{"id":34456,"date":"2021-02-08T04:06:45","date_gmt":"2021-02-08T09:06:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dirtcar.com\/?p=34456"},"modified":"2023-08-08T16:51:07","modified_gmt":"2023-08-08T20:51:07","slug":"gator-duels-hoffman-gets-dirtcar-nationals-win-no-20-arpin-bags-first-win-at-volusia-since-07","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dirtcar.com\/dirtcar-ump\/ump-modifieds\/gator-duels-hoffman-gets-dirtcar-nationals-win-no-20-arpin-bags-first-win-at-volusia-since-07\/","title":{"rendered":"GATOR DUELS: Hoffman Gets DIRTcar Nationals Win No. 20, Arpin Bags First Win at Volusia Since \u201907"},"content":{"rendered":"

Both winners now with a chance to start on the pole of Monday\u2019s Gator Championship<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Two of the biggest names in DIRTcar UMP Modified chassis building were shining bright on Gator Qualifier night.<\/p>\n

Nick Hoffman, representing his own Elite Chassis, stood tall in Volusia Speedway Park Victory Lane with his 20th career DIRTcar Nationals Feature win Sunday night in Gator Qualifier #2.<\/p>\n

The first Gator Qualifier from the rained-out portion of Saturday night was contested immediately following the Sunday Qualifier and saw the return of a former DIRTcar Nationals champion to Victory Lane for the first time in 14 years. Steve Arpin, representing Longhorn Modifieds by Loenbro Motorsports, was presented with his first Gator trophy as a DIRTcar Nationals Feature winner after leading flag-to-flag in Gator Qualifier #2.<\/p>\n

The top-10 finishers from each of the Qualifiers have now been locked into Monday\u2019s $5,000-to-win Gator Championship Feature; the top-five will redraw for their starting spots before the Feature Monday. Everyone else will be placed into a Last Chance Showdown event to try and get one of eight remaining spots on the grid of the big show.<\/p>\n

Gator Qualifier #2 (Sunday\u2019s program) \u2013 Nick Hoffman<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Nearly nine years ago, Nick Hoffman captured his first Gator trophy at Volusia with a Feature win, then an up-and-coming UMP Modified driver with no national championships, Summit Modified titles or Big Gators. Sunday afternoon, he stood in Volusia Victory Lane after his third victory of the week in the 50th DIRTcar Nationals, now a favorite to win the Big Gator a sixth time.<\/p>\n