Florida didn’t get the memo that we were running the Spring Fling this weekend as cold weather came back to town. Last weekend’s shorts and tee shirts were replaced by long pants and jackets while last weekend’s winners were replaced by new ones.
The 602 Late Models kicked the night off with a first-time winner. Jackson Hise had led several races at Volusia Speedway Park but had been plagued with car problems trying to get that first win. Tonight was his night as he led flag-to-flag, holding off challenges from Dustin Carter and last week’s winner Mikey Kopka to get the win. His friend Trey Mills joined him in victory lane to congratulate Hise, a truly great moment shared by these two future stars.
If the 602 Feature was about the youth of the sport, the Street Stocks was all about the veteran drivers. Tuck Trentham led the first sixteen of 20 laps, but a late charge by Rich Pratt and Thomas Hill set the stage for a great finish. Pratt used a restart and a good old fashioned threading of the needle to take the lead in the closing laps and score himself a victory. Trentham held on for second, and Chris Lawrance took home third.
Thunder Stocks brought out more veterans with last week’s winner Mike Tovet leading the early laps. Tovet surrendered the lead at the halfway point to Scotty Kay Jr., who went on to win. Kay hadn’t raced with us since the 2019 season but picked up speed as the night went on, and in the end, pulled away from the field. Tovet held on for second, and Peacock finished third. Bubba Roling, whose hauler was involved in an accident on the way to the track, arrived and unloaded just before the feature started, driving from 19th to 7th, an impressive run for no practice and a cold race car.
The Compact 4s ended the night with a four-car field taking the green flag. Cameron Kight led the early laps, but spun in turn two, allowing Todd Latour to t0 score back-to-back wins in the class.
The Spring Fling continues tomorrow as the 604 Late Models are slotted to run. They will be joined by the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, Thunder Stocks, and ¾ Mods.
