By Bryce Vowan
VAN BUREN, Ark. (May 9, 2026) — Crawford County Speedway had not always been kind to Blake Wilson, but on Saturday night the Mabelvale driver finally turned frustration into triumph.
Wilson survived late-race pressure from defending Crawford County winner Kevin Simkins to score his first Mod Lites of Arkansas victory of the 2026 season during round two of the Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lite Special Series.
“My luck has never been the best there,” Wilson said. “From mechanical failures to on-track incidents, I felt like I kept coming up short.”
Wilson’s night began with an impressive charge from the rear of the field to win his heat race, earning the pole position for the feature.
Once the green flag dropped, Wilson quickly established himself as the driver to beat, building a sizable advantage during the early stages of the race. However, multiple late cautions erased his lead and brought Simkins directly to his rear bumper for the closing laps.
The two drivers briefly raced side-by-side as the pressure mounted, but Wilson remained composed behind the wheel.
“I could hear him behind me, and I knew if I missed my line that the win was probably done,” Wilson said. “But I stayed calm and the car did the rest.”
Wilson held on to secure the victory, while Simkins settled for second. Jeromy Wilson, Blake’s father, completed the podium in third. J.J. Borden finished fourth, followed by Dalton Hill in fifth.
The Mod Lites of Arkansas tour now turns its attention to the Mark Parker Memorial on May 16 at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Arkansas.
