Ace Speedway has been sold by Jason and Robert Turner to Burlington businessman Billy Andrews, marking a change in ownership at the 4/10-mile short track while the remainder of the 2026 season will proceed as scheduled.

Ace Speedway announced Thursday that Andrews has assumed sole ownership of daily track operations, with Jason and Robert Turner assisting during the transition. The speedway also confirmed that there will be no changes to the current staff or track officials.

In a statement following the announcement, Jason Turner reflected on his lifelong connection to Ace Speedway and the circumstances that ultimately led his family to purchase the track.

“Ace Speedway has been my home away from home since I was born. It’s all I know,” Turner said.

Turner explained that Ace faced an uncertain future at the end of 2016. After organizing races at the track in an effort to keep it open, Jason said he eventually received an offer to operate Ace Speedway as its full-time general manager.

He initially declined the opportunity, but after continued uncertainty surrounding the track, Turner said he approached his father about purchasing Ace.

“I want it, we have to find a way,” Turner recalled telling his father.

The Turner family ultimately took ownership and spent the next decade operating and investing in Ace Speedway.

Turner said recent changes in his life and career have led him down a different path, prompting the decision to step away from an active role in operating the speedway.

“I love Ace Speedway with all my heart and with that, it’s time to step aside,” Turner said.

Turner emphasized that the sale does not represent the end of Ace Speedway.

“This isn’t the end for Ace Speedway, merely a passing of the torch into a new segment of history for the Famous 4/10ths Mile,” he said.

Turner thanked the competitors, teams, families, sponsors, staff and fans who have supported Ace Speedway throughout the past decade. He also emphasized the importance of supporting local short tracks and grassroots racing.

While Andrews will take over sole ownership of daily operations, Turner said the transition will include continued work with the new owner.

“Ace Speedway is still my home,” Turner said. “We look forward to working with Billy to continue the restoration and expansion that we started.”

The remainder of the 2026 season will continue as scheduled, and planning for the 2027 season will begin immediately during the ownership transition.

Ace Speedway’s next scheduled races are October 9 and October 23.

A Personal Note From KF Media

There are some connections in racing that are difficult to explain in a traditional news story.

October 24, 2021, was one of those days for us.

At the time, KF Media was still known simply as General Admission. It was a small, fledgling Facebook page, built between two parents and their kids that had been trying to figure out what this thing could become for barely a month.

We wanted to cover a race.

But for once, we didn’t want to show up as General Admission, paying customers in the stands. We wanted to try something different. We wanted to show up as media.

So we reached out to Jason Turner and asked for access to cover a race at Ace Speedway.

The race was that same week.

We didn’t know then that you generally don’t request media access to a racetrack at the last minute. We didn’t know the process. We didn’t know the people. We didn’t know what we were doing.

Jason could have simply said no.

Instead, someone we had barely heard of at the time responded, sternly but kindly, and explained how access to a racetrack worked. He explained what we should have done differently and gave us a chance anyway.

He told us to come down, bring our own viewpoint and our own coverage, and see what we could do.

It was a late opportunity, with plenty of warning about what we needed to do right the next time.

So we woke up early that Saturday morning and drove more than two hours to a racetrack we had never visited, in an area we had never explored. We arrived at a place that somehow existed right in the middle of communities where my family was strong and where I had spent much of my childhood, yet somehow I had never known it existed.

And we were welcomed with smiling faces.

With our backs against the wall and very little experience to lean on, we did everything we knew how to do to make the best show we possibly could.

When it was over, we were told we had done a good job.

We were told to keep doing what we were doing.

Maybe, just maybe, we could actually make something of this if we wanted to.

You don’t forget connections like that.

You don’t forget the people who open doors you didn’t think would open, or the people who make something possible that probably shouldn’t have been possible in the first place.

Jason Turner gave us a shot.

We went shooting for the moon.

Somewhere along the way, we’re still flying toward it, wherever “there” may ultimately be.

But we would not have made it to where we are today without people who were willing to give us a chance when we were still trying to figure out what we could become.

Jason Turner, his family and Ace Speedway were among those people.

For that, we will always be grateful.

By Ethan Boyles

There are racetracks where horsepower matters.

There are racetracks where the biggest teams can lean on their equipment and find speed through long straightaways.

And then there is Newport Speedway.

The .400 mile Tennessee bullring is about as close as the CARS Tour can get to old school Bristol style racing, with the possible exception of Kingsport. Tight, heavily banked corners, short straightaways and very little room between cars create the kind of environment where drivers have to be willing to race with their elbows out.

Friday night’s Spears Manufacturing 225 could be one of the grittiest races on the CARS Tour schedule.

The zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock and Pro Late Model divisions will both make their first visit to Newport, and while much of the field will be learning the facility for the first time, several drivers arrive with experience that could prove extremely valuable.

There is also another variable heading into race night.

There has been discussion of PJ1 being added to the racing surface before the event. If that happens, it could change the way Newport races compared to its traditional configuration, potentially creating additional grip and opening the door for more side by side racing in portions of the track.

That does not necessarily eliminate the physical nature Newport is known for.

It could simply add another layer to it.

Newport changes the equation

Newport is a very small racetrack, and that changes the way a race car has to be driven.

There are no massive straightaways where a car can build a huge run and use horsepower to simply drive away from the competition. The work is done in the corners.

Getting through the corner quickly, keeping the car underneath you and getting back to the throttle without giving up momentum will be critical.

Gear selection will still matter, particularly when it comes to getting the car back up to speed on the short straightaways, but Newport does not provide the same opportunity to separate cars through raw horsepower that a larger facility can.

That could level the playing field.

At a track like Newport, the driver, the setup and the ability to adapt to the surface and bumps can become more important than the size of the operation sitting behind the car.

But the potential addition of PJ1 could change that equation somewhat.

If the compound is applied and produces the additional grip some expect, drivers could have more opportunities to run alongside one another rather than being forced into a single preferred lane.

That could make Newport even more unpredictable.

A driver who understands how to find grip around the bottom could be racing alongside someone who has found a way to carry speed through another part of the corner.

Instead of simply surviving a tight bullring, drivers may have to adapt to changing lanes and changing grip as the race progresses.

That is exactly why the drivers who know Newport deserve to be watched.

This is the type of racetrack where somebody who regularly races at the facility can potentially go toe to toe with a full time CARS Tour competitor who has considerably more resources but is seeing the track for the first time.

And that could make Friday night very interesting.

Expect close racing.

Expect side by side racing if the surface allows it.

Expect cautions.

Expect drivers to get aggressive.

And expect some hurt feelings when the checkered flag falls.

Newport is an elbows up, white knuckle short track.

If PJ1 becomes part of the equation, it could also become a much more dynamic one.

Local experience could be a major advantage

Josh Goble is one of the most obvious names to watch.

Goble is a Newport track champion and has been racing at the facility regularly. He has competed in a variety of race cars throughout his career, including Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, Super Trucks, Limited Late Models and Outlaw style cars.

