They raced hard all year, and it’s time now to name the 2020 DIRTcar Racing award recipients and recognize each of the national and regional champions from this past season. Congratulations to each of the award winners!
Late Model Mechanic of the Year – Aaron Mitchell
Mitchell crewed the Bob Cullen Racing #3S, driven by Brian Shirley, to a third consecutive DIRTcar Summer Nationals Championship and second consecutive DIRTcar Late Model national points championship in 2020, collecting nine Feature wins for a total of 21 DIRTcar Victory Lane trips over the past two championship seasons.
UMP Modified Mechanic of the Year – Darrell Hoffman
Darrell helped turn the wrenches on son Nick Hoffman’s Elite Chassis cars in 2020; his efforts in the shop and at the track led to Nick’s third career DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals championship, as well as his second consecutive DIRTcar UMP Modified national points championship.
Late Model Chassis Champion & Builder of the Year – Rocket Chassis
Rocket Chassis were again the brand to beat in 2020, serving as the framework of choice for DIRTcar National champions Brian Shirley and Torin Mettile, as well as regional champions Rusty Griffaw, Devin Shiels and Chad Finley.
UMP Modified Chassis Champion & Builder of the Year – Elite Chassis
Elite Chassis had another stellar year in the UMP Modified ranks, occupying four of the top-10 spots in the final national points standings and four of the top-five in DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals final points standings.
Late Model Engine Builder of the Year – Durham Racing Engines
Andy Durham and his associates at the company’s shop in Trinity, NC, put together another winning package for customers in 2020, powering Brian Shirley’s championship run as well as several other Late Model teams around the nation.
UMP Modified Engine Builder of the Year – NASCAR Technical Institute
Nick Hoffman raced a NASCAR Technical Institute engine in 2020 to a grand total of 22 Feature wins in DIRTcar competition, highlighted by two $10,000-to-win victories on Labor Day weekend at Fairbury Speedway’s Super Nationals and Spoon River Speedway’s Plowboy Nationals.
DIRTcar Racing Rookie of the Year – Jeffrey Ledford
The 21-year-old former UMP Modified regular from Pontiac, IL, made the jump into a full-size DIRTcar Late Model for the 2020 season and made it count, finishing 27th overall in the national Late Model points standings. A standout performance was spawned right out of the gate, as he came from 14th to finish 7th in only his second time behind the wheel at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in June.
Late Model Sportsman of the Year – Daryn Klein
A native of Fairview Heights, IL, Klein receives the 2020 Late Model Sportsman award for his appearances at several DIRTcar-sanctioned tracks in addition to his always-fan-friendly demeanor.
UMP Modified Sportsman of the Year – Brad DeYoung
Wheatfield, IN’s Brad DeYoung is the recipient of the Modified Sportsman award for his commonly noted helpfulness to his fellow competitors and improvement behind the wheel in 2020.
2020 DIRTcar Racing Points Champions
LATE MODEL
• National – Brian Shirley
• South – Rusty Griffaw
• North – Devin Shiels
• East – Chad Finley
• West – Kevin Weaver
• South West – Jim Moon
UMP MODIFIED
• National – Nick Hoffman
• Michigan – Jeff Erickson Jr.
• Indiana – Tyler Loughmiller
• East – KC Burdette
• Missouri-Illinois – Rick Conoyer
• Northern Illinois – Mike McKinney
• South – Blaze Melton
• Deep South – Garrett Stewart
• Ohio – Kyle Moore
• Illinois – Tommy Sheppard Jr.
• Ohio-Indiana – Derek Losh
PRO LATE MODEL
• National – Torin Mettile
• West – Jake Little
• East – Torin Mettile
UMP SPORTSMAN
• National – Bryce Shidler
• West – Tommy Duncan
• East – Bryce Shidler
PRO MODIFIED
• National – Billy Knebel Jr.
STOCK CAR
• National – Lance Evans
• North – Megan Erwin
• South – Terry Reed Jr.
FACTORY STOCK
• National – Trevor Isaak
SPORT COMPACT
• National – Dallas Strauch
• East – Skylar Antonelli
• West – Eldon Hemken
• South – Brady Reed
• North – Dave Lauritson
KID MODZ
2020 Champion – Brenden Heizer
