Friday

BARBERVILLE, Fla. — Clint Smith picked a perfect time to hit his stride in the 37th annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals.
The veteran from Senoia, Ga., was the star of Friday night’s show, powering from 15th starting spot to win the week’s 50-lap UMP DIRTcar super-late-model finale at Volusia Speedway Park.
Smith, 42, drove around Jimmy Owens to assume command on lap 39 and never looked back. He pocketed $10,000 for what was not only his first career win at the half-mile oval, but also his initial triumph in the state of Florida.
“My dad (late Southeast star Roscoe Smith) won here and at Lake City (Fla.),” said Smith. “Back in 1977 he won the Florida State Championship — he won here on Friday night, and then he went up and won at Lake City on Saturday night.
“I’m glad to win down here where he’s won at. It means a lot.”
Billy Moyer, who started 14th, maintained his Alltel DIRTcar Nationals point lead with the runner-up placing. He secured second with a lap-42 pass of Owens, but never got close enough to challenge Smith.
Owens settled for third, with Steve Francis and Dennis Erb, Jr. rounding out the top five.
Sixty-seven cars entered the night’s action.
The finish:
Clint Smith, Billy Moyer, Jimmy Owens, Steve Francis, Dennis Erb, Jr., Tim Fuller, Darrell Lanigan, Josh Richards, Steve Shaver, Ricky Elliott, Shane Clanton, Earl Pearson, Jr., Dan Schlieper, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Jeep VanWormer, Ryan Newman, Terry Casey, Brady Smith, Tim McCreadie, Jason McBride, Jackie Boggs, Justin Rattliff, Michael England, Shannon Babb, Wayne Chinn, Brian Diveley, Chub Frank, Don O’Neal.

Feb. 13

BARBERVILLE, Fla. — And the beat goes on.
Billy Moyer continued to roll through the Sunshine State Feb. 13, capturing his second-straight 30-lap UMP DIRTcar super-late-model feature during the 37th annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park.
The $7,000 triumph made Moyer two-for-two in 2008 Alltel DIRTcar Nationals action at the half-mile oval, and it was his fourth-consecutive victory overall in Florida. He arrived at Volusia coming off three wins in four nights on the west side of the state at East Bay Raceway Park in Gibsonton, including the track’s final two Winternationals events.
“I just hope I don’t wake up from this dream,” said Moyer, who led from flag-to-flag after starting from the pole position. “Everything is just falling in line right now.”
Driving a three-week-old Victory Circle M1 chassis that he built in collaboration with the Bakersfield, Calif.-based Victory Circle shop, Moyer was never seriously challenged. He survived four caution flags between laps seven and 18 and a last-lap bout with heavy lapped traffic to cross the finish line 0.954 of a second ahead of Josh Richards.
“We’re tweaking on little things right now, just trying to watch the race track,” said Moyer, a 50-year-old dirt late model legend. “I guess we’re doing everything right.”
Clint Smith enjoyed a strong run in his J.P. Drilling GRT car, advancing from ninth to finish third. Steve Francis and Tim McCreadie rounded out the top five.
The finish:
Billy Moyer, Josh Richards, Clint Smith, Steve Francis, Tim McCreadie, Dennis Erb, Jr., Darren Miller, Rick Eckert, Donnie Moran, Brady Smith, Brandon Kinzer, Jason Fitzgerald, Billy Decker, John Blankenship, Vic Coffey, Jeep VanWormer, Justin Rattliff, Shane Clanton, Darrell Lanigan, Dan Schlieper, Jimmy Owens, Duke Whiseant, Patrick Sheltra, Dan Stone.

Feb. 11

BARBERVILLE, Fla. — Billy Moyer continued his hot streak Feb. 11 during the opening UMP DIRTcar super- late-model event of the 37th annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals.
The legendary 50-year-old driver earned $7,000 for his victory in the 30-lap A-Main, which gave him four wins in his last five starts in Florida.
Moyer entered the six-night meet at Volusia coming off three victories — including two in a row — at East Bay Raceway Park near Tampa, and he just got stronger. He won his heat race and dominated virtually the entire feature.
After swapping the lead once with Jimmy Owens, Moyer assumed command with an inside sweep on lap four and never looked back.
“I think one year we won five (races) in Florida (during Speedweeks), but that was way back in the late ’80s or early ’90s,” said Moyer, who started from the outside pole. “The races pay a lot more money now, so we’re enjoying this.”
Moyer’s triumph came behind the wheel of a Victory Circle chassis, a car he built in collaboration with the Bakersfield, Calif.-based Victory Circle shop.
“These guys (at Victory Circle) are just great people to work with,” said Moyer. “They’re the ones who build these cars. I just talk with them and give them some of the ideas I’ve wanted to try.
“I guess 30 years of doing this is paying off.”
Earl Pearson, Jr. finished second, while Steve Francis romped from 19th to finish third.
Owens and Eddie Carrier, Jr. rounded out the top five.
The finish:
Billy Moyer, Earl Pearson, Jr., Steve Francis, Jimmy Owens, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Steve Shaver, Scott James, Brady Smith, Clint Smith, Darren Miller, Billy Decker, Don O’Neal, Ivedent Lloyd, Shannon Babb, Dennis Erb, Jr., Josh Richards, Brandon Kinzer, Vic Coffey, Tim McCreadie, Justin Rattliff, Darrell Lanigan, Terry Casey, Tim Fuller, Wendell Wallace.