Ripped from the pages of the greatest fiction stories, like those featuring epic duels between Mr. Freeze and Batman, Stewart Friesen and Peter Britten created a live-action duel of epic proportions at Volusia Speedway Park.<\/p>\n
However, there were no fancy gadgets or corny catchphrases, just two hellacious 800hp Big Block Modifieds wheeled by men throwing every ounce of talent they brought with them at each other.<\/p>\n
In the final pages, Friesen is the victor after taking advantage of a jaw-dropping wheelie Britten pulled in Turn 1 after hitting a rut with two laps to go.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was awesome,\u201d said a winded Friesen about his battle with Britten. \u201cWhat a race. What a racetrack. It was great. I love this place. You can race anywhere\u2026 Great race. It was awesome racing with Peter.\u201d<\/p>\n
The setting was the first of five straight nights of racing for the Super DIRTcar Series during the 51st DIRTcar Nationals. Britten emerged as the early hero, claiming the Billy Whittaker Cars Fast Time Award and then winning the first Heat Race. That path led to the pole for the 30-lap Feature \u2013\u00a0originally scheduled for Tuesday night, but due to evening rain shows got pushed to running early Wednesday morning. Friesen also won his Heat, which put him on the outside of Britten for the main event.<\/p>\n
They made for an international front row with Britten hailing from Brisbane, QLD, Australia and Friesen from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. The diversity extended into their DIRTcar Nationals experience, too. Friesen is a two-time Big Gator champion and had nine DIRTcar Nationals wins. Britten was looking for his first.<\/p>\n
When the green flag flew, the Aussie launched ahead of the SRI Performance\/Halmar International #44 to claim the early lead, but Friesen kept a tight grip on him. Working the top of the half-mile track, Friesen powered by Britten to steal the lead on Lap 2.<\/p>\n
The NASCAR Truck Series star then held command out front for the next 13 laps. Not comfortably, though. Britten stayed in Friesen\u2019s tire tracks and got close enough to show him a nose about 10 laps in. And while, they toyed with the idea of a battle, Max McLaughlin \u2013\u00a0in his first appearance behind the wheel of the #8H for Heinke-Baldwin Racing \u2013 lurked in third, waiting for a chance to attack.<\/p>\n
\nGive these guys another round of applause\u2026 What a helluva show they gave us ? pic.twitter.com\/CriWMXUjYc<\/a><\/p>\n
— Super DIRTcar Series (@SuperDIRTcar) February 16, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n