Volusia Speedway Park is set to celebrate summer with a special Sizzler for the “Fab 5” on Saturday, July 12.
The track’s premier divisions – 604 Late Models, 602 Late Models, DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, Factory Stocks, and 3/4 Modifieds – return to the “World’s Fastest Half Mile” for a full night of summertime fun.
Florida fans were treated to five entertaining shows last month with a last-corner pass for the win, continuous side-by-side racing, and a first-time winner.
More “Fab 5” action is set to thrill this weekend as the track’s championship battles hit the halfway point.
Gates open at 4 p.m. (ET), with Hot Laps commencing at 6 p.m. General admission tickets will be $15. Military and First Responders at $12. Kids 12 years old and under are free.
SUMMER SIZZLER INFO
WATCH ON DIRTVISION
Here are the top storylines to follow:
604 LATE MODELS: While the Fourth of July fireworks have settled, the fireworks from last month’s 604 Late Model Firecracker Classic race are still glowing.
Trynt Lloyd, of Jacksonville, FL, edged Kole Platt, of Callahan, FL, by 0.079 seconds at the finish line – his only lap led that night – to score his second win of the season at Volusia, and extend his points lead over Platt to a 36-point gap. He’s currently the only driver with three top-five finishes in the first three races.
Llyod’s triumph also denied Platt his first win this season. There have only been two winners in the division so far this year – Lloyd and Mikey Kopka.
602 LATE MODELS: The battle for the 602 Late Model title remains tight as Jason Garver leads Brandon Yates by 15 points and Austin Leamon by 25 points.
Yates, of Ruskin, FL, scored his first Volusia win of the season last month, holding off a hard-charging Garver.
Davy Cline, of St. Augustine, FL, earned his first top-five finish of the season during the Firecracker Classic. He led early before fading late in the race. He’ll be on the hunt to repeat that performance and improve on it for his first win of the year.
DIRTCAR UMP MODIFIEDS: Dillon Buhr, of Jacksonville, FL, is keeping the battle for the DIRTcar UMP Modified title interesting after scoring his first Volusia win of the season last month.
Jason Garver leads the standings by five points over Buhr and 19 points over Seth Geary, of Gibsonton, FL, who finished second last month.
The three drivers, along with Dalton Lanich, of Bunnell, FL, put on a show for fans during the Firecracker Classic Feature, maintaining a four-car battle for the lead throughout the race and swapping the lead multiple times.
Buhr’s win made him the third different winner in four DIRTcar UMP Modified events this season, joining the wins list with Garver and Geary. Could a fourth new winner be crowned this weekend?
Lanich could be considered a top pick after his Firecracker performance, but don’t sleep on 84-year-old Buzzie Reutimann, who showed speed early on last month too.
Garver has been busy, though, recently running seven Midwest races with the DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals tour, earning a best finish of fifth at Duck River Raceway Park.
FACTORY STOCKS: Volusia fans were treated to an exciting race and a feel-good story with the Factory Stocks during the Firecracker Classic. After laps of side-by-side racing, Bruce Bennett, of Orlando, FL, emerged as the victor for his first-ever win at Volusia Speedway Park.
He became the third different winner in four races this year, joining Willy “The Kid” Cuddy and Jason Garver.
Patrick Thomas, of Oviedo, FL, entered the Firecracker Classic tied for the points lead with Cuddy, and left with a 10-point lead after his fourth-place finish. However, Thomas is still looking for his first win of the season.
Garver, who has two wins in the Factory Stock division, is also still in the hunt for the title, sitting 17 points behind Thomas.
3/4 MODIFIEDS: Dalton Hopke, of Jacksonville, FL, continued his reign as one of the top drivers in the 3/4 Modified division last month, picking up his third division win at Volusia in three starts.
But while he collects trophies, Jonathan Layerd, of Ocala, FL, and Ethyn Hwan, of DeLand, FL, are locked in a tight battle for the points lead. Layerd currently leads Hwan by 5 points going into the Summer Sizzler. He’s yet to finish outside the top five but is still looking for a win this season.
Hopke isn’t out of the championship fight either. He’s still only 20 points behind Layerd for the lead, and with every trip to Volusia this year resulting in a victory, Layerd and Hwan may soon have another fight on their hands.
For more information about the Summer Sizzler and the full Volusia Speedway Park calendar, CLICK HERE.