With temps soaring into the high 90’s, and well over 100 cars in the pits, the appropriately named “Summer Sizzler” was setting up to be one hot show. After several weeks of rain across the south the racers were finally able to take the track and get some laps in under a postcard worthy Florida sky.
The 602 Late Models kicked of the first of six features. David Showers Jr would be the early leader but on lap eight his left rear tire filed for separation from the race car in turn two leaving Showers Jr sidelined for the remainder of the race. When the green flag dropped again it would be all Dustin Carter as he would lead the rest of the race and take the first checkered flag of the night. Travis Staats and Austin Leamon rounded out the top three.
The DIRTcar UMP Mods were up next with 22 cars taking the green flag. Paul Shead would lead the first lap, but a hard charging Jeff Matthews would take the lead on lap 2 with Garrett Stewart and Dillon Buhr following him to the front. The order would remain the same thru several cautions and restarts but as the laps wound down Stewart would begin to challenge Matthews on the outside more each lap. A late race caution would set up a two lap showdown for the win and when the dust settled a pass off the top of turn four on the final lap would put Stewart in victory lane with Matthews settling for second and Buhr crossing the line in third.
The third feature event of the night was the $1000 to win 604 Late Model Race. 28 cars took the green flag and as expected it was full of action. Johnny Collins started pole and wasted no time going to the front. Throughout the race Jason Garver and Jeff Matthews would battle for second but nobody had anything for Collins as he cruised to the win with Matthews taking second and Garver coming home in third.
The ¾ Mods would be the fourth class to run their feature. This race was all Patrick Vareika as he would lead unchallenged flag to flag. Wade Olmsted trailed a close second and last race feature winner Jesse Powers would round out the top three.
Up next were the Street Stocks with Chris Lawrance in the hunt for his 100th feature win, but he would have his hands full with a great field of Street Stocks. Starting on the second row Lawrance would find his way to the front early and once there he was determined to hold on to it. In the late stages of the race he simply drove away scoring that illusive 100th win. Thomas Hill would finish second and Bruce Giffin was third.
The final feature of the night would be the Thunderstocks. Twenty cars took the green flag and the battle the lead seen three wide racing for several laps before Jason Garver was eventually able to get the lead. Garver had also raced a late model and a modified on the night, but he showed no signs of being tired as he would go on to win the feature. Shaun Daugharty ran a close second and Eddie Gainey would finish third.
Our next race will be August 14th. Make your plans to join us for the Blazing Guns 30! See you soon at Volusia Speedway Park!