For the 15th straight year, drivers from across the country will venture to Volusia Speedway Park with the goal of taking home the most famous gator in Florida – the Big Gator.
Six Big Gator Championship trophies will be on the line during the 55th Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, one for each division – the American Sprint Car Series, DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, USAC Non-Wing Sprint Cars, Late Models (DIRTcar Late Models and World of Outlaws Late Models), and Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds.
Points toward the Big Gator Championship will be tallied every night of competition during DIRTcar Nationals for each division. The highest points earner at the end of the division’s run will be crowned the Big Gator champion and receive the iconic three-foot-long gator trophy, which was first introduced in 2012.
The Big Gator trophy, like the little golden gator trophies handed out to each DIRTcar Nationals Feature winner, represents Volusia’s most unique characteristic of being the only dirt track in the world with a live gator pond in the middle of the pit area.
First-time champions were crowned across all six divisions in 2025. With four straight podium finishes, including his first two wins at DIRTcar Nationals, Kyle Larson added another championship trophy to his collection. Big Block champion Alex Yankowski, Non-Wing champion Kyle Cummins, and 360 Sprint Car champion Justin Peck joined Larson as first-time DIRTcar Nationals Feature winners.
While Late Model champion Ricky Thornton Jr. and DIRTcar UMP Modified champion Curt Spalding had been previously victorious at DIRTcar Nationals, 2025 saw Thornton win during the event for the first time since 2022 and Spalding win there for the first time since 2020.
410 Sprint Car Big Gator Champions
2025-Kyle Larson
2024-David Gravel
2023-Logan Schuchart
2022-David Gravel
2021-Logan Schuchart
2020-Brad Sweet
2019-Daryn Pittman
2018-Donny Schatz
2017-David Gravel
2016-Brad Sweet
2015-Daryn Pittman
2014-Paul McMahan
2013-Daryn Pittman
2012-Sammy Swindell
Late Model Big Gator Champions
2025-Ricky Thornton Jr.
2024-Brandon Sheppard
2023-Tim McCreadie
2022-Devin Moran
2021-Devin Moran
2020-Brandon Sheppard
2019-Brandon Sheppard
2018-Chris Madden
2017-Shane Clanton
2016-Josh Richards
2015-Shane Clanton
2014-Scott Bloomquist
2013-Josh Richards
2012-Dennis Erb Jr.
Big Block Big Gator Champions
2025 – Alex Yankowski
2024 – Mat Williamson
2023 – Mat Williamson
2022 – Jimmy Phelps
2021 – Max McLaughlin
2020 – Larry Wight
2019 – Larry Wight
2018 – Tim McCreadie
2017 – Brett Hearn
2016 – Matt Sheppard
2015 – Larry Wight
2014 – Stewart Friesen
2013 – Danny Johnson
2012 – Matt Sheppard
DIRTcar UMP Modified Big Gator Champions
2025 – Curt Spalding
2024 – Tyler Nicely
2023 – Kyle Strickler
2022 – Nick Hoffman
2021 — Nick Hoffman
2020 — Nick Hoffman
2019 — Nick Hoffman
2018 — Nick Hoffman
2017 — Nick Hoffman
2016 — Nick Hoffman
2015 — Austin Dillon
2014 — Ty Dillon
2013 — Ken Schrader
2012 — Ty Dillon
Non-Wing Sprint Car Big Gator Champions
2025 – Kyle Cummins
2024 – Logan Seavey
2023 – Jake Swanson
2022 – CJ Leary
360 Sprint Car Big Gator Champion
2025 – Justin Peck