carolinasprinttour Archives

The Midnight Rider Strikes Again as McLain Holds Off Miller in CST Thriller at Friendship

By Evan McCrory ELKIN, N.C. (Apr. 18, 2026) — A scorching April afternoon set the stage in the valleys of North Carolina as 16 RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars rolled into Friendship Motor Speedway for the Carolina Sprint Tour’s first appearance at the facility since 2021. The night opened with Radical Race Gear hot laps, where Pennsylvania’s Trevor Gach continued his early-season speed streak. Piloting the Carber Racing entry, Gach topped the charts for the second consecutive event with a blistering lap of 15.186 seconds. Heat race action proved eventful. Matthew Wall went for a tumble in turn three, bringing a collective pause from the crowd—fortunately, he emerged unharmed. In another incident, Robert Tyler and Ben McCall made contact entering turn one, collecting Gach in the process. When the dust settled, George Loux and Greg Smyre claimed heat race victories. Following a redraw of the top eight, Jake McLain and Robert Tyler led the field to green for the 25-lap, $1,000-to-win main event. McLain wasted no time asserting control, charging to the lead through the opening corners [Read More]

Loux Dominates Carolina Sprint Tour Return to Lancaster

By Evan McCrory LANCASTER, S.C. (Apr. 4, 2026) — The Carolina Sprint Tour presented by GSR Chassis made its long-awaited return to Lancaster Motor Speedway on Saturday night, bringing a good crop of RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars to “The Big Half Mile” for the series’ first appearance at the track since 2015. Following the redraw, 2025 Kevin Huntley Memorial champion Dillan Baldwin and defending series champion George Loux led the field to green for the 25-lap feature. Loux wasted no time asserting control, jumping to the early lead at the drop of the green flag. The race’s first incident came on lap four when Pennsylvania’s Trevor Gach made contact with the wall in turn four, sending his machine into a dramatic cartwheel before landing back on all four tires. Gach was uninjured, but his night came to an early end. On the restart, Loux maintained command while a fierce battle for second unfolded between Baldwin and Biscuit Williams. The action slowed again on lap eight when Greg Smyre spun and made contact with the inside wall. [Read More]

Smith Scores First Career Carolina Sprint Tour Victory at Lavonia Speedway

By Evan McCrory LAVONIA, Ga. (Mar. 28, 2026) — The Carolina Sprint Tour presented by GSR Chassis made its lone appearance in the Peach State Saturday night, bringing 18 RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars to Lavonia Speedway for an action-packed program. Ontario, Canada’s Josh Shantz and Floridan Robbie Smith—making just his second weekend start with the series—led the field to green. Smith wasted no time asserting himself, grabbing the lead in the opening corners and quickly establishing control out front. A lap three incident involving George Loux and Dillan Baldwin brought out the first caution, though both drivers were able to continue. On the restart, Smith once again pulled away from Shantz and the rest of the field. The race’s second caution came on lap 20 when Ben McCall spun in front of the leaders. Another stoppage with two laps remaining, involving Chris Humblet, set up a dramatic finish. On the ensuing restart, Trevor Gach went over the wheel of another car and flipped in turn four. Gach was uninjured. On the final restart, Smith remained composed [Read More]

Leoffler Wins Wild Carolina Sprint Tour Season Opener

By Evan McCrory GASTONIA, N.C. (Mar. 6, 2026) — It was a beautiful early March evening in North Carolina and a perfect time to kick off the 2026 season for the Carolina Sprint Tour presented by GSR Chassis at Carolina Speedway. A strong field of 20 RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars signed in for the event, featuring former series champions, past winners, regular contenders still searching for their first victory, and three rookies eager to make their mark on the series. When the green flag waved in the feature, Jeff Oliver immediately jumped to the lead heading into turn one and began setting the pace for the field. Just one lap into the race, Matthew Wall pulled into the pits with fueling issues. The race’s biggest moment came on lap eight. While navigating around the slower car of Patrick Bateman, Oliver was also trying to hold off the hard-charging Connor Leoffler. Contact occurred when Oliver rode over Bateman’s left rear tire, sending the leader into a frightening end-over-end flip down the front straightaway. Oliver’s car came to [Read More]

Oliver Ties All-Time Wins Record with Clutch Victory in his Home State

By Evan McCrory TOCCOA, Ga. (Jun. 21, 2025) — The Carolina Sprint Tour presented by GSR Chassis wrapped up a sizzling doubleheader weekend under the summer sun on Saturday, June 21st, at the high-banked Toccoa Speedway in Northeast Georgia. With temperatures soaring and competition heating up, a dozen RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars signed in to do battle on the lightning-fast red clay oval. Following a redraw, Jeff Oliver and Jake McLain shared the front row for the main event. Oliver jumped to the early lead and controlled the pace for most of the race, expertly navigating traffic and fending off challenges from a hungry field behind him. Drama struck on lap 20 when Matthew Wall slowed with mechanical issues, drawing a caution and bunching up the field for a final dash to the checkered flag. On the restart, the Pendergrass pilot held off heavy pressure from Jadan Bowling from North Carolina and South Carolina’s John Frutchey to score his second win of the season and 21st career victory, tying him with Jake McLain for the all-time [Read More]

