CONCORD, N.C. — Local heroes battled national stars on Saturday at The Dirt Track at Charlotte on a jam-packed day of racing in the Drydene World Short Track Championship.
Nearly 350 racers across nine different divisions competed over two days, culminating with 10 features and four All-Star races that totaled more than 400 laps around the four-tenths-mile red clay oval.
Dillon Brown waited patiently to make his move in Saturday’s feature event. He knew the outside lane was the place to be, but he waited to move up to save his tires. The decision paid off as he led wire-to-wire to take home the Fox Factory Pro Late Models feature.
Once Brown hit the cushion, he thundered away from the field — beating Ben Watkins to the line.
“I was going to take care of my tires as long as I could,” Brown said. “I knew (the top) was there, and I just kept seeing it get cleaner and cleaner, so I said I’m just going to go up there and fill it. I went up there one time, and I said this is where I need to be.”
Watkins crossed the line second, riding the cushion the entire race. Tyler Nicely crossed the line third but was disqualified after he was light at the scales. Colton Trouille inherited the final podium position and was the first car to test the waters on the high side.
The Fox Factory Pro Late Models capped off Saturday with a 15-lap All-Star feature, where Nicely earned redemption from earlier in the evening. He took the lead from the drop of the green and never looked back. Nicely stated he took a step forward running a late model after previous experience in a UMP Modified.
“We were pretty good in the first (feature), just things didn’t work out our way,” Nicely said. “It’s a big learning experience for me moving from the modifieds to the crates, so the more seat time I get, I’ll get more comfortable.”
After falling two spots short of victory last year, Nick Hoffman came to the Drydene World Short Track Championship with one thing on his mind – redemption. On Saturday night, he got what he came for.
The three-time and defending DIRTcar national champion led all but the first two laps and cruised to his third UMP modified victory in this event, earning the $4,000 payday.
“Last year, I got set back in that Heat Race, had to battle my way through and ran third,” Hoffman said. “This year, I wanted redemption.”
Chris Madden, making his World Short Track debut in a car owned by Pennsylvanian Dan Davies, was impressive for his first time driving a UMP Modified, coming home second after a late pass on Hunt Gossum.
To cap-off the weekend, Hoffman also won the All-Star Invitational Feature, coming from 11th to the lead in seven laps and leading the rest of the way for an additional $600 victory.
John Ruggiero drove under Rod Tucker on a late-race restart and went on to win the Chevrolet Performance 602 Late Models feature.
Ruggiero now has back-to-back victories at the event after earning the Pro Late Model feature win in 2020. Daniel Parker finished second, with Bryan Mullis crossing the line third.
Only a small handful of the nearly 350 cars at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Saturday night were piloted by the same person. Austin Holcombe was one of those drivers doing double duty, and he made the most of his two chances, winning the Hoosier Racing Tire Pro Modified feature flag-to-flag.
Holcombe drove his Summit Racing Equipment UMP Modified to a ninth-place finish early in the evening, then took his Pro Modified to the track later on and won, scoring his first career Drydene World Short Track Championship victory – one worth $1,500.
“It’s amazing,” Holcombe said. “It’s an awesome feeling to win at Charlotte. I’ve always wanted to win here, and I’m just glad I could knock this one off the bucket list.”
Eric Bentley finished second, while three-time and defending division winner Jeff Parsons completed the podium.
Last year’s third-place finisher, Ricky Greene, took the Drydene Performance Products Street Stocks three-wide and four-wide at the front, and three-wide and four-wide behind the leaders, in a 20-lap thriller that ultimately resulted in a flip-flopped repeat of last year’s podium.
“The race track is actually really awesome, so to pass anyone is right around the rim,” explained Greene, “… sometimes you just can’t make it.”
Patrick Lyon finished second, with Calob McLaughlin third.
Grayson Keaton took the checkered flag first in the Comp Cams Monster Mini Stocks main event. However, during post-race technical inspection the Keaton’s 1G was found to have an exhaust infraction and was disqualified, handing the win to Johnny Raines.
“A win is a win, but when you come to Charlotte you need to be right. This is the most prestigious race of the year, and you know the rules,” Raines said. “So I’m going to take it how I can get it, because this [car] was right.”
Harley Holden and Travis Mosley were credited with second and third.
Two 10-lap features were on tap Saturday for the 50 DIRTVision Hornet entries. Of those drivers, Jonathan Sarratt joined Newman Presnell — winning back-to-back — Dave Lanely and Chase Hopper as this year’s champions, collecting the unique Drydene oil barrel trophy and $500 check that comes with the title.
David Rogers turned dreams into reality with a $4,000 VP Racing Fuels Sportsman Modified feature win.
“It’s incredible,” said Rogers. “It really is. This is something I’ve dreamed of and here we are doing it. This time of year is hard for me to race because I am getting ready for snowplow season. We made the decision last minute on Sunday night to come down. Man, I am so glad we did.”
Andrew Buff finished second from 11th, with Mike Fowler third.
Zach Payne won the Sportsman All-Star feature.
It took 20 laps and every bit of effort possible for Sheldon Martin to come away with the $3,000 SRI Performance Pro Stock championship victory.
Martin held off charges from Pro Stock aces Luke Horning and Pete Stefanski, who held on for second as Sean Corr rounded out the podium.
Corr won the Pro Stock All-Star feature.