Complete Hampton Heat 200 need to know

The second leg of the Virginia Late Model Triple Crown is poised to be one of the most physically and mentally challenging short track races of the year.

Langley Speedway’s prestigious Hampton Heat, ongoing since 2008, is a test of stamina on multiple fronts. Not only are competitors tasked with navigating the tight, 0.397-mile flat surface, but they must do so while battling temperatures that exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit inside the cockpit.

With average finish deciding the Virginia Triple Crown champion at Martinsville Speedway, Saturday’s Hampton Heat also serves as a crucial tilt for competitors seeking to keep their title hopes alive. Everyone who placed inside the top five of last year’s Virginia Triple Crown standings finished tenth or better during the 2023 Hampton Heat.

One of the largest fields in Hampton Heat history, which features NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the first time, is only going to put more pressure on the Virginia Triple Crown contenders as they seek to maintain momentum before heading to Martinsville in a couple of months.

Below is everything to know about the 2024 Hampton Heat at Langley ahead of Saturday evening.

Connor Hall, Nelson 22 make statement(s) with South Boston 200 win

Schedule

Entries

An eye-popping 38 cars are set to compete in Saturday’s Hampton Heat, eclipsing a record set during the 2014 edition of the event.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. headlines the talented group of drivers as he prepares to turn his first competitive laps around Langley Speedway. Although he does not have any experience at the facility, JR Motorsports has enjoyed plenty of Langley success, as Josh Berry drove one of Earnhardt’s Late Models to Victory Lane at the Hampton Heat in 2021.

Among the drivers Earnhardt will have to contend with include Brenden Queen, the most recent Hampton Heat winner. Queen, a three-time Langley track champion, is seeking to join C.E. Falk III as the only other competitor who has won the Hampton Heat three times, with his other victory occurring in 2020.

Current NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series points leader Connor Hall has all the momentum on his side following his Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 victory at South Boston Speedway. Hall’s efficiency at Langley has contributed to his commanding Weekly Series advantage, as he has won there seven times this year.

Hall’s second Hampton Heat victory would be pivotal towards staying ahead of defending Virginia Triple Crown champion Trevor Ward. The closing laps of the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 saw Ward engage in a fierce battle with his close friend, but he settled for second and remains within striking distance of the Triple Crown points lead.

Other names on the Hampton Heat entry list include Kaden Honeycutt, Bobby McCarty, Peyton Sellers, Kade Brown and Landon Pembelton, among many others.

Below is the current entry list for Saturday’s Hampton Heat.

• Chase Burrow
• G.R. Waldrop
• Brenden Queen
• Cody Bryant
• Michael Rogers
• Landon Pembelton
• Brandon Pierce
• Matt Waltz
• Trey Williams
• Dale Earnhardt Jr.
• Carter Langley
• Bobby McCarty
• Thomas Scott
• Ayden Millette
• Logan Clark
• Christopher Samuel
• Kaden Honeycutt
• Connor Hall
• Kade Brown
• Peyton Sellers
• Casey Wyatt
• Cole Bruce
• Woody Howard
• Chris Horton Jr.
• Ryley Music
• Ryan Matthews
• Gavan Boschele
• Mark Wertz
• Dean Shiflett
• Trevor Ward
• Atley Wiese
• Jacob Derrick
• Thomas Marks
• Terry Carroll
• Justin Carroll
• Danny Harrell
• Sam Yarbrough
• Craig Eastep

Hampton Heat winners

The proud history of the Hampton Heat started in 2008 when Nick Smith bested 24 other competitors to take home the event’s first checkered flag.

As the event continued to gain traction within the Late Model Stock community, C.E. Falk III emerged as its most dominant driver with three victories from 2010-2014. Following a brief one-year sabbatical due to Langley’s temporary closure in 2016, the Hampton Heat returned in full force with several Late Model Stock elites finding their way to Victory Lane.

Lee Pulliam and Philip Morris each took home one Hampton Heat trophy before wrapping up their respective careers. NASCAR Cup Series driver Josh Berry’s only attempt at the Hampton Heat resulted in a win, which he obtained after passing Connor Hall with 37 laps remaining in the scheduled distance.

Five past winners are on the entry list for this year’s Hampton Heat. Hall and Brenden Queen are among the favorites to tack on another Hampton Heat victory to their growing resumes, but they will face stiff competition from other past champions Bobby McCarty, Peyton Sellers and Woody Howard.

Below is the complete list of winners in the Hampton Heat.

Triple Crown standings

1. Connor Hall (1.0)
2. Trevor Ward (2.0)
3. Kaden Honeycutt (3.0)
4. Peyton Sellers (4.0)
5. Kade Brown (5.0)
6. Carter Langley (6.0)
7. Brenden Queen (8.0)
8. Brandon Pierce (14.0)
9. Matt Waltz (15.0)
10. Landon Pembelton (19.0)