BARBERVILLE, FL – After a season full of learning curves and rookie mistakes, Tim Swartz ends his first season in the 602 Late Models with a win at the inaugural Battle in Barberville Friday night.
Starting from the outside pole, Swartz, a local from Ormond Beach, FL, quickly took the lead from polesitter Justin Dean on the first lap. From there, it was smooth sailing for the #31 Morgan Speed Solutions Late Model.
“At the start, I found a good line and once everyone started to fade behind me, I started to try different lines and started digging and digging,” Swartz said. “The car was very good, we worked very hard to get this one right and I’m glad it did. I wanna thank my wife, Todd Morgan, and everyone that helps sponsor and support this team effort.”
Second-place Kole Platt had a good night to look back on. After winning his Heat Race early in the night, the #44P Clay Harris Racing machine had to fight the hornet’s nest of 602 Late Models to finish second.
Platt, of Callahan, FL, is in his first season in a Dirt Late Model after gathering years of experience in dirt karts.
“(The night) was really good,” Platt said. “We’ve been having carburetor and motor issues the whole night, but I’m happy with the result. My daddy used to race a long time ago and everything’s changed now, but we’re slowly figuring it out and getting better and better on these weekends. I wanna thank my mom, my dad, Jonas, my papa and gigi and everyone’s that helped us out this year.”
The podium was rounded out by the #388 of Jackson Hise, who fought hard throughout the night to finish on the podium. Hise, from Ocala, FL, won the first 602 Late Model Heat Race and wrapped up the 2022 Volusia season with two wins on the season.
Bubba Roling and Jamie Green rounded out the top five after a highly competitive night in the Feature.
The Allen Plumbing Hard Charger of the Feature was Shane DeShaw. The Volusia County native gained six spots throughout the night to finish sixth.
602 Late Models Feature 20 Laps | 00:08:16.846
1. 31-Tim Swartz[2]; 2. 44P-Kole Platt[5]; 3. 388-Jackson Hise[6]; 4. 515-Bubba Roling[4]; 5. 91-Jamie Green[3]; 6. 21S-Shayne DeShaw[10]; 7. 11-J R Gray[9]; 8. 1J-Jason Papp[12]; 9. (DNF) 22-Dylan Dunn[11]; 10. (DNF) 02-Sean Babcock[8]; 11. (DNF) 32P-Jesse Powers[13]; 12. (DNF) 35D-Justin Dean[1]; 13. (DNF) 15-Chris Meyer[7]; 14. (DNF) 5-Dustin Carter[14]
UP NEXT
The next race from The World’s Fastest Half Mile is tomorrow night for the final day of the Battle in Barberville. The night will feature the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, 3/4 Modifieds, and a $3,000 to win 604 Late Model Feature. Grandstand gates will open at 5:00 PM, with Hot Laps beginning at 6:00 PM.
Can’t make it to the track? You can also watch all the action live on DIRTVision. Coverage starts with Hot Laps at 6:00 PM. Head to their site at DIRTVision.com, or click here for more.
About Volusia Speedway Park
Volusia Speedway Park, The World’s Fastest Half Mile, is a 0.5 mile dirt track located in DeLeon Springs, Florida. Home of prestigious events like the DIRTcar Nationals, Sunshine Nationals, and the Dale & Emil Reutimann Memorial, the track hosts weekly races year-round with divisions of Dirt Late Models, UMP Modifieds, 3/4 Modifieds, Street Stocks, and Thunder Stocks. The track also hosts dirt-karting races at the facility. For more information, visit VolusiaSpeedwayPark.com