That experience across multiple divisions, combined with his knowledge of Newport, could be extremely valuable Friday night.

Goble does not have to learn what Newport looks like when the green flag drops. He already knows the corners, the surface and what it takes to get around the facility.

Now he has the opportunity to put that knowledge into the CARS Tour environment.

Thomas Beane is another driver who could benefit from Newport’s characteristics.

Beane has been spending considerable time racing at Newport and has already demonstrated that he can produce serious speed against CARS Tour competition.

Last season at Anderson Speedway, Beane put his car on the pole against the CARS Tour field, providing an example of what he can do when the car and his driving style come together.

JCR may not be one of the largest teams in the CARS Tour, but its alliance with Matt Piercy Racing adds another layer to the team’s preparation.

At Newport, where setup and the ability to get through the corner quickly could be more important than having the most expensive equipment in the pit area, Beane could be a legitimate threat to surprise some of the established names.

Newport may not race exactly as expected

That is what makes Friday night particularly interesting.

The traditional Newport formula suggests a tight, physical race where drivers fight for every inch.

If PJ1 is applied, however, the track could develop additional side by side opportunities.

That does not mean the race suddenly becomes easy.

It could actually make traffic more complicated.

Drivers may have to decide whether to protect the preferred line, search for grip elsewhere or use another lane to make a pass. With the field packed tightly around a .400 mile track, those decisions could happen quickly.

The result could be a race that still has the physical characteristics of Newport while providing more opportunities for cars to run alongside each other.

And if the surface changes as rubber builds throughout the night, teams and drivers may have to continue adapting long after practice ends.

That places even more importance on drivers who already understand the facility.

Two more names worth watching

Rodney Dowless Jr. brings another interesting storyline to Newport in the No. 57 Carroll Speedshop machine.

Dowless has never driven a Late Model, making Friday a significant learning experience. But Newport’s unique characteristics could make that transition particularly intriguing.

He will have to adapt quickly, but the short track leaves little room for wasted motion. If Dowless can become comfortable with the Late Model and find the right rhythm around Newport, he could become a factor as the race progresses.

Landon Huffman presents a completely different scenario.

Huffman previously drove the No. 57 for Carroll Speedshop but will arrive at Newport in his own equipment.

That equipment has been very successful recently, giving Huffman an opportunity to carry that momentum into one of the most unique races of the CARS Tour season.

At Newport, where maximizing the setup and getting everything possible out of the car could be more important than simply having the biggest operation, Huffman’s recent success with his own equipment could prove beneficial.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. fits the Newport style

Then there is Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Earnhardt Jr. is not a Newport local, but the style of racing expected Friday should be familiar.

His formative years were spent racing Late Models at old school short tracks, including the type of tight, physical racing that Newport is likely to produce.

Earnhardt Jr. knows what it means to get a car through a tight corner while dealing with traffic and contact.

His 2026 CARS Tour season has already included a 12th place finish at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway and a runner up finish in the Pro Late Model division at Florence Motor Speedway.

Now he returns to Tennessee in the No. 8 Sun Drop Chevrolet looking for his first CARS Tour Late Model Stock victory.

If Newport turns into the physical, old school short track race that many expect, Earnhardt Jr.’s experience could make him particularly difficult to count out.

But if the surface changes the racing pattern and opens additional lanes, his ability to adapt will become just as important.

Championship battle adds another layer

While Newport itself is the biggest wildcard, the championship battles make Friday even more important.

In the Late Model Stock standings, Caden Kvapil enters Newport with the points lead.

Conner Jones trails by 50 points, followed by Treyten Lapcevich 55 points behind Kvapil. Chad McCumbee and Chase Burrow are both 91 points back, with Carson Loftin another 114 points behind the leader.

Kvapil arrives after winning the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville, another race where aggressive short track racing was a major part of the story.

Jones, however, is close enough in the standings to make Newport extremely important.

His aggressive driving style could fit a place like Newport, where drivers will have to be willing to race hard for every position.

But that same style can come with consequences at a racetrack where there is almost nowhere to go when things get tight.

The championship could tighten dramatically heading into North Wilkesboro.

It could also swing the other direction.

And there is a legitimate possibility that Newport becomes the race that changes the championship picture entirely.

PLM championship still wide open

The Pro Late Model championship has its own battle at the front.

Mason Walters leads the standings, with Conner Jones only six points behind.

Brody Monahan is another four points behind Jones, while Treyten Lapcevich trails Walters by 27 points and Kaden Honeycutt is 38 points back.

That leaves plenty of opportunity for the championship picture to change.

Monahan already knows what it feels like to win at a short track this season after taking the victory at Tri County Speedway.

Honeycutt remains close enough to capitalize if the leaders have problems.

And Jones has another opportunity to use Newport’s style to his advantage.

The question is whether Walters can maintain his advantage when the championship contenders enter a racetrack where experience and adaptability may matter more than the advantages they have enjoyed elsewhere.

Newport could produce something different

The CARS Tour has visited plenty of challenging racetracks.

Newport is different.

There simply is not much room.

The corners are tight and heavily banked. The straightaways are short. The surface and bumps will create another variable. Cars will be racing close enough that drivers will have to make decisions in fractions of a second.

Then there is the possibility of PJ1.

If the compound is used and produces the expected additional grip, Newport could provide more side by side racing than its traditional reputation would suggest.

That creates another opportunity for drivers who know the track.

Goble knows Newport.

Beane knows Newport.

Other regional competitors have spent time learning the facility.

The CARS Tour regulars may have the experience of competing at some of the best short tracks in the country, but Friday will require them to learn a completely new environment.

That is what makes the Spears Manufacturing 225 so compelling.

The championship matters.

The CARS Tour regulars matter.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. matters.

But at Newport, the racetrack itself may be the biggest competitor of all.

When the green flag falls Friday night, expect the racing to be close and physical, with the possibility of side by side racing adding another element to the challenge.

At Newport Speedway, it will be about who can get through the corner, get back to the throttle and keep the car underneath them when the elbows come out.

And if PJ1 changes the racing surface the way some expect, the drivers who can adapt may have just as much to say about the outcome as the ones who already know every inch of Newport.

When 125 laps are finally complete, we may find out whether Newport raced the way everyone expected, or whether Friday night produced something completely different.

By Ethan Boyles

Caden Kvapil is a ValleyStar Credit Union 300 winner.

After 300 laps of Late Model Stock racing at Martinsville Speedway, including 100 laps split between four 25 lap heat races and a 200 lap main event, Kvapil survived an afternoon and night filled with cautions, damaged race cars, hard racing and a dramatic finish to take home the grandfather clock Saturday night.

Corey Heim finished second and Treyten Lapcevich finished third.

And even after the checkered flag, the drama wasn’t over.

Heim and Lapcevich made contact after the finish, sending Heim airborne over Lapcevich in Turn 1 and bringing an already wild night to an unforgettable conclusion.

