By Nick Graziano
BARBERVILLE, FL — Dec. 15, 2020 — While Sprint Cars didn’t grace Volusia Speedway Park until 1981, they had a key role in the growth of the Florida track and a strong presence during the 50 years of the DIRTcar Nationals.
The speedway started life as a sandy quarter-mile track in Barberville, FL, before Benny Corbin, a Sprint Car driver with a love for dirt racing, saw the potential for something greater.
Corbin, a Korean War veteran who became known as “the father of short-track racing in Volusia County,” purchased the property in 1968 and birthed Barberville Speedway. The track went through multiple transformations under his ownership from 1968 to 1982, including the track’s expansion to its current half-mile configuration. And over time its name went from Barberville Speedway to Volusia County Speedway and then to its current title Volusia Speedway Park.
His passion for the sport led to the creation of big events like the DIRTcar Nationals and his love for Sprint Cars made it inevitable the open-wheel machines would eventually turn laps around his track.
That became a reality for the first time on Feb. 9, 1981, when the World of Outlaws became the first series to bring Sprint Cars to Volusia. Doug Wolfgang conquered the event, holding off “The King” Steve Kinser for the win.
The Series didn’t return to Volusia until 2005 after that, but Sprint Car racing stayed vibrant with the All Star Circuit of Champions making its debut in 1983. The regional touring Series ran at the speedway from 1983 to 1991 before taking a three-year break.
In the All Star’s first decade, Kenny Jacobs won the first event at the track on Feb. 15, 1983, and claimed another in 1989. Steve Kinser won his first race at the speedway in 1984 and Wolfgang became the first repeat winner at the track in 1987.
Jacobs, Bobby Davis, Jr. and 2001 World of Outlaws champion Danny Lasoski won twice at the track during that period – the start to Lasoski’s Florida dominance.
The All Stars returned to the track in 1995 and ran there until 2003 before taking another year off. Dave Blaney, who won the World of Outlaws championship in 1995, won the first race back. Lasoski continued his winning ways, claiming two victories there with the All Stars that year, as well.
In the All Star’s 37 events at Volusia between 1995 and 2003, Lasoski won 12 of them. That time period also saw drivers such as Jac Haudenschild, Joey Saldana, Craig Dollansky, Lance Dewease, Kasey Kahne and Jason Johnson pick up their first win at the track.
Sprint Car racing returned to the track in full force in 2005 with the World of Outlaws and All Stars competing at the Florida venue during the same week, as they’ll continue to do so in February. The All Stars were absent in 2013, but the World of Outlaws have competed at Volusia Speedway Park every year since their return in 2005.
Lasoski won five races at the track in that 16-year period and racked up 19 wins in total – between the All Stars and World of Outlaws. In 2000, while driving for Tony Stewart, Lasoski won all four events at Volusia in a unique chassis designed by Jerry Russell, from Eagle Chassis, and himself, which was outlawed after that week due to its radical design.
“That place just fit me for some reason,” Lasoski said about Volusia Speedway Park. “Even when it was locked down it was really good and when it slicked off you had to be really technical. It’s probably one of my favorite three tracks in America.
“Just racing there, in general, was fun. From the ’90s up until now, obviously, the track prep now is so superior than what it used to be because of the equipment, but even back in the day they would give us a top and a bottom and we’d put on a great show every year we went down there.”
The only driver to best Lasoski’s record is 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz, who currently has 22 victories in total at Volusia Speedway Park. His most recent victory at the track came during the World of Outlaws 2020 season-opener during the DIRTcar Nationals. A win during the DIRTcar Nationals in 2021 would mark Schatz’s 300th career World of Outlaws victory.
Drivers such as Dollansky, Saldana, 2013 World of Outlaws champion Daryn Pittman and two-time World of Outlaws champion Brad Sweet also emerged as continuous Volusia winners. All four have claimed DIRTcar Nationals championships, as well.
