Barberville, FL — Jared Landers of Batesville , Ark. , registered a flag-to-flag victory in Thursday night’s 20-lap UMP DIRTcar Modified feature during the 37th annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park.
Driving a Mullins-powered Shaw car that sports sponsorship from Mark Martin Ford, Landers blasted off the pole position to lead the entire distance. He was never seriously challenged en route to the $1,000 top prize.
The 25-year-old Landers, whose father is a business partner of NASCAR veteran and Batesville native Mark Martin in the operation of the Mark Martin Ford dealership, crossed the finish line with a half-straightaway edge on Dave Hess Jr. of Waterford , Pa.
Hess, who advanced from the 13th starting spot to second place in 12 laps, nipped fifth-starter Brad Waits of Zumbrota, Minn. , at the checkered flag for the runner-up spot. A dirt Late Model regular in his native western Pennsylvania , Hess is pulling double-duty during this year’s Alltel DIRTcar Nationals, running family-owned equipment in all the UMP DIRTcar Modified events as well as the Feb. 11-16 UMP DIRTcar Late Model/World of Outlaws Late Model Series programs.
Waits settled for third place, followed by Wednesday-night feature winner Scott Drake of Webb City , Mo. , and NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader of Fenton , Mo. , who earned the Comp Cams Hard Charger Award for improving 18 positions from the 23rd starting spot and remained the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals points leader in the UMP DIRTcar Modified division.
Both Schrader and fellow NASCAR standout Kenny Wallace arrived late to the half-mile clay oval due to commitments at Daytona International Speedway and missed both hot laps and heat-race action. Each driver charged from the rear of a B-Main field to transfer to the feature, but only Schrader continued the momentum in the headliner; Wallace was involved in a lap-four accident and retired.
With 63 cars signed in for competition, heat winners were Kevin Adams of Cameron , Wis. , who changed his car’s engine after hot laps, Scotty Kincaid of Rising Sun, Ind., Corky Thomas of Fargo, N.D., Landers, Alan Mondus of Lakeville, Minn., and Waits. The B-Mains were captured by George Catanzano of Ghent , N.Y. , Mike Spatola of Manhattan , Ill. , and Wallace.
The UMP DIRTcar Modifieds continue competition as part of the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals every night through Feb. 12. Racing begins each evening at 7:30.
For more information on the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals, visit www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com of www.dirtcar.com.
UMP DIRTcar Modified Feature Finish (20 laps):
1. Jared Landers
2. Dave Hess Jr.
3. Brad Waits
4. Scott Drake
5. Ken Schrader
6. Tim Hancock
7. Alan Mondus
8. Jason Miller
9. Kent Robinson
10. Austin Dillon
11. Kenny Gaddis
12. Scott Green
13. Kevin Adams
14. Mike Spatola
15. George Catanzano
16. Scotty Kincaid
17. Jon Henry
18. Todd Sherman
19. Derek Groomer
20. Bill Davis
21. Kurt Allison
22. Jake Hawkins
23. Corky Thomas
24. Kenny Wallace
DNQ: Barry Elliott, Larry Moreland, Tim Bowen, Ralph Groomer, Tom Seets Sr., Charley Phillips, J.E. Stadler, David McWilliams, Brian Strand, Chad Evans, Justin Houston, Gary Eichler, Tyler Townsend, Shane Sabroski, Nate Coruth, Corey Sekerson, Mathew Permann, Terry Hull, Rick Jones, Ben Ledgerwood, Bob Gierke, Ty Dillon, Tony Anderson, Dale Mathison, Julie McDermid, Don Lamb, Frank Marshall, Brandon Carlson, Ron Soltis, Jesse Stovall, Joe Hunley, Jim Ransom, Bruce Takach, Chuck Milam, Tim Thomas, Wayne Troseth, Jeremy Gross, Tommie Seets Jr., Gary Brooks