But the story of the 2026 ValleyStar 300 started well before the feature.

Four Heat Races Set the Field

The afternoon began with four 25 lap heat races, with the top 10 from each race advancing to the 200 lap main event. The four heat winners would make up the first four starting positions for the ValleyStar 300.

Heat Race 1

Trevor Ward won the opening heat after significant contact with pole sitter Tristan McKee and Carson Kvapil left both cars damaged coming to the finish.

Ward took the victory and earned the first starting position for the ValleyStar 300.

Heat Race 1 finishing order:

1. Trevor Ward
2. Carson Loftin
3. Carson Kvapil
4. Tristan McKee
5. Conner Weddell
6. Michael Bumgarner
7. Chase Burgeson
8. Chase Robertson
9. Landon Huffman
10. Tate Fogleman
11. Michael Hinde
12. Lane Woods
13. Brandon Setzer
14. Trey Williams
15. Ryan Zima
16. Dexter Canipe III
17. Carson Ware
18. Austin Somero
19. Brady Penny
20. Darrick Coomer
21. Cody Kelley

Heat Race 2

Heat Race 2 quickly became one of the most chaotic races of the afternoon.

Ronnie Bassett Jr. failed to start the race.

On Lap 2, Peyton Sellers and Ryan Wilson made contact in Turn 3, sending Sellers around. Chase Burrow then made contact with Sellers.

The No. 1B suffered significant front clip damage and brought out a lengthy caution before being towed away.

The 26 and 88 of Housewright were also involved in a wreck.

The No. 25 then spun to bring out another caution.

Chase Burrow later sent the No. 07 of Chase Dixon spinning in Turn 3. Derrick Lancaster made contact as well, bringing out another caution with four laps remaining.

Lee Pulliam eventually worked his way around the outside of Corey Heim and beat Heim to the finish.

Pulliam’s victory earned him the second starting position for the ValleyStar 300.

Peyton Sellers was involved in multiple incidents but somehow transferred to the main event with a duct taped nose and no hood.

The post race action continued in the pits.

Chase Burrow and Brad Housewright were involved in another confrontation after the race, with Jared Fryar stepping in to separate the two.

Heat Race 2 finishing order:

1. Lee Pulliam
2. Corey Heim
3. Conner Jones
4. Donovan Strauss
5. Ryan Matthews
6. Ryan Wilson
7. Peyton Sellers
8. Clay Jones
9. Chase Murphy
10. Chase Ratliff
11. Brad Housewright
12. Chase Burrow
13. Jimmy Mullins
14. Kyle Dudley
15. Tyler Reif
16. Chase Dixon
17. Bruce Anderson
18. Derrick Lancaster
19. Craig Moore
20. Bryan Reedy
21. Ronnie Bassett Jr. DNS

Heat Race 3

Dillon Harville then pulled off a surprise victory in Heat Race 3, earning the third starting position for the feature.

Coy Beard spun on the backstretch on Lap 9, with Dylan Ward also involved in the incident.

Hudson Sharp raced into the top 10 during the heat. The 2025 Tri County Speedway Late Model Stock champion ultimately fell just short of transferring to the main event.

Shafer also fell just short of making the show.

Heat Race 3 finishing order:

1. Dillon Harville
2. Landon Pembelton
3. Treyten Lapcevich
4. Doug Barnes Jr.
5. Jace Hale
6. Jacob Borst
7. Dylan Fetcho
8. Deac McCaskill
9. Dylan Newsome
10. Woody Howard
11. Jonathan Shafer
12. Hudson Sharp
13. Ayden Millette
14. Mason Bailey
15. Connor Branch
16. Jamie York
17. Dylan Ward
18. Steve Zacharias
19. Jason Myers
20. Blake Stallings
21. Coy Beard

Heat Race 4

The fourth heat may have been the most chaotic of the afternoon.

Several cars were involved in a Turn 1 incident on the opening lap, including the No. 24, No. 50 and others.

Stacy Puryear brought out another caution on Lap 6.

Corey Dunn and Chase Johnson then made contact while battling for the final transfer spot, spinning in front of Matt Leicht.

At that point, Diego Mendeztorres was holding the final transfer position.

Debris from Trey Burke’s car brought out another caution before another major incident involving Leicht and Mendeztorres.

Leicht made contact with Mendeztorres while the two battled for the final transfer spot.

What started with an aggressive block into Turn 3 by Mendeztorres led to continued contact through Turn 4, down the straightaway and ultimately Mendeztorres spinning off the bumper of Leicht in Turn 1.

The incident heavily damaged the Carroll Speedshop Dodge and other cars.

Leicht was sent to the rear, ultimately ending his chance to make a bid for the main event as well.

Caden Kvapil won Heat Race 4, with Jared Fryar and Ryan Millington battling to the finish for second. Brandon Lopez secured the final transfer spot.

Heat Race 4 finishing order:

1. Caden Kvapil
2. Ryan Millington
3. Jared Fryar
4. Matt Cox
5. Casey Kelley
6. Trey Crews
7. Andrew Grady
8. Bobby McCarty
9. Tyler Matthews
10. Brandon Lopez
11. J.D. Eversole
12. Cory Dunn
13. Chase Johnson
14. Matt Leicht
15. Bryson Brinkley
16. Stacy Puryear
17. Logan Jones
18. Diego Mendeztorres
19. Justin Carroll
20. Trey Burke

That put the four heat winners at the front of the ValleyStar 300.

Ward started first, Pulliam second, Harville third and Kvapil fourth.

200 Laps of Martinsville Chaos

Once the green flag dropped on the 200 lap main event, the pattern established during the heats continued.

Cautions repeatedly interrupted the race as drivers battled for position around the tight Martinsville half mile. Cars were damaged, drivers were forced to make repairs and positions changed repeatedly as attrition became a major factor.

With approximately 135 laps remaining, Jace Hale and Deac McCaskill went around.

Carson Kvapil was also out of the race with power issues.

Another caution came with approximately 120 laps remaining involving Hale again and other cars.

Landon Huffman, Jacob Borst and Tate Fogleman then made contact, with both number 8 cars taking the worst of it.

Borst was out.

At the 100 lap mark, Lee Pulliam had the lead in Stage 1 at Martinsville Speedway.

Landon Huffman was the Lucky Dog.

The race continued.

Ryan Millington spun off the nose of Landon Pembelton.

Woody Howard also went around.

Peyton Sellers then hit Chase Robertson, adding even more damage to Robertson’s already wounded car.

Another caution followed when Andrew Grady, Dylan Newsome, Chase Robertson and Ryan Wilson made contact.

The Kyle Petty throwback of Robertson took the most damage.

As the race reached Lap 175, Caden Kvapil moved into the lead at the caution.

The race was becoming a battle between Kvapil and Heim at the front, with Lapcevich also remaining in contention.

The laps continued to click away.

Then came the final sequence.

Five Laps to Go

With five laps remaining, Matt Cox went around at the finish line.

The caution came out.

