Newton, Ill. driver locks into $5,000-to-win ‘Gator Championship’ on Monday Night
BARBERVILLE, Fla. – Feb. 18, 2012 – Chad Kinder held off a late race charge from Austin Dillon to claim the first night of ‘Gator Championship’ competition on Saturday night at Volusia Speedway Park, earning his first UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment win worth $1,000.
“I have to thank all my guys, my family back home, and all the fans,” said Kinder. “We really do appreciate everyone on our team. It’s a big relief to win one of these because it means we’re closer, after not running so well earlier in the week.”
Kinder, a multi-time state of Illinois DIRTcar UMP Modified champion, showed his dominance on multiple restarts through the 20-lap main event. Kinder battled with Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., with Hoffman actually leading lap 4 before Kinder fought to reclaim the lead on lap 5 and led the remaining 15 circuits to claim the victory.
Dillon, of Welcome, N.C., climbed from an eighth place starting spot to finish in the events runner-up spot, another strong showing for the defending NASCAR Truck Series champion. Kyle Bronson of Brandon, Fla., worked his way up from 14th to finish third. Paul Miles and Hoffman rounded out the top five.
Those drivers along with Tyler Nicely, of Owensboro Ky., Devin Gilpin of Columbus, Ind., Bryce Jewell of Madisonville, Ky., Bryan Barber of Greensburg, Ky., and Canadian driver Jason Beaulieu of Campbell River, British Columbia all locked into the ‘Gator Championship’ race where the winner will be the first to receive the all-new 4-foot Gator trophy along with the $5,000 winner’s prize.
There were 42 DIRTcar UMP Modifieds on hand for the fifth of eight nights of competition.
For more information, go to www.DIRTcarNationals.com or follow the event on Twitter @DIRTcarNats and on Facebook at facebook.com/DIRTcarNationals.
A-Main (20 Laps) – 1. 22s – Chad Kinder; 2. 3 – Austin Dillon; 3. 40b – Kyle Bronson; 4. 28 – Paul Miles; 5. 2H – Nick Hoffman; 6. 25 – Tyler Nicely; 7. 1G – Devin Gilpin; 8. ‘0J – Bryce Jewell; 9. 10 – Bryan Barber; 10. 90 – Jason Beaulieu; 11. 115 – Brandon Smith; 12. 18M – David McWilliams; 13. 67 – Garrett Stewart; 14. 22T – Tony Anderson; 15. 8c – Tyler Carpenter; 16. 15 – Dave Baker; 17. K12 – Scotty Kincaid; 18. 17 – Heath Weston; 19. 66 – Dale Murray; 20. 11 – Richie Tosh; 21. 77K – Joey Kramer; 22. 33 – Jeff Mathews; 23. OO – Buzzie Ruetimann; 24. 83 – J.R. Mason;
Qualifying Group 1: 1. 28 – Paul Miles; 2. 33 – Jeff Mathews; 3. 22s – Chad Kinder; 4. ‘0J – Bryce Jewell; 5. 664 – Mike Harrison; 6. 11 – Richie Tosh; 7. 115 – Brandon Smith; 8. 26 – Bob Gierke; 9. 77g – Gavin Landers; 10. 13T – Jim Thorp;
Qualifying Group 2: 1. 77K – Joey Kramer; 2. 40b – Kyle Bronson; 3. 2H – Nick Hoffman; 4. 155 – Jimmy Payne; 5. 10 – Bryan Barber Barber; 6. 90 – Jason Beaulieu; 7. 17JE – J.E. Stalder; 8. 15R – Rich Robinson Jr; 9. 47 – Collin Thirlby; 10. d4 – Dave Jamison; 11. OO – Buzzie Ruetimann;
Qualifying Group 3: 1. d48 – Derek Groomer; 2. 1G – Devin Gilpin; 3. 67 – Garrett Stewart; 4. 18M – David McWilliams; 5. ’05 – Dave Wietholder; 6. 10Y – Trent Young; 7. 66 – Dale Murray; 8. 8c – Tyler Carpenter; 9. ’08 – Jake Griffin; 10. 96 – Lonnie Wagner;
Qualifying Group 4: 1. 75 – Bart Hartman; 2. 3 – Austin Dillon; 3. 25 – Tyler Nicely; 4. K12 – Scotty Kincaid; 5. 182 – Randle Sweeney; 6. 17 – Heath Weston; 7. 15 – Dave Baker; 8. 22T – Tony Anderson; 9. 2X – Brady Gerdes; 10. 83 – J.R. Mason;
Heat 1: 1. 22s – Chad Kinder; 2. 28 – Paul Miles; 3. ‘0J – Bryce Jewell; 4. 33 – Jeff Mathews; 5. 115 – Brandon Smith; 6. 11 – Richie Tosh; 7. 664 – Mike Harrison; 8. 77g – Gavin Landers; 9. 13T – Jim Thorp; 10. 26 – Bob Gierke;
Heat 2: 1. 2H – Nick Hoffman; 2. 77K – Joey Kramer; 3. 90 – Jason Beaulieu; 4. 40b – Kyle Bronson; 5. OO – Buzzie Ruetimann; 6. d4 – Dave Jamison; 7. 155 – Jimmy Payne; 8. 10 – Bryan Barber Barber; 9. 15R – Rich Robinson Jr; 10. 17JE – J.E. Stalder; 11. 47 – Collin Thirlby;
Heat 3: 1. 18M – David McWilliams; 2. 67 – Garrett Stewart; 3. 1G – Devin Gilpin; 4. 8c – Tyler Carpenter; 5. 66 – Dale Murray; 6. 96 – Lonnie Wagner; 7. ’08 – Jake Griffin; 8. ’05 – Dave Wietholder; 9. d48 – Derek Groomer; 10. 10Y – Trent Young;
Heat 4: 1. 25 – Tyler Nicely; 2. 3 – Austin Dillon; 3. K12 – Scotty Kincaid; 4. 15 – Dave Baker; 5. 17 – Heath Weston; 6. 22T – Tony Anderson; 7. 83 – J.R. Mason; 8. 75 – Bart Hartman; 9. 2X – Brady Gerdes; 10. 182 – Randle Sweeney;
B-Main 1: 1. 11 – Richie Tosh; 2. 10 – Bryan Barber Barber; 3. d4 – Dave Jamison; 4. 664 – Mike Harrison; 5. 15R – Rich Robinson Jr; 6. 47 – Collin Thirlby; 7. 13T – Jim Thorp; 8. 77g – Gavin Landers; DNS 155 – Jimmy Payne; DNS 26 – Bob Gierke; DNS 65 – Todd Sherman;
B-Main 2: 1. 22T – Tony Anderson; 2. 83 – J.R. Mason; 3. 10Y – Trent Young;
The DIRTcar UMP Modified portion of the University of Northwestern Ohio DIRTcar Nationals by Summit Racing Equipment is brought to fans by several sponsors and partners including Summit Racing Equipment, Hoosier Racing Tires, GM Performance Parts, University of Northwestern Ohio, Aero Race Wheels, ASI Racewear, Auto Meter, Bell Helmets, Beyea Custom Headers, Bilstein Shocks, Dominator Race Products, Fast Shafts, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, Vicci, KSE Racing Products, MSD Ignition, Quarter Master, R2C Competition Series Air Filters, XS Power Racing Batteries, VP Racing Fuels.