Feb. 13

BARBERVILLE, Fla. — The last time Billy Pauch buckled behind the wheel of a DIRTcar big-block modified in Florida was in 1989. His last modified victory in the Sunshine State was registered one year before that.
Steering the No. 1w Will Brown Truck Repair-K&A Excavating/Bicknell machine on Feb. 13 at Volusia Speedway Park, it was just like old times as Pauch led all but the first circuit to open the 37th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals in victory lane for the first time in 20 years. 
“The car really carried me tonight, I was pushing as hard as I could at the end,” said two-time tour titlist Pauch, now 50, following his fifth career Florida Tour triumph. “I’ve been sick in bed with a 103-degree temperature so I went to the hospital to get a shot. Took some pills and slept for two days. I was falling out of the seat at the end, so I was glad (Brett Hearn) was no closer than he got.”

Billy Pauch (Dan Fennell)

All-time Alltel DIRtcar Nationals Big-Block race winner Brett Hearn charged from ninth to second. Pat Ward, Alan Johnson and Matt Sheppard rounded out the top five.
The finish:
Billy Pauch, Brett Hearn, Pat Ward, Alan Johnson, Matt Sheppard, Rick Laubach, Jimmy Phelps, Larry Wight, Mario Clair, Kevin Hirthler, Rich Scagliotta, Keith Flach, David VanHorn, Mark Forte, Jr., Steve Downs, Vince Vitale, Sean Beardsley, Jeff Isabell, Jeremy Markle, Danny Johnson, Dan Vauter, Jamie Mills, Dale Planck, Andy Bachetti, Rob Bellinger, Dave Rauscher.

Thursday

Brett Hearn (Dan Fennell Photo)

BARBERVILLE, Fla. — Brett Hearn loves the holiday, especially when he can out-duel his biggest intrastate rival in a bumper-to-bumper finish in front of a national crowd.
In a near caution-free feature event for the Advance Auto Parts big-block modifieds, Hearn scored his fourth victory on Valentine’s Day after a dramatic race-long battle with fellow New Jersey wheelman Billy Pauch in round two of the 37th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park.
His thrilling Thursday night triumph rewarded the six-time Florida tour points champion with an all-time high 18th checkered flag and the $2,000 first-place prize.
“When people come to Florida they want to see the best of the best,” said Hearn following his 15th career win at Volusia. “And the fans got to see a couple of guys that have done pretty well in their careers go head-to-head tonight. Just like we did last night…(Pauch) had us covered and we came back and got even tonight.”
Following Hearn and Pauch across the stripe were Dale Planck, Jimmy Horton and Alan Johnson.
The finish:
Brett Hearn, Billy Pauch, Dale Planck, Jimmy Horton, Alan Johnson, Matt Sheppard, Pat Ward, Mario Clair, Rick Laubach, Jamie Mills, David VanHorn, Jimmy Phelps, Dan Vauter, Sean Beardsley, Steve Downs, Jeff Isabell, Rich Scagliotta, Kevin Hirthler, Larry Wight, Vince Vitale, Jim Rasey, Jeremy Markle, Mark Forte, Jr., Keith Flach, Mark Forte, Sr., Andy Bachetti.

Friday

BARBERVILLE, Fla. — Dale Planck has been taking the trek down I-95 since the new millennium arrived. It took the New York driver 15 tries and on Friday he finally made his way into the winner’s circle at Volusia Speedway Park, scoring a decisive victory in round three of the 37th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals.
“It seems like I’ve been coming here for years and come so close, so often…now finally,” beamed Planck. “We’ve been the fastest car here for years so I’m really happy to finally get one, it makes it all worth while.”
Salvaging his third straight front-five finish was runner-up Alan Johnson, followed by fellow Central New York veteran Pat Ward and opening two nights winners Billy Pauch and Brett Hearn.
The finish:
Dale Planck, Alan Johnson, Pat Ward, Billy Pauch, Brett Hearn, Mario Clair, Matt Sheppard, Jimmy Phelps, Jeff Isabell, Vince Vitale, Keith Flach, Larry Wight, Andy Bachetti, Mark Forte, Jr., Rich Scagliotta, Rob Bellinger, Kevin Hirthler, Jim Rasey, Steve Downs, Wallace Stacey, Jordan Watson, Mike Perrotte, David VanHorn, Mark Forte, Sr., Jamie Mills, Jimmy Horton.

Saturday

BARBERVILLE, Fla. — Jimmy Horton almost wasn’t able to save his best for last, yet having one of the fastest cars for the second-straight night helped him score a dramatic victory Saturday night in the Advance Auto Parts Alltel 50 finale at Volusia Speedway Park.
New Jersey state rivals Brett Hearn and Billy Pauch finished together for the fourth- straight night, producing the fourth tie in history for the coveted Alltel DIRTcar Nationals big-block modified points title.
“Motors have been keeping me entertained here the whole week,” said Horton, 51. “We broke a motor in warm-ups the first night, don’t really know why, then ran decent the next night. Last night, we were real good and I was having a lot of fun until getting into that jingle.
“Tonight, everything was pretty good then all of a sudden it jumped out of gear. I thought the motor broke so I said I’ll give it one more try and put it back in gear and she took off again. I think when it jumped out of gear it might have over-revved the motor and broke a rocker arm because with about seven laps to go it started skipping. I said, ‘Sorry Dieter (Schmidt, owner), its going to the end,’” Horton added.
Jimmy Phelps finished second, with previous night winners Dale Planck, Hearn and Pauch rounding out the top five.
The finish:
Jimmy Horton, Jimmy Phelps, Dale Planck, Brett Hearn, Billy Pauch, Pat Ward, Alan Johnson, Andy Bachetti, Rick Laubach, Matt Sheppard, Joe Isabell, Mario Clair, Larry Wight, Jim Rasey, Rich Scagliotta, Vince Vitale, Sean Beardsley, Rob Bellinger, Keith Flach, Jeremy Markle, Dave Rauscher, Jamie Mills, Jordan Watson, Mark Forte, Jr., Danny Johnson, David VanHorn, Mark Forte, Sr., Steve Downs.