Then Tristan McKee went around under caution.

Just like that, the three second lead Kvapil had built was gone.

The field was reset.

The ValleyStar 300 was headed to overtime.

After 200 laps of racing, the winner would have to settle it on one final restart.

Kvapil got the restart he needed. But so did Heim, Lapcevich, and Pulliam.

He held on to the lead after a heavy battle with Heim and Lapcevich.

Corey Heim crossed the line second.

Treyten Lapcevich finished third.

Lee Pulliam finished fourth.

Jared Fryar rounded out the top five.

Kvapil Takes the Grandfather Clock

He survived the cautions, damaged cars, late race incidents and overtime restart and when the final checkered flag flew, he was the one heading to Victory Lane.

He also earned a $32,000 check for the victory and another $20,000 check for winning the Virginia Triple Crown.

The Checkered Flag Wasn’t the End

The race itself ended with Kvapil celebrating in Victory Lane.

The action on track did not end there.

After the checkered flag, Heim and Lapcevich made contact.

Heim went airborne over Lapcevich in Turn 1.

The incident came after an already extremely physical ValleyStar 300 and immediately became one of the biggest talking points of the night.

The race was officially over. The drama wasn’t.

Lapcevich made the trek down pit road to confront Heim after the incident but his Chad Bryant Racing team derailed that plan.

After the celebration was over, several team members, likely very upset that the car they built and worked so hard on, and that came home with a podium finish, was now destroyed, cornered Heim at the Martinsville Hot Dog Stand.

Though you have to understand the position the incident put both teams in, we would expect nothing less than serious fines and sanctions levied against the team members for their actions. It’s never acceptable to corner a driver just trying to get a hot dog.

Top 10

1. Caden Kvapil
2. Corey Heim
3. Treyten Lapcevich
4. Lee Pulliam
5. Jared Fryar
6. Conner Jones
7. Landon Pembelton
8. Doug Barnes Jr.
9. Carson Loftin
10. Conner Weddell

Race Coverage Disclosure

The ValleyStar 300 means a lot to a lot of people.

It also means that covering this race comes with a responsibility to get the details right.

We reported this race as it happened, often while incidents were unfolding directly in front of us.

With that much happening throughout the afternoon and night, some details from our initial real time reporting may not have been completely accurate.

We want to own that.

The field for the 2026 ValleyStar Credit Union 300 is set after four chaotic 25 lap heat races Saturday afternoon at Martinsville Speedway.

Trevor Ward, Lee Pulliam, Dillon Harville and Caden Kvapil won the four qualifying races and will lead the 40 car field to the green flag tonight.

Ward won the opening heat after significant contact involving pole sitter Tristan McKee and Carson Kvapil left both cars damaged coming to the finish.

Heat Race 1 Top 10

1. Trevor Ward

2. Carson Loftin

3. Carson Kvapil

4. Tristan McKee

5. Conner Weddell

6. Michael Bumgarner

7. Chase Burgeson

8. Chase Robertson

9. Landon Huffman

10. Tate Fogleman

The second heat produced one of the wildest races of the afternoon.

Ronnie Bassett Jr. failed to start the race. On Lap 2, Peyton Sellers and Ryan Wilson made contact in Turn 3, sending Sellers into a spin. Chase Burrow then made contact with the five time Triple Crown champion.

The No. 1B of Lee Pulliam went on to win the heat, while Sellers continued despite significant damage. Sellers eventually advanced to the feature with a duct taped nose and no hood after being involved in at least two of the five cautions.

Late in the race, Chase Burrow sent the No. 07 of Chase Dixon spinning in Turn 3, with Derrick Lancaster making contact in the incident.

Pulliam used the outside lane to finally get around Corey Heim and beat him to the finish.

The post race action continued in the pits, where Chase Burrow, Brad Housewright and Brian Anderson had another confrontation. Jared Fryar, who was not competing in the second heat, stepped in to separate the two.

Heat Race 2 Top 10

1. Lee Pulliam

2. Corey Heim

3. Conner Jones

4. Donovan Strauss

5. Ryan Matthews

6. Ryan Wilson

7. Peyton Sellers

8. Clay Jones

9. Chase Murphy

10. Tyler Matthews

Dillon Harville pulled off a surprise victory in Heat Race 3 and earned the third starting position for tonight’s feature.

The race also saw Coy Beard spin on the backstretch on Lap 9, with Dylan Ward getting around in the incident.

Hudson Sharp, the 2025 Tri County Speedway Late Model champion, raced inside the top 10 but ultimately fell just short of advancing to the feature. Jonathan Shafer also fell short.

Heat Race 3 Top 10

1. Dillon Harville

2. Landon Pembelton

3. Treyten Lapcevich

4. Doug Barnes Jr.

5. Jace Hale

6. Jacob Borst

7. Dylan Fetcho

8. Deac McCaskill

9. Dylan Newsome

10. Woody Howard

The fourth and final heat was another caution filled affair.

Several cars were involved in a Turn 1 incident on Lap 1, including the No. 24 and No. 50.

Stacy Puryear brought out another caution on Lap 6.

Corey Dunn and Chase Johnson then made contact while battling for the final transfer position, spinning directly in front of Matt Leicht.

Debris from Trey Burke’s No. 50 brought out another caution, with Burke’s chances of transferring to the feature ending.

The final major incident came when Matt Leicht and Diego Mendeztorres battled for the final transfer spot. Leicht made contact with Mendeztorres, sending the No. 24 around and heavily damaging the Carroll Speedshop Dodge.

Caden Kvapil ultimately brought home the Heat Race 4 victory. Jared Fryar and Ryan Millington battled to the finish for second, while Brandon Lopez secured the final transfer position.

Heat Race 4 Top 10

1. Caden Kvapil

2. Ryan Millington

3. Jared Fryar

4. Matt Cox

5. Casey Kelley

6. Trey Crews

7. Andrew Grady

8. Bobby McCarty

9. Chase Murphy

10. Tyler Matthews

The four heat winners will occupy the first four starting positions in tonight’s 200 lap ValleyStar Credit Union 300, with Ward leading Pulliam, Harville and Kvapil to the green flag.

The completed starting lineup places Carson Loftin fifth, Corey Heim sixth, Landon Pembelton seventh, Ryan Millington eighth, Carson Kvapil ninth and Conner Jones tenth. (Short Track Scene)

2026 ValleyStar Credit Union 300 Starting Lineup

1. Trevor Ward

2. Lee Pulliam

3. Dillon Harville

4. Caden Kvapil

5. Carson Loftin

6. Corey Heim

7. Landon Pembelton

8. Ryan Millington

9. Carson Kvapil

10. Conner Jones

11. Treyten Lapcevich

12. Jared Fryar

13. Tristan McKee

14. Donovan Strauss

15. Doug Barnes Jr.

16. Matt Cox

17. Conner Weddell

18. Ryan Matthews

19. Jace Hale

20. Casey Kelley

21. Michael Bumgarner

22. Ryan Wilson

23. Jacob Borst

24. Trey Crews

25. Chase Burgeson

26. Peyton Sellers

27. Dylan Fetcho

28. Andrew Grady

29. Chase Robertson

30. Clay Jones

31. Deac McCaskill

32. Bobby McCarty

33. Landon Huffman

34. Chase Murphy

35. Dylan Newsome

36. Tyler Matthews

37. Tate Fogleman

38. Chase Ratliff

39. Woody Howard

40. Brandon Lopez

The starting lineup was published following the completion of all four heat races. (Short Track Scene)

By Ethan Boyles 

Things changed quickly Friday at Martinsville Speedway as Tristan McKee went from being one of the drivers in the field to the driver everyone will be chasing Saturday.

