2025 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series at Ocala Speedway

Top 10 Short Track Drivers During Florida Speedweeks

Top 10 Short Track Drivers During Florida Speedweeks

A look at the top short track racing performers on both dirt and pavement during 2025 Florida Speedweeks.

Feb 17, 2025 by Brandon Paul
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Serving as the traditional kickoff to the racing season, Florida Speedweeks provided fans with two action-packed weeks of racing in the Sunshine State. Throughout the first two weeks of February, we witnessed impressive performances from drivers throughout the state on both dirt and pavement ovals. 

With Speedweeks now in the books, we take a look at the 10 drivers who impressed us the most over the last two weeks. Drivers are listed below in alphabetical order. 

Devin Moran

Moran got off to one of his best starts to a season in recent memory with three Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series wins during Florida Speedweeks. The Ohio native kicked off the month with a win at All-Tech Raceway before picking up two victories, including the $25,000-to-win finale at Ocala Speedway. Moran sits just five points behind Jonathan Davenport in the Lucas Oil standings at the conclusion of Florida Speedweeks. 

Gavan Boschele

Throughout the history of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, we have witnessed many breakthrough performances from future stars of our sport. In 2025, there was no bigger breakthrough performer than Boschele. The young gun who cut his teeth racing Micro Sprints on dirt scored the biggest victory of his pavement career against a stout field in the ASA STARS National Tour Clyde Hart Memorial. He followed that up by winning the Orange Blossom 100 finale to secure the overall Super Late Model title at New Smyrna Speedway. 

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VIDEO: Drive around New Smyrna Speedway through Gavan Boschele's eyes. 

Hunter Wright

For the first time in the history of the Pro Late Model division at the New Smyrna World Series, we witnessed a repeat champion in 2025. Wright backed up his championship from one year ago by winning three races, including the Hart to Heart 100 on his way to securing the title. 

Jonathan Davenport

"Superman" may not have kicked off Florida Speedweeks the way he had hoped, but he quickly turned things around to make it a successful trip to the Sunshine State. Davenport scored his first win of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series season on February 5 at Ocala Speedway and wasted no time getting back to victory lane the following night. From there, he made the trip to Volusia Speedway Park where he picked up a DIRTcar Late Model win and his first career World of Outlaws Late Model victory at Volusia in the DIRTcar Nationals finale.

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VIDEO: Jonathan Davenport reacts after scoring his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the season at Ocala Speedway.

Justin Peck

Peck kicked off the new season with Rudeen Racing in style by sweeping all three ASCS National Tour races during the DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park. The newly former driver-team combo dominated the first two races, leading every lap of both races, before Peck charged from eighth to first to win the finale and secure the "Big Gator" trophy. Peck and Rudeen followed up their ASCS sweep by securing three top 10 finishes in four races with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series. 

Kyle Cummins

There's no better way to start the season than parking it in victory lane. That's exactly what Cummins did during the USAC National Sprint Car season opener at Volusia Speedway Park. The driver of car No. 3P didn't stop there. Cummins took advantage of a late-race restart to win the third night (Friday) of Winter Dirt Games action at Ocala Speedway. Cummins leaves Florida tied for the USAC National Sprint Car championship lead with Daison Pursley. 

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VIDEO: Watch highlights from Friday's USAC Sprint Car race at Ocala. 

Kyle Larson

For the first time in his career, Larson visited victory lane at Volusia Speedway Park during the DIRTcar Nationals on February 7. One night later, he did it again with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series to secure the "Big Gator" trophy. 

Patrick Emerling

Emerling turned in a dominating performance over the course of six nights of Modified racing at New Smyrna Speedway. He kicked things off by winning the biggest race of the event, the season opener for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour on February 8, before following it up with three Tour-type Modified wins in five nights. A second-place finish to Matt Hirschman in the Richie Evans Memorial 100 was more than enough for Emerling to clinch his first career World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing championship. 

Ricky Thornton Jr. 

RTJ kicked off his Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series title defense in style by winning a pair of races at All-Tech Raceway and one race at Ocala Speedway. He followed that up with a pair of DIRTcar Late Model wins during the DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park, which helped propel him to the "Big Gator" Championship. 

Stewart Friesen 

Following a strong finish to the 2024 Big-Block Modified season, Friesen wasted no time getting back to victory lane during the Short Track Super Series Sunshine Swing. Friesen secured three wins in four races, including the $7,500-to-win finale, en route to winning the overall Sunshine Swing championship. 

Honorable Mentions

Brenden Queen: The 2024 CARS Tour champion kicked off his rookie season in the ARCA Menards Series by winning at Daytona. 

Carson Brown: Two Super Late Model wins during the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway. 

Christopher Bell: World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series win and runner-up finish at Volusia Speedway Park.

Daison Pursley: USAC National Sprint Car winner at Ocala Speedway and six podium finishes in six races. 

Garrett Alberson: World of Outlaws Late Model winner at Volusia Speedway Park.