Kyle Strickler sits on the Crystal Tractor trophy after winning his second Reutimann Memorial (Chris Anderson Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nOne change that helped him adapt to the track more was when a new load of clay was placed on the track in 2022. It turned the \u201cWorld\u2019s Fastest Half Mile\u201d from a flat-out track to a more technical one, according to Strickler.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cVolusia used to be a motor killer,\u201d Strickler said. \u201cIt would be a heavy, hammer down all the time track, and it would never really slick up. The last couple of years, it seems like it\u2019s a really fast East Bay and it\u2019s way more technical than it used to be. I feel like that makes it way different than anywhere else in the country. They don\u2019t have grip in the areas you know like the cushion, or sometimes it\u2019s a mud ringer on the bottom and it\u2019s such a huge difference. Between the track conditions making it so fast, it can be super slick and slow throughout the night.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThe track surface is completely opposite end of the spectrum at the same time, on the same racetrack. You don\u2019t usually see that, so it\u2019s really about adjusting the car to keep up with the track\u2019s changing conditions. It\u2019ll change lap to lap so that makes it extremely technical and even more challenging.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nStrickler, Nick Hoffman, Kyle Bronson, and Ryan Gustin are among four drivers who have won a <\/span>DIRTcar Nationals<\/span><\/i> Gator trophy in both a UMP Modified and Super Late Model.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nKnowing the challenge of switching from a Modified to a Late Model since 2020, the transition has become seamless for the \u201cHigh Side Tickler\u201d with the added perks of driving a Late Model compared to a UMP Modified.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cIt\u2019s easier for the Mod guys to get into the Late Model there because you have so much grip and good information with the manufacturers and shock companies,\u201d Strickler said. \u201cThe Modified is a lot more driver dependent, so it definitely helps to have laps all week leading up to the Late Model because once I\u2019m in it, you\u2019re going faster, and the Late Models drive like a Cadillac. You have better brakes, and way more grip, so everything gets multiplied.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cRacing Modifieds in the previous week to lead up to the Late Model helps switch the focus over and kind of get acquainted with where you need to be for the time spent there. I feel it’s harder going from the Late Model to the Modified because you\u2019re expecting things from a Modified that you get in a Late Model that aren\u2019t there. It\u2019s nicer to prepare with the Modified for Volusia than with a Late Model first.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nStrickler goes after his second <\/span>DIRTcar UMP Modified Florida Speedweeks<\/span><\/i> and Big Gator title at the <\/span>Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals<\/span><\/i>, Jan. 29-Feb. 8. Then he\u2019ll compete with the DIRTcar Late Models and World of Outlaws Late Models, Feb. 10-15.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nDIRTCAR NATIONALS TICKETS<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nIf you can\u2019t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on <\/span>DIRTVIsion \u2013 either online or by downloading the DIRTVision App<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Kyle Strickler has four titles he\u2019ll be chasing at Volusia Speedway Park in February and his chances for one of them recently got an unexpected boost.\u00a0 The Mooresville, NC driver didn\u2019t plan on running the opening portion of DIRTcar\u2019s UMP Modified Florida Speedweeks \u2013 a 15-race trek across the \u201cSunshine State\u201d \u2013 this month. But … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":6267,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[298,47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6264","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dirtcar-ump","category-modifieds"],"yoast_head":"\nKyle Strickler Motivated to Win UMP Modified Speedweeks, Big Gator Championships in 2025\u00a0 - DIRTcar Nationals<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n