McKee was the final car on track in qualifying and laid down a 19.550 second lap to win the pole for the ValleyStar 300. According to Martinsville Speedway, the lap also set a new Late Model Stock track record.

McKee earned the pole along with a $5,000 bonus.

The top 10 qualifiers are:

1. Tristan McKee
2. Corey Heim
3. Dillon Harville
4. Caden Kvapil
5. Trevor Ward
6. Ronnie Bassett Jr.
7. Treyten Lapcevich
8. Ryan Millington
9. Carson Loftin
10. Lee Pulliam

The qualifying effort capped a day of improving speeds around the historic Martinsville half mile.

First Practice

A total of 85 drivers took time during the opening practice session.

Landon Pembelton led the way with a 20.059, followed by Tate Fogleman and Corey Heim. Tristan McKee was fourth, with Dillon Harville, Trevor Ward, Brandon Lopez, Trey Crews, Landon Huffman and Chase Johnson completing the top 10.

The opening practice top 10 were:

1. Landon Pembelton
2. Tate Fogleman
3. Corey Heim
4. Tristan McKee
5. Dillon Harville
6. Trevor Ward
7. Brandon Lopez
8. Trey Crews
9. Landon Huffman
10. Chase Johnson

Several additional drivers were among the names to watch fo KF Media based on their opening practice performance.

Landon Pembelton was P1 with a 20.059, while Corey Heim was P3 at 20.102. Landon Huffman was P9 at 20.280, followed by Caden Kvapil in P15 at 20.332, Michael Bumgarner in P16 at 20.339 and Jared Fryar in P17 at 20.355.

Lee Pulliam was P26 at 20.426, Carson Kvapil was P34 at 20.462 and Diego Mendeztorres was P70 at 20.699.

Second Practice

The second practice session saw 83 cars take time.

McKee led the way with a 19.852, while Corey Heim moved into second late in the session with a 19.891.

The top 10 in the second practice session were:

1. Tristan McKee — 19.852
2. Corey Heim — 19.891
3. Caden Kvapil — 19.899
4. Carson Kvapil — 19.901
5. Dillon Harville — 19.951
6. Landon Pembelton — 19.961
7. Peyton Sellers — 19.972
8. Matt Cox — 19.998
9. Casey Kelley — 19.999
10. Carson Loftin — 20.003

Ronnie Bassett Jr. was also tied at 20.003.

Drivers Who Withdrew

The entry list also changed throughout the day, with six drivers withdrawing their entries from the weekend’s event.

Those drivers were:

* Camden Gullie
* Dexter Canipe Jr.
* Jason York
* Max Reaves
* Ryan Miller
* Chris Horton Jr
* Sam Yarbrough
* Brandon Dean

Max Reaves, Dexter Canipe Jr. and Jason York were three of the drivers who had been hot topics during the pre practice discussion.

All three subsequently withdrew their entries from the weekend’s event.

Heat Race Lineups

Four 25 lap heat races will determine starting positions for the ValleyStar 300.

Heat Race 1

1. Tristan McKee
2. Trevor Ward
3. Carson Loftin
4. Carson Kvapil
5. Conner Weddell
6. Landon Huffman
7. Michael Bumgarner
8. Tate Fogleman
9. Cody Kelley
10. Chase Burgeson
11. Brandon Setzer
12. Trey Williams
13. Michael Hinde
14. Chase Robertson
15. Trey Canipe
16. Austin Somero
17. JD Eversole
18. Lane Woods
19. Carson Ware
20. Brady Penny
21. Derrick Coomer

Heat Race 2

1. Corey Heim
2. Ronnie Bassett Jr.
3. Lee Pulliam
4. Tyler Reif
5. Ryan Wilson
6. Conner Jones
7. Ryan Matthews
8. Peyton Sellers
9. Donovan Strauss
10. Craig Moore
11. Clay Jones
12. Chase Burrow
13. Bruce Anderson
14. Kyle Dudley
15. Derrick Lancaster
16. Chase Dixon
17. Bryan Reedy
18. Brad Housewright
19. Chase Ratliff
20. Chase Murphy
21. Jimmy Mullins

Heat Race 3

1. Dillon Harville
2. Treyten Lapcevich
3. Doug Barnes Jr.
4. Deac McCaskill
5. Landon Pembelton
6. Blake Stallings
7. Jacob Borst
8. Jace Hale
9. Dylan Fetcho
10. Woody Howard
11. Hudson Sharp
12. Ayden Millette
13. Coy Beard
14. Dylan Newsome
15. Jason Myers
16. Jonathan Shafer
17. Mason Bailey
18. Justin Carroll
19. Jamie York
20. Steve Zacharias
21. Connor Branch

Heat Race 4

1. Caden Kvapil
2. Ryan Millington
3. Matt Cox
4. Casey Kelley
5. Jared Fryar
6. Brandon Lopez
7. Bobby McCarty
8. Trey Crews
9. Andrew Grady
10. Chase Johnson
11. Matt Leicht
12. Cory Dunn
13. Tyler Matthews
14. Diego Mendeztorres
15. Stacy Puryear
16. Ryan
17. Logan Jones
18. Dylan Ward
19. Trey Burke
20. Bryson Brinkley

The heat races will be the next step toward setting the field for the ValleyStar 300.

McKee enters them as the pole sitter and new Late Model Stock track record holder, but the 300 lap feature remains ahead for a field that has continued to get faster throughout the weekend.

By Ethan Boyles

There are 89 drivers entered for this year’s ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway, but only 40 will make the main event.

That alone tells you just how insane this year’s field is going to be.

With so many drivers entered, narrowing the field down to a handful of names to watch is nearly impossible. There are former ValleyStar 300 winners, Virginia Triple Crown contenders, NASCAR national series winners, established Late Model Stock veterans and young drivers looking to make their mark at one of the biggest events of the season.

The reality is that virtually every driver who makes the 40 car field will have a legitimate opportunity to win. Martinsville has a way of producing unexpected storylines, and with this many talented drivers fighting just to make the feature, the race will begin long before the green flag falls Saturday night.

Still, there are several drivers we will be watching closely.

Corey Heim

It is hard to overlook Corey Heim when talking about this year’s ValleyStar 300.

