Tri-County Speedway holds penultimate event of 2026

Twenty-five Late Model Stock Car drivers invaded Tri-County Speedway in Hudson on Saturday, Oct. 24, and put on an incredible show for the packed crowd thanks to a field that was full of past champions and up-and-coming superstars.

Among those in attendance were Michael Bumgarner and Paityn Feyen, who recently won track championships at Hickory Motor Speedway. But it was Ben Morabito who won the pole and led the opening two laps of the 75-lap feature.

Landon Huffman, who won a track title at Tri-County last year, took the lead on the third lap before Morabito moved back in front on the seventh lap. And after those two battled door-to-door for more than 30 laps, Huffman passed Morabito again on the 49th lap.

Hudson Sharp eventually made his way to second and challenged Huffman for the top spot, but Huffman was able to take the checkered flag ahead of him. Notably, a film crew from FloSports was on hand filming a three-part documentary about Huffman and his Claremont racing team that will air in February 2027 as part of the CARS Tour opener in Bradenton, Fla.

As for the rest of the top five, it consisted of Thomas Beane in third, Morabito in fourth, and Diego Mendez-Torres in fifth. The next five finishers, in order, were Cameron Bolin, Lanie Buice, Slade Parsons, Adam Brickley, and Ryan Zima, while Bumgarner came in 11th and points leader Charlie Watson finished 12th.

The Limited Late Model division ran twin 35-lap features, with Walter Jenkins IV taking the pole and winning the race in the opening feature, which was slowed by five cautions. Twelve-year-old Konner Leight led for a couple of laps midway through the race, but ended up taking third behind Chase Pollard, while Coleman Chapman came in fourth and Clarkson Hagan rounded out the top five.

The top five finishers were inverted to start the second feature, with Pollard making contact with Chapman on turn three of the first lap, causing him to crash hard into the wall. Pollard ultimately led every lap to take the win.

“I’m super happy and sick at the same time,” Pollard said in victory lane after finishing ahead of Jenkins in second and Gerardo Peralta in third. “I thought Coleman was going to drive in the corner deeper than he did, and I knocked him into the wall. I hate it.”

The Outlaw cars also ran twin features, although their races consisted of 25 laps. In the opener, points leader David Messer started on the pole, but Dakota Slagle quickly took the lead and battled Messer throughout the race before settling for the runner-up spot after being spun by Messer on the final lap. Meanwhile, Matt Leicht finished first, Jonah Cullen came in third, Messer took fourth, and Sheflon Clay was the fifth-place finisher.

Speaking of Clay, he led all 25 laps of the second feature, with Cullen coming in second and Slagle finishing third.

Matt Hatton started from the pole in the 35-lap Street Stock race. On the initial start, three cars — Jamie Sutton, Gary Aldrich, and Landon St. Clair — piled up on the front stretch. Then on the second attempt, Terrence Tucker grabbed the lead and remained in front until the fifth lap when Johnny Reynolds passed him.

The younger Reynolds was soon pressured by his father, John Reynolds, with the two battling door-to-door for 15 laps until the elder Reynolds took the lead on lap 22 and stayed in front the rest of the way. In addition, Tucker and Hatton finished second and third, respectively, Johnny Reynolds came in fourth, and Mark Goin was the fifth-place finisher.

Tri-County also welcomed the Super Trucks, who made their first appearance of the year at the track. Clay started on the pole and led the first 10 laps before being passed by Jacob “Rocket Man” Hayes, who later held off Clay for the win.

“I think Clay had a better truck, but we were able to get around him and stay out front,” Hayes said after the top two finishers were the only drivers on the lead lap when the checkered flag flew. “This is definitely an unexpected victory and (we’ve been) thrashing on the truck all week to get it ready. Hopefully the fans enjoyed themselves and we can get to race more often here.”

In the night’s remaining race, Dominic Morlando was the Crown Vic winner ahead of Cooper Harvey and Treyse Parkins.

Tri-County will close out the 2026 season tonight (Saturday, Oct. 31). All weekly divisions will be in action as track champions will be crowned, with gates opening at 4 p.m. and the first race beginning at 6:30 p.m.