HomeRace Track NewsFloridaCurt Spalding Captures Opening Night UMP Modified Feature at DIRTcar Nationals

Curt Spalding Captures Opening Night UMP Modified Feature at DIRTcar Nationals

Published on

- Advertisement -

FIRST CATCH: Curt Spalding Captures Opening Night UMP Modified Feature at DIRTcar Nationals

BARBERVILLE, FL (January 30, 2025) – After five years of being neglected a second Gator trophy, Curt Spalding was not going to be denied another on Thursday night.

The Watervliet, MI driver commanded all 20 laps of the opening DIRTcar UMP Modifieds Feature while fending off former marquee winners at the Barberville, FL racetrack.

Spalding and Shirleysburg, PA driver George Dixon brought the field of 24 UMP Modifieds to the green flag, with the two competitors immediately going to battle for the lead in the opening stages.

Dixon used the bottom lane in Turn 1 to attempt a slide job around Spalding, but could not hold traction and slipped up the track – creating a one-second gap for Spalding to take full advantage.

A caution at the halfway point of the Feature erased Spaldingโ€™s gap and created new opportunities for the top UMP Modified drivers to contend for the Feature win, including Kyle Strickler, David Stremme, and Michael Altobelli.

On the restart, Strickler took over second place from Dixon, then used the high line of the track to slice down to the bottom of the turns to trim the lead interval of Spaldingโ€™s No.5CS Lethal Chassis.

Spalding continued to roll through the bottom of the track while Dixon and Stricklerโ€™s door-banging fight for second place solidified Spaldingโ€™s second-career Gator trophy – his first since 2020.

โ€œFor sure, I could hear them,โ€ Spalding said. โ€œBut, I never saw them. I donโ€™t know if they got that close enough, but we did everything we could. We were on a little different deal here. I gotta thank my son, Tyler, I didnโ€™t even know what he was doing on shocks and I said โ€˜Uh, where are we at on this?โ€™ And he said โ€˜Donโ€™t worry about it, youโ€™re gonna like them.โ€™ Sure enough, his little shock business is helping propel us up here.โ€

Strickler finished second after Dixon spun through Turns 3 and 4 from a slide into the cushion. While the Mooresville, NC driver is now the current UMP Modified Speedweeks points leader, he does not like coming short of a Gator trophy.

โ€œFirst off, congrats to Curt,โ€ Strickler said. โ€œHe supported this deal for a long time, and he was smarter than us. He went with a softer tire and every time I got alongside, the caution would come out. It is what it is, I hate to be negative, but second sucks. I felt like we really had a good racecar and canโ€™t thank everybody enough that puts this deal together.โ€

Stremme, of Mifflintown, PA, came home with the podium finish as a beneficiary to Dixonโ€™s spin on the final lap. The Lethal Chassis owner showed an effort that saw him race inside the top five throughout the 20-lap Feature.

โ€œI just thought it was hard racing,โ€ Stremme said. โ€œI was watching them, itโ€™s so hard to pass because they are so dirty and we had to work on our car a little bit. I was a little too free, but pretty happy with everything. Iโ€™m just proud of all the efforts, a lot of our (Elite Chassis) customers are running well, but itโ€™s a long week. We got a lot of work to do still.โ€

Owensboro, KYโ€™s own Cole Falloway finished in fourth. Altobelli, of Saxton, PA, rounded out the opening nightโ€™s top-five finishers.

Up Next: The DIRTcar UMP Modifieds return to Volusia Speedway Park for the second night of racing with the American Sprint Car Series at the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Friday, January 31. Tickets are available here:

DIRTCAR NATIONALS TICKETS

If you canโ€™t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVIsion โ€“ either online or by downloading the DIRTVision App.

Feature (20 Laps): 1. 5CS-Curt Spalding[1]; 2. 8S-Kyle Strickler[4]; 3. 35-David Stremme[6]; 4. 66-Cole Falloway[12]; 5. 35A-Michael Altobelli[3]; 6. 97-Mitch Thomas[5]; 7. 45H-Kyle Hammer[11]; 8. 777-Trevor Neville[17]; 9. 77-Ray Bollinger[13]; 10. 05-David Wietholder[16]; 11. 51-Dalton Lanich[7]; 12. 24-Zeke McKenzie[20]; 13. 19-Dustin Sorensen[23]; 14. 114-Jordan Koehler[18]; 15. 25-Greg Belyea[22]; 16. 17C-Coleman Evans[8]; 17. 27-Michael Turner[14]; 18. 77D-George Dixon[2]; 19. 27G-Jason Garver[19]; 20. 316-Stephen Pedulla[10]; 21. 36-Kenny Wallace[24]; 22. 18-Miles Beaulieu[21]; 23. (DNF) 12L-Lucas Lee[9]; 24. (DNF) 5-Jonathan Taylor[15]

- Advertisement -

Recent articles

Davenport Secures First Lucas Oil Victory of 2025

OCALA, FL (February 5, 2025) โ€“ Jonathan Davenport secured his first...

McKinney, Falloway, DeYoung, Spalding, Krup, Long Nab DIRTcar Nationals Gators

The race to 100 different DIRTcar UMP Modified Feature winners at...

Ethan Dotson Ready to Build on Sunshine Success in DIRTcar Nationals Return

BARBERVILLE, FL (February 7, 2025) โ€“ Entering his first full World...

Cole Falloway Wins Back-to-Back Gators in Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals Opening Week Finale

TWICE IN THRICE: Cole Falloway Wins Back-to-Back Gators in Federated Auto...

Davenport Outduels Overton at Ocala

OCALA, FL (February 6, 2025) โ€“ Jonathan Davenport secured his second...

Carson Macedo Overcomes Injury to Top Volusia Season Opener

RESILIENCE: Carson Macedo Overcomes Injury to Top Volusia Season Opener The Californian...

Moran takes Wieland Winter Nationals Opener at Ocala

OCALA, FL (February 4, 2025) โ€“ Devin Moran continued his winning...

RELATED ARTICLES

Federated Auto Parts Extends With DIRTcar Nationals, Continues World of Outlaws Partnership

BARBERVILLE, FL (Feb. 8, 2025) โ€“ย Federated Auto Partsโ€™ iconic blue and orange branding will...

Thornton Claims Fridayโ€™s Wieland Winter Nationals at Ocala

OCALA, FL (February 7, 2025) โ€“ The reigning Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series...

CLEM EDGES THORNHILL IN King of 360 HENDRY COUNTY MOTORSPORTS PARK THRILLER

United Sprint Car Series News Release:ย  Contact:ย  PETE WALTON โ€“ 770-865-6097 February 7, 2025 CLEWISTON, FLย ...

Neville, Krup, Spalding, Strickler, Stremme, Dixon Lock Into Big Gator Finale With Feature Wins

FRIDAY WINNERS: Neville, Krup, Spalding, Strickler, Stremme, Dixon Lock Into Big Gator Finale With...

Kyle Larson Leads Every Lap for First Volusia Victory with World of Outlaws

GOT A GATOR: Kyle Larson Leads Every Lap for First Volusia Victory with World...