Heim is the defending 2026 Brickyard 400 winner and has already won two NASCAR Cup Series races this season while competing on a part time schedule. He is scheduled to move into a full time Cup Series ride with 23XI Racing in 2027.

Before making that move, Heim is returning to Martinsville and the Late Model Stock ranks with Nelson Motorsports.

Heim already knows what it feels like to be close to winning the ValleyStar 300. In his first attempt in 2018, Heim came within one restart of taking the victory before losing on the final green white checkered attempt.

The current Cup Series winner stepping back into a Late Model Stock at Martinsville makes Heim one of the most intriguing drivers in the field.

Lee Pulliam

Lee Pulliam is almost impossible to leave off any list of drivers to watch at Martinsville.

A two time ValleyStar 300 winner, Pulliam came extremely close to adding another grandfather clock to his collection last year before Landon Pembelton won in overtime.

Pulliam has established himself as one of the most accomplished Late Model Stock drivers of his generation, and Martinsville has been one of the biggest stages of his career.

With another opportunity in the No. 8, Pulliam will once again be one of the drivers everyone has to keep an eye on.

Caden Kvapil

Caden Kvapil enters Martinsville with plenty on the line.

Kvapil currently leads the Virginia Late Model Triple Crown standings after winning the Hampton Heat at Langley Speedway. That victory also locked him into the ValleyStar 300.

Now he has an opportunity to add a Martinsville grandfather clock to his résumé and potentially finish the Triple Crown with another major victory.

Michael Bumgarner

Michael Bumgarner will bring the Rick Ware Racing No. 51 to Martinsville.

Bumgarner enters with an impressive Late Model Stock résumé, including back to back track championships at Hickory Motor Speedway and a 2025 season that included 22 victories.

He has also been competing in the Virginia Late Model Triple Crown this season, putting him in the middle of the championship fight heading into Martinsville.

With the backing of Rick Ware Racing and the experience he has accumulated at the front of Late Model Stock fields, Bumgarner is another driver worth watching when the green flag falls.

Landon Huffman

For local fans, Landon Huffman will be one of the most closely watched drivers in the field.

Huffman finished seventh in last year’s ValleyStar 300 and has already proven that he can run near the front at Martinsville, finishing second in the 2023 edition of the event.

This year’s race brings a new opportunity for Huffman after his recent split with Carroll Speedshop.

The Claremont, North Carolina driver has also shown plenty of speed in recent Late Model Stock competition, making another strong Martinsville run a realistic storyline heading into the weekend.

Diego Mendeztorres

Diego Mendeztorres gives Carroll Speedshop another driver to watch as the team brings a two car effort to Martinsville.

The 17 year old Mexican driver will pilot the No. 24 and comes to an event that represents one of the biggest opportunities of his young career.

Mendeztorres has continued building experience in Late Model Stock competition, and Martinsville will put that experience to the test against one of the deepest fields of the season.

Jared Fryar

Jared Fryar brings a significant personal storyline into this year’s event.

This will be Fryar’s first ValleyStar 300 since the passing of longtime car owner Jimmy Mooring. Fryar and Mooring shared two top five finishes in the event and won the 2022 Hampton Heat together.

Fryar will compete in a second Nelson Motorsports entry alongside Heim.

After finishing fifth in last year’s ValleyStar 300, Fryar returns with both experience at Martinsville and a new chapter in his career.

Carson Kvapil

Carson Kvapil already knows what it takes to win the ValleyStar 300.

Kvapil won the event in 2024 and returns this year looking for his second Martinsville grandfather clock. He will drive the No. 32 for GO FAS Racing.

With a previous ValleyStar victory already on his résumé and plenty of Late Model Stock experience at Martinsville, Kvapil will be another name to watch throughout the weekend.

The Defending Winner

Landon Pembelton returns as the defending ValleyStar 300 winner and a two time winner of the event.

Pembelton defeated Pulliam in last year’s overtime finish and now has an opportunity to become just the second three time winner of the race, joining Philip Morris.

While there are plenty of new storylines surrounding this year’s field, the defending winner will have a chance to write another chapter in Martinsville history.

Forty Spots. Eighty Nine Drivers.

The biggest storyline may ultimately be the size and depth of the field itself.

Eighty nine drivers are entered.

Only 40 will compete in the ValleyStar 300.

That means 49 drivers will see their weekend end before the main event even begins.

With four 25 lap qualifying races determining much of the field, simply getting into Saturday night’s 200 lap feature will be an accomplishment.

And once those 40 drivers take the green flag, there is no guarantee that the most obvious names will be the ones fighting for the grandfather clock at the end.

That is what makes this year’s ValleyStar 300 so compelling.

There are simply too many drivers with a legitimate opportunity to make their way to the front.

And that is exactly what makes Martinsville one of the biggest weekends on the Late Model Stock calendar.

By Ethan Boyles

Major CARS Tour partnership ends with two races remaining in the 2026 season

Landon Huffman and Carroll Speedshop have mutually agreed to part ways, effective immediately, bringing an end to a multi year partnership during the CARS Tour off week.

Carroll Speedshop announced the decision Monday, calling Huffman a valued member of the team over the past few years and saying his time, effort and commitment were an important part of the program’s growth and accomplishments. The team said the decision was not made lightly, but that both sides believe it is the appropriate path forward for both parties.

Carroll Speedshop also said the door remains open to working together again in the future, with the friendship and respect built over the years continuing beyond the racetrack.

Huffman thanked John and Justin Carroll for choosing him to drive their racecars, saying, “New doors opening and change is coming, but always Family.”

The split is significant for the CARS Tour with only two races remaining in the 2026 season. Huffman is the 2025 Tri County Speedway Late Model champion and has been a local standout, but his results in the Carroll Speedshop CARS Tour cars had not reflected his capabilities.

At Tri County earlier this month, Huffman finished 20th following a late race incident while Carroll Speedshop teammate Conner Jones went to Victory Lane. Jones is a part time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver who is also competing for the CARS Tour Late Model championship with Carroll Speedshop.

Speaking with Buddy Pulley of Above the Yellow Line on Saturday night at Wake County, Huffman addressed the challenges he had experienced with the CARS Tour program throughout the season. Huffman said that while he and the team had worked well together the previous year, things had not come together in the same way during the 2026 season. He also said that it can be easy to lose confidence when results are not coming, but reminded himself that he had not forgotten how to drive a race car.

Huffman also said he believed there was more potential in both the Carroll Speedshop equipment and himself as a driver than they had been able to experience during the season. He explained that the demands of maintaining a CARS Tour car are significantly different from his own local racing operation, where he races less frequently and has fewer demands placed on the equipment.

Carroll Speedshop also has Mexican driver Diego Mendez-Torres developing within the organization. Mendez-Torres has shown great strides and success during his debut season at Tri County Speedway while battling for the track championship.

