Sheppard and Yankowski exchanged both words and tense restart moments at Volusia Speedway Park during a 30-lap Modified feature event. The restarts proved contentious, with officials requiring multiple start attempts.

Matt Sheppard defended his approach, stating, "I wasn't trying to play a chess game out there on restarts. I just want normal restarts. I've had a problem with the kid (Alex Yankowski)." He noted that there are no penalties for jumping restarts, with the worst outcome being another attempt.

Drawing from his experience, Sheppard referenced learning from veterans Billy Decker and Tim Fuller that the leader controls the pace. He emphasized how modern racing has evolved and that races can be won or lost during restarts.

Runner-up Alex Yankowski expressed frustration with the situation, countering, "Playing games on restarts isn't the way to win. It's an unfair way of racing. Sportsmanship is important and I don't feel I was raced fairly. I felt he (Sheppard) was playing games."

With both drivers consistently running at the front of the pack, this rivalry and restart tension looks set to continue throughout the 2025 DIRTcar Nationals.

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