Dodge Carlbert finally secured his first victory of the 2026 season at the Freedom Factory, breaking through after a challenging year. The two-time defending UARA Sportsman champion led a dominant 55 of the 75 laps, a win he noted was particularly special as it was the first race he shared with his daughter.
The race began with a twist: while Dylan Bigley qualified on the pole, the inverted dice roll placed Cody Struble in the top spot, with Carlbert running outside him. Struble led the opening 17 laps before the first caution was waved following a spin by Matthew Green. Carlbert and Struble battled fiercely on the restart, with Carlbert taking the lead on lap 20 before Codey Benoit's spin brought out another caution.
The action continued with Adam Briggs challenging for second place, but the race was frequently interrupted by cautions, including one caused by Dan Partelo's spin and another after Rice Robinson made contact with the backstretch wall. Carlbert managed a solid 13-lap stint in the lead before the next stoppage.
On the final restart, Carlbert built a healthy gap, allowing Struble and Briggs to battle until the No. 19 car slid through the grass with only two laps remaining. Dylan Bigley capitalized on the contact, finishing in second as Carlbert claimed his first checkered flag of the year.
Source: Short Track Scene