Bowling Bests the Field at Travelers Rest for Fourth Win of 2025

By Evan McCrory TRAVELERS REST, S.C. (Jun. 20, 2025) — Under picture-perfect skies in the scenic upstate mountains of South Carolina, the Carolina Sprint Tour presented by GSR Chassis brought 14 RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars to life at Travelers Rest Speedway on Friday night, delivering thrilling action from start to finish. When the green flag waved, George Loux jumped to an early lead from the inside lane, but it was Jadan Bowling who made the race-winning pass in turn two on lap two. The action slowed on lap four when Cale Cozad spun in the fourth corner, bringing out the night’s first caution. Multiple restart attempts followed, including a tangle between Richard Wisdo and John Frutchey. Once the field settled into rhythm, things stayed clean until lap 14, when series rookie Matthew Wall spun while being lapped by leader Bowling. From there, it was all Jadan Bowling in the Brian Kemenah Racing no. 01 machine. The Holden Beach, North Carolina driver powered to his fourth win of the 2025 season and the fifth of his Carolina [Read More]

Loux Awarded First Win of the Season

By Evan McCrory GASTONIA, N.C. (Jun. 6, 2025)— On a stunning late-spring evening in Gastonia, 18 of the Southeast’s top RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car drivers rolled into Carolina Speedway for another intense round of the Carolina Sprint Tour presented by GSR Chassis. With warm weather and a packed crowd, the Friday night showdown offered thrilling racing, heated competition, and a dramatic post-race twist. Following a redraw, George Loux, the current series and points leader, lined up on the front row alongside C.J. Miller to chase a $1,000 top prize. Loux took the early lead, but by lap six, Jadan Bowling, aboard the Brian Kemenah Racing-owned no. 01, surged to the front just before a caution flew for Robert Tyler, who slowed with mechanical trouble on the backstretch. Bowling maintained command on the restart and crossed the finish line first, appearing to take his first win of the 2025 season. However, the victory was short-lived. In a surprise post-race development, Bowling failed to report to post-race technical inspection as mandated by race director Andy Stapp during the [Read More]

Oliver Returns to Winning at Beckley Motor Speedway

By Evan McCrory MOUNT HOPE, W.Va. (May 24, 2025) — Jeff Oliver from Pendergrass, Georgia, ended a nearly year-long winless streak with a hard-earned victory in Saturday’s Carolina Sprint Tour presented by GSR Chassis main event at Beckley Motor Speedway. The co-sanctioned show with the Ohio Thunder Sprint Car Series brought 19 RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car teams to the West Virginia high banks for a chilly but action-packed night. Oliver, who last visited victory lane in June of 2023, charged to the front after a lap 15 tangle between early front-runners Cale Cozad and Jadan Bowling reshuffled the order. The incident opened the door for Oliver, who grabbed the lead on the ensuing restart and never looked back. Wyatt Justice led early from the pole and looked poised for his first career series win before Oliver made the decisive move. Justice settled for second, fending off a strong late effort from Jeff Weaver, who completed the podium in third. The win was the 20th of Oliver’s Carolina Sprint Tour career.

Shantz Dominates at Harris Speedway for Second Career Carolina Sprint Tour Win

By Evan McCrory RUTHERFORDTON, N.C. (May 17, 2025) — The Carolina Sprint Tour presented by GSR Chassis rolled into Harris Speedway on Saturday night, for a spectacular night of open-wheel action. Despite losing a few entries from the previous night at Carolina Speedway, a strong field of 15 RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars put on an incredible show under the lights of Rutherford County. After the redraw, it was Biscuit Williams and Josh Shantz on the front row for the 25-lap main event. When the green flag dropped, Shantz, a former Canadian now racing out of the Carolinas, jumped to the lead and never looked back. In the caution-free feature, Shantz expertly fended off heavy pressure from George Loux to capture his second career Carolina Sprint Tour win. In victory lane, an emotional Shantz took the microphone from series announcer Evan McCrory and offered heartfelt thanks to mentors Eric Riggins, Dewey Townsend, and George Loux, along with appreciation for his sponsors and his wife Abby. Josh Shantz celebrates his second career Carolina Sprint Tour win after a [Read More]

Nick Tucker Conquers Chaos at Carolina Speedway

By Evan McCrory GASTONIA, N.C. (May 16, 2025) — The Carolina Sprint Tour presented by GSR Chassis brought high horsepower and heart-pounding action to the red clay of Carolina Speedway on Friday night. With temperatures hovering at a warm 86 degrees, the atmosphere was electric, and the fans were treated to a wild night of sprint car racing that saw Nick Tucker of Spanaway, Washington, take the win in dramatic fashion. After the redraw, Jeff Oliver started from the pole position alongside Josh Shantz. The initial green flag didn’t last long, as Gareth Palmer spun in turn one, prompting a complete restart. On the second attempt, Oliver jumped out to an early lead while fending off pressure from Shantz. Things quickly escalated on lap five when Ben McCall struck debris on the front stretch and was hit from behind by Jason Gulledge, who flipped into turn one. The red flag flew, but thankfully both drivers were okay. After the restart, Oliver again set the pace with a pack of challengers forming behind him. On lap nine, [Read More]