Huffman said Saturday night that he planned to take his own personal Late Model to Newport for the next CARS Tour event. The race will give Huffman an opportunity to compete with his own equipment and see how it performs against the CARS Tour field after feeling that the car has been strong throughout the season at Wake and Tri County.

Both sides have options moving forward, although neither has announced its longer term plans.

For Huffman, several pieces of his racing program were already in place before Monday’s announcement. He has an established partnership with Cleetus McFarland and sponsorship from BaldEagle.com, including a Carroll Speedshop car that had already been run with Cleetus McFarland sponsorship. Huffman also attempted to make a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series appearance at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

The immediate next step, however, is already known.

The entry list for the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway has been released, with Huffman listed in the No. 40 race car that was previously driven by Ryan Millington. Taylor Satterfield Racing. Conner Jones is listed in the No. 44 for Carroll Speedshop, while Diego Mendez-Torres is listed in the No. 24 for Carroll Speedshop.

What happens for either side after Martinsville remains unknown, but this weekend will mark Huffman’s first race after leaving Carroll Speedshop, while Jones and Mendez-Torres will continue representing the organization at Martinsville.

Cayden Lapcevich played spoiler Saturday night at Orange County Speedway, winning the Rumble in Rougemont as the SMART Modified Tour opened its three race championship playoffs.

Lapcevich controlled the race from the front and held off a hard charging Carter McMurray to claim his first SMART Modified Tour victory. Bryce Bailey finished third.

McMurray spent much of the race working his way through the field and eventually found himself battling Jack Baldwin for second. The two drivers went back and forth side by side through a lengthy battle before McMurray was finally able to clear Baldwin.

By that point, however, McMurray had run out of time to challenge Lapcevich for the win.

The championship picture changed dramatically behind the leaders.

Danny Bohn entered the night as the points leader and was running near the front early in the race. Following the stage break, Bohn and Carson Loftin made contact. When the cars came to a stop, Chase Robertson’s car upended Loftin’s car from behind, resulting in an extended red flag.

The incident ended the nights of all three drivers. Bohn ultimately finished 22nd, while Loftin and Robertson were also unable to continue.

Bohn’s early exit had a major impact on the championship battle. Ryan Newman spent much of the night running in the middle of the pack, but with Bohn out of the race, Newman became more effective in the points battle. Newman finished 14th.

Brandon Ward finished fourth, while Jake Crum finished ninth.

Despite the different finishes, Newman, Crum, Ward and Bohn leave Orange County tied at 557 points with two races remaining in the championship.

Conner Jones also put together a respectable run despite fighting an ill handling car throughout the day. Jones had been describing the handling issues before the race, and while he was able to run well for much of the night, he faded late and finished 18th.

The night also included an early setback for Joey Coulter, who crashed during qualifying. Coulter was forced to go to a backup car for the race.

While Lapcevich celebrated his first SMART Modified Tour victory, the championship battle became a four way tie.

The SMART Modified Tour now heads to Tri County Speedway on October 3 for the Freeman Hoosier 99.

With Ryan Newman, Jake Crum, Brandon Ward and Danny Bohn all tied at 557 points, only two races remain to determine the 2026 SMART Modified Tour champion.

The SMART Modified Tour heads to Orange County Speedway tonight for the Rumble in Rougemont, the opening race of the 2026 SMART Modified Tour playoffs.

With 27 Modifieds entered, tonight marks the beginning of the three race championship battle. Five drivers are already locked into the championship field, while five Wild Card drivers enter tonight in a must win situation to earn their way into the final two playoff races.

After Friday’s practice sessions, there are four drivers we’re particularly interested in watching.

Paulie Hartwig III

Hartwig immediately caught our attention Friday, posting a 13.581 second lap to lead the later practice session. After showing that kind of speed in practice, we’ll be watching to see if he can carry it into tonight’s race. ( Edit: Upon arriving at the race on Saturday, Paulie was not one of the 27 entries running the event, but had posted a test time on Friday. Only 25 Mods attempted the race on Saturday)

Ryan Newman

Newman is the defending winner of the Rumble in Rougemont and enters tonight as one of the five drivers already locked into the championship playoffs.

Conner Jones

Jones is coming off his most recent CARS Tour victory at Tri County Speedway and will make his SMART Modified Tour start tonight in the No. 17. The part time NASCAR driver brings plenty of momentum into his Modified debut at Orange County. Jones has five previous modified attemps with one strong showing in record.

Carter McMurray

McMurray enters tonight as one of the five Wild Card drivers who must win to advance into the championship battle. He also showed speed Friday, running a 13.673 second lap in the later practice session.

The Playoffs Start Here

Tonight isn’t just another SMART Modified Tour race.

The Rumble in Rougemont is the first step toward deciding this year’s champion, with the playoff field heading to Tri County Speedway on October 3 before the championship finale at North Wilkesboro Speedway on October 17.

And with five drivers fighting simply to get into the championship, the pressure will be on from the moment the green flag drops.

For KF Media, we’re watching four drivers in particular: Hartwig for the practice speed, Newman for the experience, Jones for the momentum, and McMurray for the playoff pressure.

We’ll be at Orange County Speedway tonight bringing the Rumble in Rougemont to the General Admission social channels.

Conner Jones brought home the hardware Sunday at Tri County Speedway, holding off Carson Loftin and points leader Caden Kvapil to claim the zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car victory.

Kvapil led Lap 1 before Jones moved to the inside for the lead on Lap 16. The two continued racing side by side through Lap 25 as the battle for the top spot remained intense.

On Lap 23, the No. 10 made contact with the No. 8 while running side by side in Turn 3, but no caution was called. Smoke appeared from the No. 10 on Lap 29, while the No. 95 suffered an apparent engine issue on Lap 34.

Lap 36 saw contact involving Tyrell and Bassett, sending Bassett high through Turn 3 without bringing out a caution. Jones moved to the high groove on Lap 38 as the field continued under green.

The first caution came on Lap 44. Keelan Harvick experienced trouble on pit road and went under the hood, while the No. 15 of Hale also worked under the hood during the caution.

After the restart, the race remained green through Lap 75. Treyten Lapcevich had caught Jones and Kvapil, turning the fight for the lead into a three car battle.

Another caution came on Lap 89, with Doug Barnes on pit road for hood repairs. The No. 99 and No. 15 were also on pit road during the caution.

A final caution on Lap 120 saw the No. 57 of Landon Huffman, a teammate of Jones, spin and bring out the caution. The incident stacked the field up for a late five lap shootout to the finish.

In the final five laps, Carson Loftin made a late race charge to move into second, while Caden Kvapil brought his No. 88 home third.

Jones held on for the victory, adding another CARS Tour win at Tri County Speedway and becoming the winningest driver in CARS Tour history at the track.

Top Three

1. Conner Jones

2. Carson Loftin

3. Caden Kvapil

After heavy rain moved into the track and brought on the most rainfall the facility has seen in such a short amount of time all season.

The day had progressed as scheduled, with practice sessions completed before the weather moved in. The rain ultimately prevented qualifying from taking place and brought Saturday’s planned racing program to a halt.

