Central Florida racers and race fans were ready to get back to racing after a long summer off, and what better place to be on Labor Day weekend than at Volusia Speedway Park for the Labor Day Classic. Eighty-eight cars filled the pits for night one of the two-night show. With the stands full early, all that was left to do was race!
The ¾ Modifieds kicked off the night with a 15-car field taking the green flag led by Jesse Powers. Powers went on to lead every lap with Wade Olmsted keeping him in his sights but unable to make a pass and finishing second. Timmy Hogan won his heat race and brought home third followed by Dustin Peterson, who also won his heat race earlier in the evening.
Up next were the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds. Zane Oedewaldt and David Reutimann brought the 19-car field to the green flag. Reutimann took the early lead, with Garret Stewart making big moves to get to second early, setting up a battle that the crowd couldn’t wait to see. Reutimann had the edge until lap 16 when he broke a wheel. Stewart was the benefactor of Reutimann’s bad luck, going on to win the feature followed closely by Larry Burkins and young Ryan Rackley, who nailed down his first podium finish at VSP.
The 602 Late Models were third out with 35 cars bidding for spots in the Feature. Four heat races later, followed by a Last Chance Showdown won by Jackson Hise, the 26-car field was set. Donnie Chappell took the lead on the first lap, followed by Dustin Carter and David Showers Jr. Trey Mills made his way up to third to join the battle between Carter and Chappell. A late race caution gave Mills the chance to pass Carter, but he had to settle for second as Chappell took the win.
The final feature of the night was the Street Stocks. Tuck Trentham was the early leader in this one, but Joe Belkey charged to the front on lap five. In a race riddled by cautions, the safest place to be was up front, where, with five laps to go, Chris Lawrance put himself in position to challenge Belkey for the win after passing Trentham. With a late race caution it came down to a three lap shootout with Belkey coming home the winner. Lawrance finished second and Trentham third.
That’s all for night one of two from Volusia Speedway Park, but make sure to join us tomorrow as we continue the Labor Day Classic with the 604 Late Models, 602 Late Models, Thunder Stocks, and ¾ modifieds.