After opening the 2026 season with a fitting tribute to Volusia Speedway Park’s creator, the track is geared for a second dose of “Fab Five” racing in the springtime.
The 604 Late Models, 602 Late Models, DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, 3/4 Modifieds, and Factory Stocks return to the “World’s Fastest Half Mile” for the Short Track Showdown on Saturday night, April 11, as the race to collect championship points begins to turn up louder. Grandstand gates will open at 4 p.m, and Hot Laps will begin at 6 p.m.
Here are the top storylines from each division:
604 Late Models – Blake Clouser is making 2026 his opportunity to shine in a dirt Late Model after bagging the season-opening victory behind the wheel of Joe Kump’s No. 721 machine.
The multi-disciplined racer held Garret Stewart and Jason Garver – who are seeking their first track championship in the division – at bay for his first 604 Late Model win at Volusia.
While the three drivers got the championship hunt started on the right foot, Kole Platt enters the Short Track Showdown with redemption on his mind. After starting the first Feature of the year from Pole Position, the Callahan, FL driver ran inside the top five until mechanical issues within the final five laps dropped him to a 17th-place result.
602 Late Models – Jason Garver began his title defense in the 602 Late Models in the best way possible after climbing up from a sixth-place starting spot to the lead through the first eight circuits for his first division win of 2026.
Joining the Starke, FL driver on the podium was 2022 division champ Austin Leamon after working up the hornet’s nest of Late Models from a 10th-place start. Heading into the Short Track Showdown, the Lithia, FL driver sits within 10 points of “Racin’ Jason” for the points lead.
Amongst the field searching for a stronger showing at Volusia are Brandon Yates and Justin Dean. Yates started the Benny Corbin Memorial from the pole, but faltered to seventh place at the checkered flag while Dean moved up from 14th to eighth.
DIRTcar UMP Modifieds – Though Jeff Scofield spent the majority of his racing career on asphalt, he’s felt a seamless transition to DIRTcar UMP Modifieds in his victory at the Benny Corbin Memorial.
The Plant City, FL, pilot kept the last two track champs, Seth Geary and Jason Garver, at bay through the season opener’s 20-lap Feature for his first career win at the track in his first appearance since 2024.
While the two champions look to reclaim the top of the points standings from Scofield, also within 25 points of the lead are division veterans Mikey Kopka, Joshua Kunstbeck, and 2022 division champion Buzzie Reutimann.
3/4 Modifieds – Dalton Hopke showed no relinquishment of mastery in Barberville when he wheeled the No. H1 3/4 Modified to his first track victory of the year by a four-second margin over second-place finisher Jesse Powers.
While the Jacksonville, FL driver is using the funds to form a dirt Late Model program, he has no intentions of letting a second-straight title pass him by while the field behind tries to dethrone Hopke’s reign over the division.
The drivers hoping to topple Hopke on Saturday night will include Powers, the 2023 division champ, 2025 winners Colton Lane and Ethyn Hwan, and Orlando, FL native Chase Cooke.
Factory Stocks – Camden Harp laid down a stunning victory in March when he took a first-career track victory at the Benny Corbin Memorial in his debut appearance.
Placed directly behind the 12-year-old standout in the finishing order were Patrick and Tanner Thomas for their second consecutive podium finish at the track as they try to one-up each other in the year-long title fight.
While 2025 championship contenders Willy Cuddy and Jason Garver finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in the opening points race of 2026, they will need to step up their performance in the chase towards the Thomas family. In the 2025 edition of Short Track Showdown, Garver took the Feature win en route to the division championship.