The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series today suspended driver Cade Dillard of Robeline, La., for six months in connection to Friday’s collision with Garrett Alberson at Batesville Motor Speedway in Locust Grove, Ark.

LOCUST GROVE, Ark. (Aug. 15) — Garrett Alberson never doubted his slide job for the lead in Friday’s second semifeature at Batesville Motor Speedway’s 33rd annual Nutrien Ag Solutions Topless 100 presented by Big River Steel. Cade Dillard, though, didn’t cut Alberson any slack.

There's a strong contingent of Dirt Late Model drivers among the 130-plus competitors vying for this weekend's $100,025-to-win Modified World Championship at Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Fountain City, Wis., headlined by reigning Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series champion Ricky Thornton Jr.

Now that Georgia-Florida Speedweeks have come and gone, I've decided to evaluate 15 top Dirt Late Model drivers — specifically the top six in points on last year’s national tours and three wild cards picks — from the popular wintertime series.

The 2025 Dirt Late Model season begins with this weekend's Rio Grande Waste Services Wild West Shootout presented by O'Reilly Auto Parts at FK Rod Ends Vado (N.M.) Speedway Park, where more than 50 Dirt Late Model drivers are expected to compete in the six-race miniseries bookended by $25,000-to-win programs.

Cade Dillard’s season couldn’t have ended more bittersweet last November at the Dirt Track at Charlotte.

The 18th running of the Rio Grande Waste Systems Wild West Shootout presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts at New Mexico's Vado Speedway Park kicked off with opening night of the six-race miniseries on Saturday.