The ARCA Dirt USA International Championship closed out its six-race run at USA International Speedway (Dirt) on Feb 23, and the finale delivered exactly what a title night should: early battles up front, momentum swings, and a points picture that finally snapped into focus. With the series paying 12 points to win, one less per position behind, and an added point available for qualifying fast time, the championship had been built on consistency and execution all season long. When the final checkered flag fell, there was no doubt left — Brayden E Carter is the champion.
The race started with immediate intensity at the front as Ryan Hodge and Branson Woodward went after the lead early. The two traded pace and position in the opening stretch, and it looked like the night might turn into a duel. But as the laps stacked up, Hodge lost several spots and eventually dropped out, taking a potential winning bid off the table and reshuffling the order behind the lead group. That moment opened the door for the next phase of the race — one where the focus locked onto Woodward as the driver to beat.
From there, Carter went to work. Once he caught Woodward, Carter stalked him, and the two stayed within arm’s length for the rest of the run — close enough that one mistake could have flipped the outcome, but steady enough to keep it a true pressure battle. Carter ultimately took control late and finished the job, scoring yet another win to close the season. It was a fitting finale: Carter didn’t need luck, didn’t need chaos, and didn’t need anything outside of his own pace. He simply did what he did all season — deliver.
Behind the top two, the breakthrough story of the night belonged to Parker Clardy. In just his second start of the series, Clardy delivered a career night, grabbing third place for his best ICL finish and doing it with clean speed from the front group. That podium wasn’t just a highlight — it shook the final standings too, launching Clardy up the board in a big way and proving how much can change when a driver shows up late in a short season and hits immediately.
Further back, there were plenty of strong runs that capped the series on a high note. Kyle A Hardy and Casey Wynn rounded out the top five, while Aiden Snead placed sixth to close out the finale with solid points. Dennis Holley finished seventh and added another consistent result to his season-long effort. Up front, it was a three-leader race with two lead changes, and the pace was quick — Carter set the fastest lap of the night with a 24.716, a final reminder of why he ended this championship as the clear standard.
And that brings it back to the title. Carter entered the finale with control of the points and left no openings, ending the series as champion after a season defined by wins and maximum-point nights. Behind him, Aidan Strawberry’s consistency across every round was enough to secure the runner-up position in the final standings, while Levi Fisher held on to third after showing he could run at the front when the opportunity was there. The mid-pack standings were packed tight, and the finale mattered: Dusty Fincher and Brandon Dittmer closed the year nearly together, and the top 10 shuffled as late-season appearances changed the order.
WHAT’S NEXT
No next-round schedule details were included with the results provided, so there isn’t an official “next stop” to preview yet.
RACE 6 RESULTS (USA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY – DIRT)
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Brayden E Carter
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Branson Woodward
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Parker Clardy
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Kyle A Hardy
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Casey Wynn
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Aiden Snead
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Dennis Holley
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Jason Knowles2
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Aidan Strawberry
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Bryan Brewer
TOP 10 IN FINAL STANDINGS
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Brayden E Carter – 62
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Aidan Strawberry – 42
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Levi Fisher – 23
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Dusty Fincher – 22
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Brandon Dittmer – 17
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Carson Southern – 17
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Parker Clardy – 16
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Bryan Brewer – 14
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Chandler Barker – 12
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Dennis Holley – 12
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