Huffman, Wilson among 1st-place finishers at Tri-County Speedway

The Smart Electric 335 at Tri-County Speedway in Hudson on Saturday, Sept. 5, officially kicked off Tri-County Speed Week as the first of three major events in just eight days at the track.

Defending track champion Landon Huffman led the final 85 laps to dominate the 100-lap Late Model feature after pole-sitter Sam Butler was out in front for the first 15 laps. Hudson Sharp also passed Butler along the way as they finished second and third, respectively, while Ryan Zima came in fourth and Kaeden Ballos finished fifth.

In the 50-lap Limited Late Model race, Lenoir’s own Owen Wilson won the pole but started fifth after a five-car invert. Jake Freeman led the opening three laps before third-generation driver Chase Pollard passed him, although a restart shortly thereafter allowed Wilson to move back to the front.

Wilson and Jackson Sparks ultimately traded the lead four times before Wilson took the top spot for good on the 35th lap, while points leader Walter Jenkins IV challenged Wilson but had to settle for second. Konner Leicht, an 11-year-old from Mills River, added a third-place finish, while Pollard came in fourth and veteran Martin Nesbitt took fifth.

In the Outlaw feature, Sheflon Clay started from the pole and drove away from the field as he led all 35 laps. Meanwhile, the top two in the points standings — Dakota Slagle and David Messer — battled each other for the runner-up spot. In the end, Slagle came in second, Messer finished third, and Trey Epps came in fourth.

John Reynolds won another Street Stock race. The Connelly Springs native started from the pole, grabbed the lead before the first turn, and never looked back, with Matt Hatton finishing second and Kyle Jenkins posting his best finish of the season by rounding out the podium.

Jordan Layne started the Renegade feature from the pole and was leading when Joshua Gunter spun on the third lap, bringing out the caution flag. On the restart, Klint Townsend drove from third place to the lead. Townsend led the final 32 laps to take the checkered flag ahead of Kyle Dubeau and Layne. However, in post-race inspection, Townsend was disqualified for an infraction in the rear end of his machine, which gave the victory to Dubeau.

In other weekly action, Jeff Linkous beat Jason Garwood to win the 20-lap FWD feature, Todd Bradbury won the Crown Vic feature, and Roger Nance took the victory in the Carolina Mini Stock feature.

Tri-County hosted the ASA STARS National Tour on Wednesday before the CARS Tour takes over the track tonight (Saturday, Sept. 12).

Goble wins at Newport Speedway

Lenoir driver Josh Goble and his Mullberry R&D race team drove across the mountain on Sept. 5 and won the 40-lap Super Truck feature at Newport Speedway in Tennessee.

Jacob “Rocket Man” Hayes, also from Lenoir, finished second, and both drivers are expected to compete at Hickory Speedway on Sept. 19.

HorsePower Park hosts Labor Day Shootout

HorsePower Park in Morganton hosted the Labor Day Shootout on Sept. 5, with the main attraction being the return of the popular Late Model division, which saw Joey Johnson travel from Elkin to take the victory.

The rest of the top five, in order, was as follows: Keith Hart, Joseph Seyk, Jason Matteson, and Joel Bray.

Zac Moore won the Crown Vic race, with Caden Barker and his brother Chandler Barker coming in second and third, respectively. Dustin Hyler finished fourth, while Haydon Turner rounded out the top five.

Freddie Frady, driving the Ray Roland-owned No. 38 car, won the Thunder Bomber main event, while the “Morganton Missile” Tim Moretz finished in the runner-up position, Nathan Starnes came in third, Mike Brown took fourth, and Josh Husley finished fifth.

In the Renegade feature, Brian Sipe beat two Hamricks to the checkered flag as Justin Hamrick was second ahead of Jason Hamrick. John Fox and Riley Tester were fourth and fifth, respectively.

In the Moretz Mechanical Pro 4 division, AJ Barker was the winner, Patrick Annas finished second, Mason Pugh took third, and Drexel’s Clay Ross came in fourth.

Avery White beat Brandon Bond to win the FWD feature, and Brayden Saam took home another trophy in the Young Guns race.

The next event at HorsePower Park is set to take place on Sept. 19.

HMS holds 50th Bobby Isaac Memorial

The 50th running of the Bobby Isaac Memorial was held on Sept. 5 at the historic Hickory Motor Speedway, with Michael Bumgarner taking the checkered flag in the 125-lap Late Model feature after starting from the pole and leading every lap, eventually finishing ahead of runner-up Kyle Campbell and third-place finisher Thomas Beane.

In the 60-lap Limited Late Model race, Connor Hall started from the pole and led the opening 40 laps. Brett Suggs overtook Hall to lead the next 10 laps before Hall made the winning pass and drove on to the victory. Suggs was second and Dexter Canipe III was third.

Cody DeMarmels started from the pole and led all 35 laps in the Street Stock feature. Coming to the checkered flag, points leader Trey Buff was third ahead of Kyle Almquist and Marshall Sutton. However, Almquist drove his No. 50 car deep into turn four. He slammed into Buff, knocking both cars up the track. Sutton took advantage and finished third behind Jake Henson, while Kyle Divanna was fourth, Almquist fell to fifth, and Buff came in seventh.

In other action, Chuck Wall beat Shane Canipe to win the 25-lap Mini Stock race and Danny Trent won the Baby Grand feature.

Hickory Motor Speedway returns to action on Sept. 19 for Double Points Championship Night.