The Dirt Track at Charlotte is next on the docket, and it arrives right as the 358 Mod National Tour’s storylines tighten. Charlotte’s slick straights and momentum-corner entries demand patience on throttle and precision over the cushion—traits that tend to reward disciplined race craft more than raw aggression. It’s also a venue with a diverse winner’s list in ICL history, so the door is open for both established names and first-timers to make a statement.
Looking back helps frame what matters. In Season 1, Dalton DeWert started on pole and converted, clocking the best average pace and never relinquishing command across 15 green laps. Season 2 brought a different flavor: Logan Rumsey out-dueled JE Tyler Cox in an 18-lap chess match, with a late push proving decisive as lap times tightened around the 16-second bracket. Those two editions underline Charlotte’s dual character—if you qualify up front and nail launches, you can control clean air; but if parity sets in over a long green stretch, racecraft and tire discipline become the trump cards.
Plenty of familiar faces from those past Charlotte sheets are part of this Season 3 story. Aidan Strawberry, third at Charlotte in Season 2, enters with the points lead and a season profile built on consistency and closing speed. Gary Edwards III, seventh here in Season 2, is now entrenched inside the current top ten and trending upward on recent form. Colton Zimmer (P6 at Charlotte last year) is another driver with relevant Charlotte touches—even if results this season have been part-time, his record here suggests he’s a factor when balance and grip matters most. Dean Reynolds also logged Charlotte laps last season, experience that can pay off if he appears on the roster.
Momentum matters—and Knoxville gave us plenty to parse. Jake Jackson delivered a debut win against a 47-car entry list, while Will Hanger was the outright pace-setter on the watch and Ben Joly banked yet another podium to strengthen his climb toward P2–P3 in points. Strawberry salvaged a tenth with damage after mid-race contact but still extended his season lead to a healthy margin. That gap forces everyone behind to think in two columns at Charlotte: maximize finishing points (12 to win, scaling down by one per spot) and hunt the single qualifying bonus. If a pursuer pairs fast-time with a podium while the leader has an average night, you can swing 3–5 points in a single stop—the kind of delta that keeps the mathematics alive deep into the run-in.
Strategically, Charlotte typically rewards two approaches. From the front, it’s tempo management: keep corner exits straight and protect drive down the straights to prevent sliders from sticking. From mid-pack, it’s more about timing passes off Turn 2 when the groove widens and staying patient through traffic to avoid pinching entry speed. With a recent pattern of clean, uninterrupted runs at this venue, qualifying could loom as large as race trim; a well-timed lap for the bonus may be just as meaningful as track position at the green.
Plain Text — Previous Results: The Dirt Track at Charlotte (Season 1)
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Dalton DeWert, 2) Mitchell Huddleston, 3) Michael D Carter, 4) James Richard2, 5) Cale Smith, 6) Elliot Gamache, 7) Brennan Weeks2, 8) Jordan Lafon, 9) James M Donaldson, 10) Barrett Hummelmeier, 11) Matt S Sanders, 12) Hunter Suggs3
Plain Text — Previous Results: The Dirt Track at Charlotte (Season 2)
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Logan Rumsey, 2) JE Tyler Cox, 3) Michael Hackett3, 4) Tyler J Reed, 5) Drew Alton, 6) Colton Zimmer, 7) Blake Parsons, 8) Kason Capps, 9) Matthew Massey2, 10) Doug Gavette, 11) Mike W Brewer, 12) Logan Hickerson
Plain Text — Current Top 10 in Points (Season 3)
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Aidan Strawberry — 150 pts, 2) JT Ferry — 86 pts, 3) Ben Joly — 60 pts, 4) Seth Gregory — 56 pts, 5) Brayden E Carter — 53 pts, 6) Kinser Lightner — 38 pts, 7) Tyler Ducharme — 32 pts, 8) Mario Dinatale — 22 pts, 9) Gary Edwards III — 22 pts, 10) Justin Veal — 20 pts
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