For many years, DIRTcar Nationals winners were awarded a golden eagle, but the Florida event took on a new life when the trophy switch to a golden gator in 2012, and the DIRTcar Nationals champion was award the “Big Gator” trophy. Since then, the Sprint Car Big Gator champions have included:
–Sammy Swindell (2012)
–Daryn Pittman (2013, 2015 & 2019)
–Paul McMahan (2014)
–Brad Sweet (2016 & 2020)
–David Gravel (2017)
–Donny Schatz (2018)
“For whatever reason, it’s definitely one of my best tracks,” said Sweet, who has seven wins in total at Volusia. “We’ve definitely struggled there in the past here and there. I think it says a lot about our guys and our race team that they bring a really fast car there every year. It’s the first week of the season and you can see the teams that haven’t meshed yet or aren’t as well prepared and the teams that have been together are going to come out of the box a little stronger. That’s going to give us an advantage. And for whatever reason, it’s been a good racetrack for me.”
For the 50th DIRTcar Nationals in 2021, the All Star Circuit of Champions will run on Feb. 3-4 and the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will run Feb. 5-7.
The half-mile track has produced thrilling races each year and set the stage for epic championship battles. Schatz, Sweet and Logan Schuchart won the three season-opening races for the World of Outlaws during the 2020 DIRTcar Nationals and ended the season as the top three drivers in points.
While the Sprint Cars didn’t grace Volusia Speedway Park until 1981, they’ve continued to be one of the most exciting parts of the DIRTcar Nationals every year since.
For tickets to the Feb. 2-13 50th DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park, click here.
If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVision.
PREVIOUS WORLD OF OUTLAWS VOLUSIA WINNERS
February 9th, 2020 — Logan Schuchart
February 8th, 2020 — Brad Sweet
February 7th, 2020 — Donny Schatz
February 9th, 2019 — Daryn Pittman
February 8th, 2019 — Daryn Pittman
February 11th, 2018 — Donny Schatz
February 10th, 2018 — Donny Schatz
February 9th, 2018 — Sheldon Haudenschild
February 19th, 2017 — Donny Schatz
February 19th, 2017 — Donny Schatz
February 17th, 2017 — Jason Johnson
February 14th, 2016 — Brad Sweet
February 13th, 2016 — Donny Schatz
February 12th, 2016 — Brad Sweet
February 15th, 2015 — Brad Sweet
February 14th, 2015 — Donny Schatz
February 13th, 2015 — Daryn Pittman
February 16th, 2014 — Steve Kinser
February 15th, 2014 — Donny Schatz
February 14th, 2014 — Brad Sweet
February 17th, 2013 — Danny Lasoski
February 16th, 2013 — Terry McCarl
February 15th, 2013 — Daryn Pittman
February 19th, 2012 — Donny Schatz
February 19th, 2012 — Craig Dollansky
February 18th, 2012 — Danny Lasoski
February 13th, 2011 — Jason Sides
February 12th, 2011 — Steve Kinser
February 11th, 2011 — Steve Kinser
February 7th, 2010 — Steve Kinser
February 6th, 2010 — Donny Schatz
February 8th, 2009 — Donny Schatz
February 7th, 2009 — Joey Saldana
February 6th, 2009 — Donny Schatz
February 10th, 2008 — Danny Lasoski
February 9th, 2008 — Jason Meyers
February 8th, 2008 — Craig Dollansky
February 11, 2007 — Daryn Pittman
February 10th, 2007 — Kerry Madsen
February 9th, 2007 — Donny Schatz
February 10th, 2006 — Joey Saldana
February 9th, 2006 — Chad Kemenah
February 13th, 2005 — Steve Kinser
