Bold statement: A dramatic surge from the back to the front built Justin Grant’s championship night at Ocala, as he clinched the Winter Dirt Games XVII finale in dominant fashion. And this is the part most people miss: the race wasn’t just about one late pass, but a patient, methodical climb through a stacked field to grab the $10,000 prize at the three-eighths-mile Ocala Speedway.
Grant, starting eighth in the 40-lap USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship feature, methodically worked his way forward, carving through the field before catching and overtaking pole-sitter Brady Bacon on lap 37. He then held off a late push to cruise the final four laps for the win.
Bacon settled for second, with Kyle Cummins—coming off a USAC title year—finishing third. Mitchel Moles completed the top four. Logan Seavey, driving the Abacus Racing No. 57, crossed fifth and captured the overall Winter Dirt Games championship, earning $12,000 for the effort.
Event details: USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship at Ocala Speedway, Ocala, Florida, February 14, 2026. The night also featured multiple heats and a dash to set the starting order, with Grant posting an eighth-place start in the feature but finishing atop the podium. The day’s heat results included Justin Grant advancing from the TJ Forged Second Heat, while Seavey highlighted the program by clinching the Winter Dirt Games title.
For context, Ocala’s six-race slate tested sprint car teams with a blend of speed and strategy, and Grant’s late-race move showcased the importance of timing on a track that allowed both high-speed laps and competitive passing opportunities. The night ended with a reminder that perseverance, position management, and a well-timed surge can overcome an early setback to claim a marquee victory.
Source note: SPEED SPORT staff coverage of the event, part of SPEED SPORT’s long-standing tradition dating back to 1934 of delivering accurate, timely racing news.
