ONE IN THE SAAM: Father-son duo from Rhodhiss leading points standings at HorsePower Park

Four drivers from Burke County and one from Caldwell County lead the standings at the midway point of the 2026 dirt-track racing season at HorsePower Park.

The Saam family from Rhodhiss has two different divisions at the track covered. Kevin Saam is on top in the FWD points to date, holding a large lead on second-place Josh Husley. And Kevin’s 11-year-old son, Brayden, leads the Young Guns points ahead of Josh Carroll.

Drexel native Clay Ross is ahead of Adam Piercy in the Pro Four points, and the Crown Vic division has Morganton drivers Chandler Barker and Homer Cook sitting at 1-2 in the standings.

Lenoir’s Nathan Starnes leads Marion driver Freddy Frady in the Thunder Bomber standings, and Rusty Douville and John Fox are in a deadlock for the points lead in the Renegade division.

HorsePower Park races every other Saturday night until late October, with its next action set for this evening (July 11), featuring all six weekly divisions and the debut of the Bell & Bell Vintage Modified series.

Tri-County postpones Firecracker 250

Tri-County Speedway in Hudson was set to own this past weekend locally, but the track had to postpone its annual Fourth of July event, the Pepsi Firecracker 250.

During the July 3 practice, large chunks of asphalt began to break off the track due to the heat blanket that engulfed this part of the country at the beginning of the month. Officials painfully made the decision to err on the side of caution and postponed the event until July 25.

Checking the Tri-County midseason points standings, Lenoir native and short-track veteran “Charging” Charlie Watson leads young gun Kaeden Ballos for the Late Model track championship.

Multi-time winner Walter Jenkins IV is ahead of Jake Freeman in the Limited Late Model standings, while the Street Stock division has Mike Hatton ahead of Gary Aldrich.

David Messer is leading the Outlaws points, while Allison Houston is on top in the Carolina Mini-Stocks. Gamewell driver Klint Townsend leads Kyle Dubeau for the Renegade point title, and Skylar Brown holds the FWD lead ahead of Drew Porter.

In the fan favorite Vintage series, Jonathan Fleming leads Dee McCall, and Dominic Morlando leads James Powell in the Crown Vic division.

Tri-County returns to racing with rare back-to-back weeks on July 25 and Aug. 1.

Smart holds Renegades lead at HMS

At historic Hickory Motor Speedway, Michael Bumgarner leads 2019 track champion Thomas Beane of Hudson as he seeks a third consecutive Late Model series title, and Paityn Feyen leads Mark Johnson in the Limited Late Model standings.

Connelly Springs drivers are on top of the Renegade standings as Steve Smart leads Jordon Cook, while Trey Buff holds the Street Stock division lead ahead of Marshall Sutton.

AJ Sanders leads the Mini-Stocks, and Bumgarner is ahead of Jacob Hayes for the Super Truck championship.

HMS is back in action this evening and again on July 18.