With qualifying rained out, the starting lineups for both CARS Tour races will be determined by owners points. The fields will line up according to the current points standings rather than qualifying times when the races take place Sunday.

Late Model Stock Starting Lineup

1. #88 Caden Kvapil

2. #77 Treyten Lapcevich

3. #44 Conner Jones

4. #5 Chase Burrow

5. #16 Chad McCumbee

6. #62 Keelan Harvick

7. #4 Parker Eatmon

8. #57 Landon Huffman

9. #7 Thomas Beane

10. #95 London McKenzie

11. #20 Carson Loftin

12. #22B Chase Burgeson

13. #04 Ronnie Bassett Jr.

14. #88B Doug Barnes Jr.

15. #22 Jared Fryar

16. #15 Jace Hale

17. #4G Matt Gould

18. #B1 Mini Tyrrell

19. #8 Lee Pulliam

20. #09 Riley Gentry

21. #37 Chase Robertson

22. #10 Sam Butler

23. #99 Dylan Fetcho

24. #995 Billy Snodgrass

25. #155 Hudson Sharp

Pro Late Model Starting Lineup

1. #1 T.J. DeCaire

2. #6 Mason Walters

3. #44 Conner Jones

4. #31 Brody Monahan

5. #54 Kaden Honeycutt

6. #20 Evan McKnight

7. #25 Rodney Dowless Jr.

8. #15 Case James

9. #97 Dylan Garner

10. #30 Treyten Lapcevich

11. #11 Jack Baldwin

12. #47 Carter Whalen

13. #6L Brandon Lopez

14. #12 Colton Hale

15. #27 Vito Cancilla

16. #55 Palmer Haag

17. #15J Jake Johnson

18. #51 Parker Eatmon

19. #43 Joshua Horniman

20. #27R Kole Raz

21. #2 Austin Thompson

The postponed doubleheader will now be run Sunday at Tri County Speedway. The Pro Late Model race is scheduled for 1:30 PM, followed by the Late Model race at 2:30 PM.

The garage will open at 12:00 PM, with the drivers meeting scheduled for 12:15 PM. No specific grandstand opening time has been announced.

Races will be broadcast live on FloRacing.

CARS Tour Returns to a Wide Open Tri County Speedway

The CARS Tour returns to Tri County Speedway Saturday night, and while the home track advantage may seem obvious, this weekend’s field makes that anything but a guarantee.

The SoundGear 225 presented by Stoke Shoes brings both the Late Model Stock and Pro Late Model divisions to the .400 mile oval for the penultimate CARS Tour championship race of the season. What makes this one especially difficult to predict is the depth of recent Tri County experience throughout both fields.

There are drivers coming to the track who have already won here. There are championship contenders who have spent years racing here. There are teams with deep ties to the track. And several drivers have already turned laps at Tri County this week.

This could be anybody’s race.

Huffman Has the Home Track Advantage

Landon Huffman remains the driver most closely associated with Tri County Speedway.

The defending track champion has already won multiple Late Model races at the track this season, including the September 5 feature where he led the final 85 laps.

Huffman also came close to winning the 2025 CARS Tour race at Tri County before a late incident ended his run while battling for the lead.

He will be one of the favorites Saturday, but the field around him makes a repeat of that home track advantage anything but automatic.

Beane Still Has Something to Prove

Thomas Beane has unfinished business at Tri County.

He led the first 65 laps of last year’s championship deciding Late Model race before an incident with 10 laps remaining ended his night and his championship hopes. Huffman went on to claim the championship, while Beane finished third in the final standings.

Beane has continued to be a familiar name near the front at Tri County and will have another opportunity Saturday to turn that history into a CARS Tour victory.

Bassett Has Already Won Here

Ronnie Bassett Jr. brings something else to the equation: a 2026 Tri County victory.

Bassett won the May 2 Late Model feature over Beane and Lanie Buice. He followed that with another strong performance May 16, qualifying fastest and leading 52 laps before Huffman took the win.

That makes Bassett another driver who has already demonstrated he can run at the front of Huffman’s home track.

Fresh Laps and Familiar Names

Several CARS Tour drivers also competed in Wednesday night’s ASA STARS National Tour Ebb Logistics 250, giving them fresh race laps before Saturday.

Conner Jones fought through a pit penalty and multiple stops to finish eighth. Vito Cancilla, Keelan Harvick and Brandon Lopez also competed in the ASA event.

Kaden Honeycutt has spent much of the week working at the track, testing, setting up and driving cars for Christopher Bell and Brandon Lopez. Bell went on to win Wednesday night’s ASA race.

Honeycutt, who was the keynote speaker at the 2025 Tri County Speedway Championship Banquet, will return Saturday in the Pro Late Model field.

The list of drivers with Tri County experience continues beyond those names. Caden Kvapil, Kade Brown and Treyten Lapcevich all bring recent success or extensive experience at the track, while the Pro Late Model field includes championship contenders Mason Walters and Conner Jones, both of whom know Tri County well.

The Pro Late Model Championship Could Be Just as Good

The Pro Late Model race deserves particular attention.

Walters leads Jones by only nine points entering the weekend, putting the championship battle directly into a race at a track both drivers know well.

Neither driver has to learn Tri County on Saturday. They have both spent enough time there to understand what it takes to be competitive, and they will have to navigate a field filled with other experienced drivers.

That could make the Pro Late Model race one of the most interesting battles of the night.

Drivers to Watch

Late Model Stock

Landon Huffman: The home track favorite with multiple wins at Tri County this season and one of the strongest recent records at the track.

Thomas Beane: A driver with unfinished business after coming within 10 laps of a championship last year and another strong opportunity Saturday.

Caden Kvapil: The championship leader, a recent CARS Tour winner and a driver who already knows how to win at Tri County.

Pro Late Model

Joshua Horniman: Horniman could be the breakthrough candidate. With extensive Tri County Speedway experience, Saturday could be the night he turns that familiarity into his first CARS Tour Pro Late Model victory.

Conner Jones: Jones enters with championship pressure and fresh Tri County laps from Wednesday’s ASA race, where he fought through adversity to finish eighth. He is only nine points behind Walters, making every position important.

Mason Walters: The championship leader brings plenty of Tri County experience into Saturday’s race. With only nine points separating him from Jones, Walters has an opportunity to protect the points lead while competing at a track he knows well.

Home Track Advantage or Not?

That is the question.

We can highlight Huffman, Beane, Bassett, Kvapil, Walters, Jones and plenty of other names, but the bigger story is the depth of the field.

Both CARS Tour races are packed with drivers who have experience at Tri County Speedway. Many have won here. Others have come close. The championship contenders already know the track, and several drivers will arrive with fresh laps from this week’s ASA race.

The home track advantage may belong to Huffman or Beane, but the opportunity to win belongs to everyone.

That is what makes Saturday night’s CARS Tour doubleheader one to watch.

By Ethan Boyles