Burke driver Huffman battles hard in big event at HMS

Hickory Motor Speedway held the fifth annual Jack Ingram Memorial 111 and inducted its inaugural class into the HMS Hall of Fame on Saturday evening, Aug. 1.

A large crowd packed the grandstands to celebrate the legends and watch the future. Sixteen members were inducted in the first class, including four NASCAR HOF members (Ralph Earnhardt, Harry Gant, Ned Jarrett, and Jack Ingram) plus local and national stars that included Tommy Houston, Morgan Shepherd, John Settlemyer, Ned Setzer, Max Prestwood Jr., Shane Huffman, and others.

2025 East Burke High School graduate Landon S. Huffman won the pole for the 111-lap Late Model feature. Huffman plans to compete in another seven races this season including the CARS Tour events at Tri-County Speedway and at HMS along with at least one ARCA event.

Parker Eatmon started alongside Huffman on the front row and was able to lead the opening two laps. Huffman then made the pass and stayed out front until the 61st lap. Points leader Michael Bumgarner was able to take the lead and stayed out front for four laps before Huffman retook the lead.

The fifth yellow flag of the race came out on the 84th lap when Christopher Martin Jr. came to a stop on the front stretch. On the restart, Eatmon passed Huffman for the lead. The two young drivers raced door-to-door and traded the lead four times before Eatmon got under Huffman coming off the fourth turn and spun Huffman into the pit road tire barrier then slammed into him.

The crash ended the race for the two fastest cars in the event. After the incident, crew members from both sides had to be separated on pit road. Both Eatmon and Huffman agreed afterward that it was just a hard racing accident.

“We were both going for the win and racing each other hard. Those things tend to happen at Hickory,” said Huffman.

On the restart, Bumgarner inherited the lead with just 14 laps to go. Ryan Millington and Bumgarner traded the lead in a side-by-side battle with Bumgarner leading the final seven laps to win the premier event in his No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevy.

“This is one Hickory crown jewel race I had left on my bucket list,” Bumgarner said in victory lane. “I told Rick (Ware) if we won, I was keeping the trophy, and I intended on taking it home with me.”

Millington finished second ahead of Cody Kelly and Thomas Beane. Bumgarner extended his points lead over Beane with just three races left to decide the 2026 track championship.

In the Leapfrog Landscape Tri-State Triple Crown challenge, Dexter Canipe III won the pole and was offered a $500 bonus if he would start in the rear and win the race. He chose to stay on the front row. When the green flag dropped, Canipe led all 60 laps to take the victory. Thomas Beane ran second for 59 laps until Mason Walters passed him on the last lap for second. Carter McMurray was fourth and Chris Chapman finished fifth.

In Street Stock action, Cody DeMarmels won the pole, but Robert Strmiska took the early lead. Burke County driver Steve Smart started fourth but had mechanical issues that ended his night early.

Strmiska and DeMarmels were cutting through traffic when Strmiska rammed Marshall Sutton going into the first turn, causing Sutton to spin. Officials determined Strmiska was involved and/or responsible for the caution and was put in the back of the pack.

This put Connelly Springs’ Johnny Reynolds, who was driving a backup car, on the front row for the restart. Reynolds had issues with his primary car in practice and barely avoided crashing the car. The team unloaded the backup car in time to qualify third.

On the restart, Reynolds challenged DeMarmels but “Ole John” didn’t have enough to be a factor. Thomas Lee was third ahead of Kase Almquist and Strmiska.

The Carolina Pro Late Model Tour raced for 100 laps, and Kyle Campbell came home victorious. Hudson Canipe was the runner-up followed by third-generation driver Jack Baldwin. Carson Ware and Cameron Clifford rounded out the top five.

HMS will host the Throwback Weekend for the CARS Tour today (Aug. 8) before returning to weekly action on Aug. 22.

Tri-County again can’t dodge rain

Tri-County Speedway has battled Mother Nature for most of the last month. Having both events in July rained out, the track and its fans were ready for short track Saturday night action. But after only 47 laps on Aug. 1, the rain settled over the track and ended the evening.

Before the weather, the Crown Vic division ran a caution-free 20-lap main event. Dominic Morlando beat Tyler Saxton to the checkered flag by over five seconds. Shane Lisk was third and Logan Greene was fourth.

The Grand National Super Series started the first of its planned twin 50-lap features. When the rain stopped the action on the 27th lap, Chris Burns was out front and declared the victor.

Matt Wallace, son of former Cup Series driver Mike Wallace, finished second. Mike Kurkowski, Isaiah Hogan, and “Super” Dave Hutchinson rounded out the top five.

Tri-County will be back in action on Aug. 15 for the annual Firecracker 250.