the first night and then scored back-to-back victories on Thursday and Friday.
Larry Wight bagged the victory in Saturday’s finale for his first win at Volusia since 2020, but Williamson’s podium finish helped him score his third Big Gator title, tying him with Wight for the most Big Gator trophies in the Big Block division.
Williamson also left with the title of the new track record holder in the Big Block division. He beat the time set by Jamie Mills in 2015 with his 16.695-second lap.
SWAMP KING: From DIRTcar UMP Modifieds to Super Late Models, Nick Hoffman knows Volusia Speedway Park as well as the back of his hand.
The pilot of the Tye Twarog Racing No. 9 started his Big Gator quest with a top five on Monday night and a seventh on Tuesday. In Wednesday’s split DIRTcar Late Model Features, the “Thrill From Mooresville” scored his first little Gator of the week.
The win pushed the NC-native’s momentum into World of Outlaws Late Models presented by DIRTVision action, parking his NOS Energy Drink Longhorn Chassis into Victory Lane on Thursday and Friday. By finishing fourth in Saturday’s finale, Hoffman joined Tim McCreadie as the only driver to win the Big Gator title in two separate divisions.
NEW TRADITION, SAME ACTION: Volusia Speedway Park brought attendees new chances to meet their favorite drivers while providing action on the 1/2-mile at the 2026 DIRTcar Nationals.
New for 2026, the former Volusia Karting concession stand was revamped into the Volusia Trackside Pub – paving the way for the first-ever Post-Race Party for fans to meet the night’s Feature winners.
Alongside the off-track activities, the track’s 13 nights of racing added nine first-time Feature winners at Volusia in Brady Bacon, Treb Jacoby, Tristan Chamberlain, Jordan Koehler, Evan Koehler, Spencer Bayston, Buddy Kofoid, Anthony Macri, and Tyler Erb.
The Big Gator fight concluded with four new divisional champions in Tyler Courtney, Jordan Koehler, Macri, and Nick Hoffman. At the same time, Mat Williamson and Logan Seavey reached the pinnacle of the all-time champions list in their respective classes.
2026 DIRTcar NATIONALS WINNERS:
American Sprint Car Series National Tour:
Thursday, Jan. 29 – Tyler Courtney
Friday, Jan. 30 – Tyler Courtney
Monday, Feb. 2 – Brady Bacon (Jan. 31 Makeup Feature)
DIRTcar UMP Modifieds:
Thursday, Jan. 29 – Ricky Thornton Jr
Friday, Jan. 30 – Charlie Mefford
Monday, Feb. 2 – Charlie Mefford, Mike McKinney, Kenny Wallace, Treb Jacoby, Mitch Thomas, Tristan Chamberlain, Ricky Thornton Jr. (Jan. 31 Makeup Feature)
Tuesday, Feb. 3 – David Stremme, Jordan Koehler, Trevor Neville, Chris Wilson, Tyler Nicely, Will Krup
Wednesday, Feb. 4 – Ricky Thornton Jr., Evan Koehler, Kyle Strickler, Tyler Nicely, Jordan Koehler, Mike McKinney
Friday, Feb. 6 – Will Krup, Mitch Thomas, Kyle Strickler, Jordan Koehler, Trevor Neville, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Saturday, Feb. 7 – Jordan Koehler
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series:
Wednesday, Feb. 4 – Spencer Bayston
Friday, Feb. 6 – Buddy Kofoid
Saturday, Feb. 7 – Anthony Macri
USAC Non-Wing Sprint Cars:
Monday, Feb. 9 – Logan Seavey
Tuesday, Feb. 10 – Jake Swanson
DIRTcar Late Models:
Monday, Feb. 9 – Brandon Overton
Tuesday, Feb. 10 – Hudson O’Neal
Wednesday, Feb. 11 – Michael Leach, Nick Hoffman, Tyler Erb
Super DIRTcar Series:
Wednesday, Feb. 11 – Stewart Friesen
Thursday, Feb. 12 – Mat Williamson
Friday, Feb. 13 – Mat Williamson
Saturday, Feb. 14 – Larry Wight
World of Outlaws Late Model Series:
Thursday, Feb. 12 – Nick Hoffman
Friday, Feb. 13 – Nick Hoffman
Saturday, Feb. 14 – Brandon Sheppard