9/5/2024
Volusia Speedway Park
Labor Day Classic Race Recap
Volusia Speedway Park welcomed 100 cars across five series at the Labor Day Classic. With the end of the season nearing and points battles tightening, drivers left nothing on the table in each race.
Racing under the lights were the 604 Late Models, 602 Late Models, DIRTcar UMP Modifies, 3/4 Modifieds, and Thunder Stocks.
604 Late Models
Mark Whitener fired on all cylinders all night, landing him in Victory Lane for the second time this year.
Whitener started fourth in the 20-lap Feature after winning his Heat Race.
Luck was on his side at the start of the race as he was able to avoid being involved in a wreck that brought out a red flag.
On the restart, Whitener drifted high in Turn 2, giving a free pass to Mikey Kopka on the inside. However, it didn’t take long for Whitener to correct his mistake as he drove low, along the inside wall in Turn 3 to take his spot back.
Continuing his march forward, Whitener used the inside line to his advantage again to get by Garret Stewart for third on Lap 3.
Leaders, Jason Garner and Trent Lloyd, had started to pull away from the group on Lap 5 with a 1.2 second lead but Whitener was on a mission. He cut that gap in half before the caution flew again on Lap 6.
When the green flag flew once more with 14 laps to go, Garner, the leader, had car trouble blocking the inside lane and Lloyd, giving Whitener everything he needed and more to take the lead.
Whitener led the remaining 12 laps all the way to the checkered flag.
“I was lucky tonight for sure,” Whitener said. “I didn’t know what to expect. I hadn’t raced in seven weeks. I do think I had a really really good car. We’ll take this one anyway we can get it. “
3/4 Modifieds
Jesse Powers left the Labor Day Classic with his second win of the season and a spot back into the top five in points.
Powers started seventh in the Feature after finishing fourth in Heat 1.
Once the race went green, it didn’t take long for Powers to start making moves. By Lap 4, he jumped ahead into fifth before Dalton Hopke spun, bringing out a yellow.
On the restart, Powers got the jump, slid into fourth and carried his momentum to pass Ethyn Hawn but Hawn held his line to keep Powers at bay.
With five laps to go, Hawn and Rusty Young were battling for first. Coming out of Turn 4 they both slid up the track, giving Powers unchallenged room on the inside affording him the ability to climb into second and box out Hawn.
Powers continued his push forward down the backstretch to pass Hawn and claim the lead with four laps to go.
The clean air out in-front was all Powers needed to pull ahead the last few laps and into Victory Lane.
“We all run about the same speed. I was waiting for someone to make a mistake, saw my opportunity a couple of times and finally got to the lead,” Jesse Powers explained in Victory Lane. “It’s been four months since I’ve been in the lead, so it felt pretty good.”
DIRTcar UMP Modifieds
For the fifth time this season, Seth Geary found himself raising the trophy in Victory Lane.
After an early yellow, Geary let the hammer drop on the restart. Geary held his outside position, glided around every turn and came out in front. Restarts have been one of Geary’s great strengths this season.
Following a couple of yellows, Geary found himself sailing around the track with clean air off the restarts.
With no close challenger, Geary was able to cruise to Victory Lane.
“Last year we struggled everywhere we went,” Geary shared. “It was all R&D, just trying different things and finally settled on something. It’s been great since opening night. It goes to show how much hard work can play into this.”
602 Late Models??
Bubba Roling has raced in the 602 Late Model class twice this season and has ended both nights in Victory Lane.
Roling’s No. 515 car was tuned up right. He won Heat 2, putting him in the fifth starting spot for the Feature.
At the start, Roling drove hard and low on the inside. Going into Turn 2, drivers ahead of him got locked up providing Roling with a perfect opportunity to climb a spot into fourth.
On Lap 4, Roling started to catch the leading group after easily moving around Jason Papp on the outside. A few laps later a yellow was brought out.
With 12 to go, Brandon Yates and Roling took off on the restart separating from the field down the back stretch. Roling had a great run on the outside and landed out in front. He carried the energy and started to run away with clean air out front.
Roling was unchallenged the rest of the evening and rolled his away into Victory Lane.
Thunder Stocks
For the first time this season, Justin Reynolds made his way to Victory Lane. He has been a force this season finishing in the top five, three other times, but was able to put all the pieces together during the Labor Day Classic.
Reynolds started the 20 lap Feature in the pole position, and on the start, it didn’t take long for Mikey Kopka to find a good grove in the track to take the lead.
On Lap 4, Reynolds tried to reclaim the number one spot driving on the inside, and it look like he had it coming out of Turn 4 but Kopka found another gear to keep his lead. Going into the next turn, Curt Spencer made an outside run and passed Reynold to take over the number two spot.
Five laps later, it seemed like Reynolds might be falling into the middle of the pack with Patrick Thomas and Blake Clouser on his tail. On Lap 10 Spencer got lose giving Reynolds and the pack near him a shot to take the second position.
The next lap, Reynolds, Thomas and Spencer were three wide going into Turn 3 all the way through Turn 4. Down the front stretch, Reynolds raced his way into second, crossed the line securing his spot before the race was slowed again by a caution.
With seven laps to go, Kopka seemed to be losing some steam. He did his best to defend his spot, but Reynolds finally had the edge and took the lead with six to go.
The taste of fresh air was all Reynolds needed to start pulling away from the pack all the way to the final checkered flag of the night.
UP NEXT: Racing at Volusia Speedway Park returns on Saturday, Sept. 14, for Volusia County Night. The weekend will feature 3/4 Modifieds, 602 Late Models, 604 Late Models and DIRTcar UMP Modifieds.
The pit gate and grandstand gate open at 4 p.m. (ET), with Hot Laps scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
Can’t make it? Watch all the action live on DIRTVision.
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Article Credit: Adam Zirkelbach
