The last time Patrick Varieka raced before Monday night, he left Volusia Speedway Park with a DNF.
Monday night showed an incredible resurgence from the Deltona, FL native, winning his first Feature race at Volusia since 2022 after a series of events in the last two laps that benefitted Varieka.
Lake Helen, FL driver Timmy Hogan led the field to green at the start, who sought to win his fourth straight 3/4 Modified race at Volusia in his #26.
He was not alone in the battle for the lead, as Pierson, FL driver Colton Lane wheeled his way towards Hogan, passing him on the bottom line.
Other drivers began to contest for the Feature win, with Varieka and reigning 3/4 Modified champ Jesse Powers in tow with the leaders of Hogan and Lane.
A late caution packed the hungry field for a three-lap dash to the finish. Lane missed a shift off at the restart line, stacking the field and swinging the door open for a driver to pounce at the lead.
Varieka took his chances, blasting by Hogan on the front stretch, then powering by Lane off of Turn 2 to win his first Bike Week Jamboree Feature.
“I was gonna be happy with a third (place finish),” Varieka said. “I haven’t been here since Bike Week of last year, so to come out and win in a different car from mine is pretty awesome. (Hogan and Lane) were the class of the field, but they messed up and you gotta be up on your game when it’s time to restart. This old guy got to beat them whippersnappers.”
Lane held on to finish in second place, eager to use the speed he has shown to chase a track championship in 2024.
Hogan rounded out the night’s podium finishers, who are intent on keeping the momentum through the season and into the points season opener at “The World’s Fastest Half Mile.”
The Feature’s top five included Powers and Vestal, NY’s Seth Zacharias, who made his first career start in a 3/4 Modified at Volusia on Monday.
UP NEXT: The points chase is on at Volusia Speedway Park, as the season opens up on Saturday, March 23. The night includes 604 Late Models, 602 Late Models, DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, Thunder Stocks, and 3/4 Modifieds, with open practice the night before on Friday, March 22. For more information, visit https://volusiaspeedwaypark.com/schedule/.
If you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap live on DIRTVision – available either online or through the DIRTVision App.