UMP Modifieds Chase 9 Nights of Gators in 55th DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia
- Press Release
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
BARBERVILLE, FL (January 27, 2026) - The DIRTcar UMP Modifieds are back at Volusia Speedway Park for the 21st year as the opening act of Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals.
Known as the “Ironmen of DIRTcar Nationals,” Modified drivers will kick off the nine nights of action with three straight nights during Week 1 in conjunction with the American Sprint Car Series, Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 29-31. The three races won’t count toward the Big Gator title, but will award the famed golden gator trophy and count toward the Florida Speedweeks title.
The Big Gator Championship chase begins Monday, Feb. 2, with six split Features held from Monday through Friday. On Friday, the Feature lineups will be determined by order of the event standings, as the top three finishers from the six 20-lap races earn a place in Saturday’s Gator Championship Feature.
The final night of UMP Modified racing on Saturday, Feb. 7, will begin with Last Chance Showdowns, which advance the top three from each race to the 30-lap, $5,000-to-win Big Gator closer to complete the week’s racing. From Feb. 4-7, the Modifieds will be paired alongside the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.
Here are the top storylines to watch:
Spalding & Son - Reigning Big Gator champion Curt Spalding returns to Volusia for a quest to chase another Big Gator after winning both the Championship Feature and overall points last year.
The Watervliet, MI native will have in-house competition as his son, Tyler, will make his debut in a UMP Modified at the Barberville, FL track.
Both drivers enjoyed success outside of the “Sunshine State” as Curt took victory with the Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals at Shadyhill Speedway, and Tyler earned a runner-up finish in his first start at World Short Track Championship.
Sizzling Speedweeks - While much of the East Coast has been dealing with snow and frigid temperatures, Florida brought warmth for the UMP Modifieds in the FL Speedweeks opener at Hendry County Motorsports Park.
The Speedweeks debut at the “Fastest Sand Pit in the South” saw a midwestern takeover as Kewanee, IL’s Ray Bollinger took the Friday opener and Claypool, IN’s Zeke McKenzie drove to Victory Lane in the Saturday finale.
After the nine nights of racing at Volusia are completed, the Speedweeks champion will earn a $3,000 payday, in addition to a points fund for the top-10 in the standings.
Sunshine Stronghold - As the best Modified drivers across the United States prepare for Volusia Speedway Park, they will be met with local Floridians seeking to defend home turf.
Starke, FL’s Jason Garver comes fresh off his best career season with three Volusia track titles (UMP Modifieds, 602 Late Models, Factory Stocks) and the 2025 DIRTcar Florida championship. After suffering two DNFs at Hendry County, “Racin’ Jason” looks to the 1/2-mile in Barberville as his chance to regain early momentum.
Before September 2025, Zane Oedewaldt had a career-high finish of fourth at Volusia, and itched for his turn in Victory Lane after six years since he left Illinois for Florida. Entering 2026, Oedewaldt owns a regular-season Feature win from the Battle in Barberville and a prelim victory in the Emil and Dale Reutimann Memorial. He and teammate Paul Shead will chase their first Golden Gator trophies before the “Fab 5” campaign commences in March.
At 64 years old, Todd Neiheiser is still finding ways to park his No. 72 Elite Chassis in Volusia’s Victory Lane. In 2025, the Panama City, FL native went to Victory Lane in the inaugural Prelude to the Reutimann, along with celebrating a World Short Track Championship Feature win as a car owner for Ray Kable. Neiheiser owns a Golden Gator from 2023, but is hunting a first Big Gator.
Gator Grip - The top DIRTcar UMP Modified racers got a feel for what to expect with Volusia’s new track surface when the 2025 campaign ended with the Emil and Dale Reutimann Memorial.
After 50 laps of racing, World of Outlaws Late Models presented by DIRTVision racer Drake Troutman earned his first win in the event, and fellow Outlaw Ethan Dotson finished in second place. The time proved to be helpful for the Series opener at DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals, with Troutman earning a top five in the Saturday finale.
Several veterans went for the $10,000 payday, including Kyle Strickler, Tyler Nicely, Justin Haley, Treb Jacoby, Kyle Hammer, among others. Armed with notes from the November trip, nine nights of DIRTcar Nationals will test their expectations of the gumbo surface alongside over 100 Modifieds that fill the property annually.
BIG GATOR CHAMPIONS
2025 – Curt Spalding
2024 – Tyler Nicely
2023 – Kyle Strickler
2022 – Nick Hoffman
2021 — Nick Hoffman
2020 — Nick Hoffman
2019 — Nick Hoffman
2018 — Nick Hoffman
2017 — Nick Hoffman
2016 — Nick Hoffman
2015 — Austin Dillon
2014 — Ty Dillon
2013 — Ken Schrader
2012 — Ty Dillon