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Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals
Volusia Speedway Park | Barberville, FL
Thursday, February 06, 2025
Race Recap  

CBELL’S BACK: Christopher Bell Fends Off Larson for First World of Outlaws Win in Six Years

The two stars rekindle their rivalry with a Volusia thriller on night two of Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals

It’s the rivalry Sprint Car fans have missed for a long few years. Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson. But it came roaring back in a big way on Thursday night at Volusia Speedway Park.

A heartbreaking spin for Emerson Axsom set up a three-lap duel to the finish for the dirt racers at heart that’ve become stars of the NASCAR Cup Series. And the two titans delivered.

Bell led the way, and Larson threw everything at him. Bell kept the Kreitz Racing No. 69K glued to the bottom in Turns 1 and 2 while Larson ripped the Silva Motorsports No. 57 around the top. Bell slid himself in Turns 3 and 4 leaving Larson to try crossovers. It came down to the final corner of the last lap as Bell again drifted up in front of Larson. The Elk Grove, CA native ducked under Bell as they exited Turn 4. The two drag raced to the checkered flag, and it was Bell holding off Larson by .05 seconds for his first gator.

The finish brought the entire crowd to their feet. Fans got a taste of the two battling on dirt last month when Bell held off Larson in similar fashion at the Tulsa Shootout. And the rivalry was rekindled even more as Bell bested him again for a Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals gator and $12,000.

“It’s just absolutely incredible,” Bell said. “I’m just so thankful that my boss Joe Gibbs and everybody at Joe Gibbs Racing has allowed me to come out here and do this. It’s so much fun. Winning Outlaw races is my pride and joy. I don’t have many of them to my name, and I’m just so thankful to be in the 69K and get to add another one. It truly is a dream come true to be racing out here.”

It was Bell’s first Sprint Car win in only his second race back since taking a hiatus from dirt in 2022. The victory was also his first with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars since October 13, 2019 at Haubstadt, IN’s Tri-State Speedway. The Norman, OK native is up to six wins with The Greatest Show on Dirt for five different teams – Fox Racing, Keith Kunz Motorsports, Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing, CB Industries, and Kreitz Racing.

For team owner Don Kreitz Jr., it was the iconic No. 69K’s first Series triumph in the state of Florida, and Bell is the third different driver to win a World of Outlaws race in the car, joining Kreitz himself and Lance Dewease.

“It’s a pleasure to drive, for sure,” Bell said. “He’s (Kreitz Jr.) a magician whenever it comes to working on this thing. It just rolls around the corner really, really good. I feel like the slicker it gets the better off this car is going to be. The cushion is a little bit tricky. I’ve got to figure out how to drive a little bit better when it starts to get thicker.”

Christopher Bell celebrates with a wing dance
Christopher Bell grabbed his sixth career World of Outlaws win and first at Volusia on Thursday (Trent Gower Photo)

It was back-to-back podiums for Larson in the Silva Motorsports No. 57. He backed up Wednesday’s third with Thursday’s runner-up. The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion continues to bang on the door on his first Volusia win. He did everything he could to make it happen, but he couldn’t quite sneak by.

“I thought I did a pretty good job on that last restart of staying with him on the frontstretch and thought I was going to be able to build enough of a run,” Larson said. “But this place is so wide. To run the top is a long ways around. It was difficult, but I thought I could get enough grip and speed to the center of (Turns) 3 and 4 that maybe I could get lucky enough to catch some traction as I diamonded and get a little bit of a run to get by him into (Turn) 1. Just came up a little bit short.”

Rounding out the podium was Logan Schuchart in the Shark Racing No. 1S. It was an encouraging run for the Hanover, PA native who had to wait until late June for his first top three in 2024. It makes Schuchart the de facto point leader as the two ahead of him won’t be competing full-time.

“Tonight, I felt really good just moving around traffic at certain times,” Schuchart said. “Kyle is going to do a really good job and not make many mistakes. I just didn’t get around some lapped cars as quick as I needed to in (Turns) 3 and 4 and kind of lost a little bit of momentum. I went to get back to the top and try to diamond (Turns) 1 and 2, and by that time Kyle was on my left rear and got to the bottom before I did. That took me out of the fight there a little bit.”

It was a devastating night for Emerson Axsom. The 20-year-old native of Indiana looked to be on his way to his first World of Outlaws checkered flag, but a slight mistake while leading resulted in a spin in Turn 4 with a only a few laps remaining.

David Gravel and Brad Sweet completed the top five.

Ryan Timms drove from 21st to 10th to earn the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Kyle Larson claimed Simpson Quick Time honors.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Two, and Four went to Kyle Larson, Bill Balog, and Carson Macedo. WIX Filters Heat Three belonged to Christopher Bell.

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Christopher Bell.

Bell also topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Ryan Timms won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Emerson Axsom.

UP NEXT: The Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals roll on to night three on Friday, Feb. 7 at Volusia Speedway Park. It’s another $12,000 and a gator on the line for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap all season long on DIRTVision.

