The 28th Legend Car Dirt Nationals kicks off at BAPS Motor Speedway on Thursday, with 76 drivers flocking from across country for their chance to win the season-ending event. This weekend marks the second time BAPS Motor Speedway has hosted Dirt Nationals (2018), and the fourth time the event has taken place within Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Lincoln 2019, Big Diamond 2008).
“BAPS is a unique track for Legend Cars,” says Pennsylvania native Logan Carbaugh, “due to the speed on the straight stretches and the somewhat tight corners.
“The track changes so much throughout the night, most like our other tracks here in Pennsylvania. There’s a lot or rubber that gets put on the track surface.”
Defending INEX Pro Division Dirt National Champion, Preston Martin from North Dakota, is making his first trip to BAPS and is currently tied for the championship lead with Jackson Lewis from Minnesota.
“I’m looking forward to the size of the track,” Martin said. “It looks like it could be a fast, fun track. But more so, I’m looking forward to the weekend in general. I love it when you have two and three day race weekends because you get to hang out with everyone afterward trading stories and just having a good time with friends and new people.”
Three of the four Legend Car divisions have close championship battles. The aforementioned battle in the Pro Division between Martin and Lewis, with each at the top with 1900 points. In the Semi-Pro Division, four drivers are within 18 points with Noah Madler leading the way with 1900, with Quade Schoonover in second (1891), Colton Friese in third (1888), and Kody Machart in fourth (1882). Three-time Pro Division champion, Donavin Wiest, leads the Masters Division with 1900 points and two-time and defending champion, Glenn Mitchell is in second with 1888 points.
Carbaugh isn’t in contention to win the Pro Division national title like Martin but he has won at BAPS this season, and winning the Dirt Nationals Pro Championship feature would mean a lot to the Pennsylvania driver.
“One [reason would be] because all of my sponsors that have put their time and money into my race team and me,” he said. “To win on a national stage would be awesome!”
He added that he hopes to prove how tough it is to win in the local Pennsylvania dirt series, East Coast Legend Series.
“To represent the Friese Family and our new series here would be beyond amazing!”
For Martin, the chase for the championship is on. But is there any added pressure when it comes to the possibility of going back-to-back, something that hasn’t been done since Terry Harring did so in 2003 and 2004.
“I always do my best to block out the points and just focus on learning more about the car and doing the best I can,” Martin explained. “I was lucky enough to get the points I needed early this year so I was able to use the last couple races to try out new ideas with the car and learn more about it.
“I’ve raced with Jackson [Lewis] before, and it was a blast going side by side with him. I’m hoping the track sets up nicely so we can do it again.”
The 2024 Legend Car Dirt Nationals opens up on Thursday, October 10 with practice. Time trials, heat races, and the Bassett Fastest Qualifier Challenge will take place on Friday, October 11t, with any necessary B Mains and Championship Features scheduled for Saturday, October 12.
All Legend Car action from BAPS Motor Speedway can be streamed on U.S. Legend Cars TV. For a full entry list and Dirt Nationals fact sheet, please click HERE.
The 2024 INEX Championship Nationals continue with Legend Car Asphalt Nationals at Dominion Raceway, October 24-26, and will conclude with Road Course World Finals at VIRginia International Raceway, November 15-17.