Babbitt Bags Valentine’s Day Victory to Close Florida Winter Nationals

Feature, Mod Lite, News

Corey Babbitt celebrates in victory lane after scoring his second win of the week in Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lite feature action on Feb. 14 during the Florida Winter Nationals at Ocala Speedway. (Photo by Jimmy May)

By Ben Deatherage

OCALA, Fla. (Feb. 14, 2026) — Corey Babbitt capped the 2026 Florida Winter Nationals in dominant fashion, scoring the Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lite feature win on the eighth and final night of competition at Ocala Speedway. The 25-lap Valentine’s Day shootout on the 3/8-mile oval saw the New Caney, Texas, driver collect his second victory of the week and the $1,000 winner’s payday after another commanding performance against a stout field.

Delaware’s Ryan McKinney paced the opening circuit after expertly navigating the high side to lead lap one and establish early breathing room. Behind him, Jaedon McDowell — last year’s Sugar Bowl winner and 2024 Tennessee Mod Lite Racing Association champion — battled fiercely with Corey Babbitt for second. Babbitt secured the spot on lap five and quickly went on the offensive, slipping low past McKinney exiting turn two on lap seven to seize command. Once out front, Babbitt began to distance himself, encountering lapped traffic by lap eight but maintaining a strong advantage.

A caution on lap 11 reset the field, and on the restart, McDowell moved back into second before incidental contact between him and McKinney resulted in McKinney getting upside down to bring out a red flag. When racing resumed, inaugural Florida Winter Nationals champion and 2023 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s winner Ronnie Choate inherited the runner-up spot and applied steady pressure.

Multiple late cautions erased Babbitt’s lead, but he remained flawless on each restart. A final stoppage with three laps to go set up one last sprint, and Babbitt drove away in the closing circuits to secure the victory.

Choate settled for a solid second-place finish, while 2024 Delaware State champion Brandon Dennis completed the podium in third. Ohioan Carson Hubbard outdueled Maryland’s Tim White for fourth.

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