February 11th, 2005 — Jeff Shepard
February 9th, 1981 — Doug Wolfgang
PREVIOUS ALL STAR VOLUSIA WINNERS
February 6th, 2020 — Aaron Reutzel
February 5th, 2020 — Brad Sweet
February 7th, 2019 — Brad Sweet
February 6th, 2019 — Shane Stewart
February 8th, 2018 — Donny Schatz
February 7th, 2018 — Donny Schatz
February 16th, 2017 — David Gravel
February 15th, 2017 — Donny Schatz
February 11th, 2016 — Donny Schatz
February 10th, 2016 — Dave Blaney
February 12th, 2015 — Daryn Pittman
February 11th, 2015 — Greg Hodnett
February 13th, 2014 — Joey Saldana
February 16th, 2012 — Craig Dollansky
February 15th, 2012 — Danny Lasoski
February 10th, 2011 — Sammy Swindell
February 9th, 2011 — Sammy Swindell
February 4th, 2010 — Joey Saldana
February 3rd, 2010 — Craig Dollansky
February 5th, 2009 — Stevie Smith
February 4th, 2009 — Donny Schatz
February 3rd, 2009 — Donny Schatz
February 7th, 2008 — Donny Schatz
February 6th, 2008 — Wayne Johnson
February 5th, 2008 — Donny Schatz
February 8th, 2007 — Tim Kaeding
February 7th, 2007 — Jason Solwold
February 6th, 2007 — Joey Saldana
February 8th, 2006 — Donny Schatz
February 7th, 2006 — Danny Lasoski
February 10th, 2005 — Kraig Kinser
February 9th, 2005 — Fred Rahmer
February 8th, 2005 — Terry McCarl
February 8th, 2003 — Lance Dewease
February 7th, 2003 — Jason Johnson
February 6th, 2003 — Joey Saldana
February 10th, 2002 — Kasey Kahne
February 9th, 2002 — Danny Lasoski
February 8th, 2002 — Lance Dewease
February 11th, 2001 — Danny Lasoski
February 10th, 2001 — Craig Dollansky
February 9th, 2001 — Joey Saldana
February 8th, 2001 — Dale Blaney
February 13th, 2000 — Danny Lasoski
February 12th, 2000 — Danny Lasoski
February 11th, 2000 — Danny Lasoski
February 10th, 2000 — Danny Lasoski
February 7th, 1999 — Frankie Kerr
February 6th, 1999 — Billy Pauch
February 5th, 1999 — Kevin Gobrecht
February 4th, 1999 — Greg Hodnett
February 8th, 1998 — Kenny Jacobs
February 7th, 1998 — Danny Lasoski
February 5th, 1998 — Danny Lasoski
February 4th, 1998 — Danny Lasoski
February 9th, 1997 — Dale Blaney
February 8th, 1997 — Gary Wright
February 7th, 1997 — Gary Wright
February 6th, 1997 — Gary Wright
February 5th, 1997 — Terry McCarl
February 11th, 1996 — Jeff Shepard
February 10th, 1996 — Danny Lasoski
February 9th, 1996 — Dale Blaney
February 8th, 1996 — Dale Blaney
February 7th, 1996 — Dave Blaney
February 12th, 1995 — Danny Lasoski
February 11th, 1995 — Danny Lasoski
February 10th, 1995 — Jac Haudenschild
February 9th, 1995 — Keith Kauffman
February 8th, 1995 — Dave Blaney
February 8th, 1991 — Robbie Stanley
February 6th, 1991 — Keith Kauffman
February 9th, 1990 — Robbie Stanley
February 9th, 1990 — Joey Allen
February 7th, 1990 — Rocky Hodges
February 12th, 1989 — Kenny Jacobs
February 11th, 1989 — Frankie Kerr
February 10th, 1989 — Keith Kauffman
February 9th, 1989 — Steve Stambaugh
February 8th, 1989 — Bobby Davis, Jr.
February 7th, 1988 — Danny Lasoski
February 6th, 1988 — Rocky Hodges
February 5th, 1988 — Jimmy Sills
February 4th, 1988 — Danny Lasoski
February 3rd, 1988 — Rocky Hodges
February 1st, 1987 — Doug Wolfgang
January 31st, 1987 — Bobby Davis, Jr.
February 15th, 1984 — Tim Green
February 14th, 1984 — Steve Kinser
February 15th, 1983 — Kenny Jacobs
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Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.