Barberville, FL — Can Jared Landers be stopped? The 26‐year‐old again was the class of the UMP DIRTcar Modified field on Night Seven of the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park.
Landers passed Ty Dillon on the final lap and drove away with the checkered flag for a record‐tying fifth victory in the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH. Landers will try to break his tie with Steve Arpin, who won five times in 2007, in the UMP DIRTcar Modified finale on Tuesday. Austin Dillon was third with Ryan Gifford in fourth.
“I want to talk about all my other cars,” Landers said. “I had four cars I built for these guys and look, One, Two, Three, Four,” said Landers, of Batesville, Ark. “I didn’t think I was going to be able to outurn them.”
Landers and Austin Dillon came from outside the top five to chase down younger brother Ty Dillon in the waning laps. Ty Dillon garnered the lead early, grabbing it from polesitter Corky Thomas. Ty’s older brother Austin closed in late but slipped trying to make a move that allowed Landers to score second.
Landers then used traffic for a perfect pick and roll to the outside to take the lead on the last circuit.
“Ty had it won,” he said. “If we had a caution there was no way in the world I would have caught him They just did a heck of a job. It just happened to work for me I just don’t know how.”
Ty Dillon settled for the runner up spot, just ahead of his older brother. “I thought we were in the clear and Jared came out of nowhere,” said the younger Dillon. “It ****s to lose that way but if we’re losing to Jared it’s alright.”
Ty who claimed a heat race victory earlier in the night’s racing program is still focused on earning his way to victory lane after getting very close Monday. “It was a battle all night,” he said. “We just came up a little short.”
Austin Dillon, the only driver to finish in front of Landers in competition during the week, nabbed third place. “I tell you what Ty drove his butt off.” Austin said a happy older brother. “I was trying to pass him that whole time. And then finally I got to him and Jared runs right by me”
Landers once again pleaded to the crowd from Alltel Wireless Victory Lane for votes in the Alltel All‐Star contest. “I need it.” said Landers. “It didn’t look like I was going to get it tonight.”
Landers goes for win number six Tuesday night. Gates will open at 5 p.m. with qualifying at 6 p.m., and racing at 7:30pm.
UMP DIRTcar Modified 20-lap A-main
Pos. / Name
1. Jared Landers
2. Ty Dillon
3. Austin Dillon
4. Ryan Gifford
5. Mike Spatola
6. Devin Gilpin
7. Corky Thomas
8. Jacob Hawkins
9. Andy Gordon
10. Randy Hall
11. Ryan Aho
12. Tim Hancock
13. Jon Henry
14. Mike Knight
15. Gary Cook Jr.
16. Stormy Scott
17. Todd Sherman
18. Scott Green
19. Darrell Nelson
20. Grant Junghans
21. Kent Robinson
22. Rich Michael
23. Kenny Wallace
24. Tommy Seets Jr.
25. Steve Arpin
26. Dave Groves
27. Kenny Schrader
28. Randle Sweeney
For more on the 38th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH please visit: www.dirtcarnationals.com
Through the fifth night of competition at the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH, the Alltel All‐Star contenders and their text message Letter Codes include:
Sprint Cars — Donny Schatz (b); Stevie Smith (d); Joey Saldana (f)
UMP DIRTcar Late Models – Darren Miller (g)
UMP DIRTcar Modifieds — Jared Landers, Batesville, Ark. (a). Austin Dillon Lewisville, NC (c), Randy Hall Olean, NY (e)
Fans can vote by visiting www.AlltelAllStar.com or texting their drivers code to 247253
