---

Dillard scores emotional victory Texas Dirt Nationals opener at Texas Motor Speedway

Cade Dillard kicked off the inaugural Texas Dirt Nationals at The Dirt Track at Texas Motor Speedway with a $10,000 victory on Friday night in his S&S Fishing & Rental Inc. No. 97 MB Customs/ Clements Racing Engine Super Late Model. (Michael Boggs Photography)

"I lost my grandpa this week, and I know he was riding with me," Dillard said haltingly in Victory Lane Friday night. "He loved racing and to do this for him means the world to me. This is probably one of the coolest places to win at. I won the Modified race here in '14, and I feel like that kind of really set my career up to be where I'm at today, you know? Like I said, to get one of these cowboy hats at a facility like this and these fans, it's pretty cool. I hope my car owner (Shane Sprinkle) is watching. He's been under the weather and I'm happy to get this for them. I owe all this to him. He gave me these opportunities."

Cade Dillard traveled to The Dirt Track at Texas Motor Speedway (Fort Worth, Texas) on Friday evening to take part in the opening round of the inaugural Texas Dirt Nationals.

Drawing 33 Late Models for the two-day event, Cade qualified fifth fastest in his group in time trials before picking up an eight-lap heat race victory. Going from third-to-first on the opening circuit of the feature, Dillard led flag-to-flag in the 25-lapper to register his fourth win of the season, which came ahead of Billy Moyer, Stormy Scott, Brandon Overton, and Bobby Pierce. He dedicated the $10,000 victory to his late grandfather who passed six days prior.

On Saturday, Dillard’s second-place finish in his heat race positioned him ninth on the starting grid for the $50,000-to-win finale. With only 30 laps to gain ground, Cade rebounded to finish 14th after he pitted with a flat right-rear tire on the third lap while running in fifth.

Back to News