Round 3 of the ARCA Dirt USA International Championship stayed on the dirt at on Jan 28, and it brought a major points shake-up with the series now officially at the halfway mark. With 12 points awarded to the race winner, one point fewer for every position behind, and a 1-point bonus for the qualifying fast time, the math stays tight and every small edge matters. Three races are now complete in this six-race championship, leaving only three chances for drivers to swing the standings before a champion is crowned.

Brayden E Carter delivered one of the cleanest points nights you can have in this format: qualifying fast time (1 bonus point), a race win (12 points), and a full night at the front. Carter started on pole, led 25 laps, and stretched the margin as the run developed. The result was a perfect 13-point haul and his second win in as many starts, turning his part-time schedule into maximum impact at the top of the board.

Levi Fisher was the one driver who looked capable of making it interesting early, staying within striking distance before Carter steadily widened the gap. Fisher secured second place for 11 points and, in the process, tied his career-best finish in his 20th career start. It was also a crucial rebound in the championship picture, because a runner-up finish in this points system keeps you in direct range of the lead—especially with three races still remaining.

Aidan Strawberry continued to build the type of season that wins championships in short formats: consistent, mistake-minimizing finishes near the front. Strawberry brought it home third for 10 points, and that steady scoring is exactly why he remains right on top of the standings picture at halftime. Three races in, Strawberry has shown that even without a win yet, stacking strong finishes keeps the pressure on the drivers who are trying to win their way into the title.

Dusty Fincher’s fourth-place finish may not look like the headline at first glance, but his pace was real—Fincher set the fastest lap of the race with a 24.518. That’s a reminder that finishing position is only part of the story: speed is there, and if that speed pairs with a qualifying bonus point in an upcoming round, the points can flip quickly. Carson Southern added another strong result in fifth, gaining two positions from his starting spot, while Kenny Storkson earned “hard charger” honors by climbing from 11th on the grid to finish sixth—five positions gained in a field where every pass is worth a point in the standings.

Round 3 also introduced new names and new storylines. John Kinder made his first career start and came home seventh, immediately putting a solid result on the board. On the tougher side of the night, Brayden Wares took the biggest hit in track position, sliding from sixth at the start to 14th at the finish. Codi Sanderson and Johnathon Wiley also gave away significant ground compared to where they started, and with only three races left, those lost points can become the difference between a podium in the final standings and a spot just outside the payout positions.

The season standings now show just how tight this championship is at halftime. Carter’s Round 3 win moved him into a tie for the points lead with Strawberry at 25, and Levi Fisher sits only three points back in third. Dusty Fincher is four points off the top, Carson Southern is still within reach, and one strong night with a qualifying bonus can change everything. With three races left and a maximum of 13 points available in a single event, the championship is far from settled—especially with drivers like Jon Foskey and Everett Larson still within striking range despite only having one start each so far.

RACE 3 RESULTS (USA International Speedway – Dirt)

  1. Brayden E Carter

  2. Levi Fisher

  3. Aidan Strawberry

  4. Dusty Fincher

  5. Carson Southern

  6. Kenny Storkson

  7. John Kinder

  8. Jackson Lauderbaugh

  9. Easton Zent

  10. Codi Sanderson

  11. Sam D Baker

  12. Aiden Vega

  13. Doug Welch

  14. Brayden Wares

  15. Johnathon Wiley

TOP 10 IN STANDINGS (AFTER RACE 3)

  1. T-1 Brayden E Carter – 25

  2. T-1 Aidan Strawberry – 25

  3. Levi Fisher – 22

  4. Dusty Fincher – 21

  5. Carson Southern – 17

  6. Jon Foskey – 12

  7. Everett Larson – 11

  8. T-8 Riley Halverson II – 9

  9. T-8 Jackson Lauderbaugh – 9

  10. T-8 Doug Welch – 9

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