For the entire 2025 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 69K-Christopher Bell[1]; 2. 57-Kyle Larson[4]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart[2]; 4. 2-David Gravel[12]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet[9]; 6. 17B-Bill Balog[6]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz[13]; 8. 26-Justin Peck[11]; 9. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[10]; 10. 10-Ryan Timms[21]; 11. 83-Michael Kofoid[19]; 12. 41-Carson Macedo[7]; 13. 21-Brian Brown[5]; 14. 71-Parker Price Miller[22]; 15. 24D-Danny Sams III[8]; 16. 39M-Anthony Macri[15]; 17. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[17]; 18. 1A-Jacob Allen[23]; 19. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[25]; 20. 7S-Chris Windom[20]; 21. 27-Emerson Axsom[3]; 22. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[24]; 23. 2C-Cole Macedo[27]; 24. 23-Garet Williamson[16]; 25. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[14]; 26. 88-Austin McCarl[18]; 27. 6-Zach Hampton[26]; 28. 99-Skylar Gee[28]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

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DIRTVision Highlights  
Event Info  

Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals

Tuesday, February 4th to Saturday, February 15th

Volusia Speedway Park

1500 East State Road 40

Barberville, FL, 32130

Event Description

Kick off the racing season with three thrilling weeks of racing in Florida at the "World's Fastest Half-Mile," Volusia Speedway Park!

Week 1 (Jan. 30-Feb. 1): American Sprint Car Series National Tour and DIRTcar UMP Modifieds

Week 2: DIRTcar UMP Modifieds (Feb. 3-8), World of Outlaws Sprint Cars (Feb. 5-8)

Week 3: DIRTcar Late Models (Feb. 10-12), USAC Non-Wing Sprint Cars (Feb. 10-11), Super DIRTcar Series (Feb. 12-15), World of Outlaws Late Models (Feb. 13-15)

World of Outlaws Sprint Cars & Late Models: $12K, $12K, $20K to win!

Series Racing
DIRTcar UMP Modifieds

Event Schedule

See Full Schedule

*All times Eastern

Ticket Options  

In order to receive the FREE FAN PIT PASS you must buy a multi-day ticket package by November 30th, 2024

Grandstand Type
Bleachers, Chairbacks
Reserved Seating
Sections 205-207 - All Seats Sections 5-10 - Row 14 & Above Sections 12-15 - Row 6 & Above
Handicapped Seating Location
All Handicap seating is the first rows of each section
Pit Age Requirement
There is no age restriction in the pits. Anyone 17 years of age or younger will need to fill out a minor waiver form and be accompanied by an adult.
Pit Gate Location
East or West side of the Track.
Parking Cost
General Parking Free
Handicapped Parking Location
Handicap parking spots available. All spots are first come first serve.
Camping Availability
Electric Hookup, Non-Electric, Onsite, Sanitary Facility, Showers
Camping Cost

Single Day Dry Camp $30
Single Day Water/Electric $75 (Special Event $80)
Single Day Full Hook Up $100
Weekend Dry Camp $90
Weekend Electric/Water $150
Weekend Full Hook Up $200

Frequently Asked Questions  
Reserved Seating
Sections 205-207 - All Seats Sections 5-10 - Row 14 & Above Sections 12-15 - Row 6 & Above
Type of Grandstand
Bleachers, Chairbacks
Stadium Seating
Stadium seats are allowed as long as they don't conflict with the aisle behind you.
Handicapped Seating
All Handicap seating is the first rows of each section
Handicapped Parking
Handicap parking spots available. All spots are first come first serve.
Pit Age Limit
There is no age restriction in the pits. Anyone 17 years of age or younger will need to fill out a minor waiver form and be accompanied by an adult.
Pit Gate Location
East or West side of the Track.
Personal Coolers
Six-pack maximum cooler size. No alcohol. No glass.
ATMs
1
Alcohol Sales
Beer is available for purchase at the track.
Smoking Policy
No smoking in the Grandstands.
Parking Cost
General Parking Free
Camping Availability
Electric Hookup, Non-Electric, Onsite, Sanitary Facility, Showers
Camping Cost

Single Day Dry Camp $30
Single Day Water/Electric $75 (Special Event $80)
Single Day Full Hook Up $100
Weekend Dry Camp $90
Weekend Electric/Water $150
Weekend Full Hook Up $200

Track Info  

Volusia Speedway Park

1500 East State Road 40

Barberville, FL, 32130

Track Phone
(386) 985-4402
Track Size
0.482
Track Type
D-shaped oval
Closest Airport
Daytona International Airport
Other Airport
Orlando Sanford
Pit Gate Location
East or West side of the Track.
Track Map
Competitor Info  
Tire Rules

Left Rear & Front Tire: Hoosier (90) NLMT2, (90) NLMT3
Right Rear Tire: Hoosier (92) NLMT2, (92) NLMT3
**Grooving and siping will be allowed**

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