Conner Weddell breaks through for maiden South Boston win in season finale

Finally, the wait is over. After seven runner up finishes and six thirds in 2026, Conner Weddell is a Late Model Stock winner at South Boston Speedway. The 16-year old South Boston LMSC rookie finally broke through to victory lane on Sunday (Sept. 13) afternoon, pulling away from Peyton Sellers in the points-paying season finale.

Weddell picked up his 14th podium of the year in the process, putting him in a tie for the most all season long in Late Model Stock competition, becoming the 105th driver to win a LMSC feature at South Boston in the process. More than anything, it was a relief for the young Maryland driver, who seemed to feel the weight lifted off his shoulders.

South Boston: At long last, Conner Weddell broke through for career win No. 1 at South Boston Sunday afternoon.

Weddell had recorded seven runner-ups and six third place finishes on the year prior to the win. pic.twitter.com/NX82uwrECJ

— Short Track Scene (@ST_Scene) September 14, 2026

“100% I do,” Weddell said. “It’s been a long time coming and we’ve been working on this thing, coming every Friday, test all day and the cards went our way. The race played out exactly how we wanted it to, got out to first past Trevor [Ward] and just kind of set sail, controlled the race. I was only really going 60-80% those last 30 laps to try and control the pace of Peyton [Sellers] and came out on top.”

A similar scenario played out a few races back on August 22, when Trevor Ward, who won the pole for both races, jumped out to an early lead. Weddell tracked the No. 77 down in both features but let Sellers get by him in the process a few weeks back. That scenario was in the back of his mind as he redeemed himself Sunday afternoon.

“I knew I needed to make quick work of the No. 77,” Weddell said. “Last time I didn’t and it didn’t play out my way, and I finished second to Peyton. I knew I had to get around the No. 77 quickly and I did, got clean air and was gone.”

For a young driver coming up through the Late Model Stock ranks, taking on the stacked field at South Boston might be the toughest ask save running a full CARS Tour schedule. Weddell faced the fire all season long and held his own from the jump, something that wasn’t initially expected even within the team.

“We exceeded expectations by a long shot,” Weddell said. “We came into the season with the mindset of lets get a couple top-fives and top-sevens hopefully and came out in race one and almost won. Like man, that kind of changed our whole aspect, we got really hungry and got a little too hungry. We kind of got away from how good of a season we actually earned and then came back and here we are, finally got one done.”

Weddell started outside front row after rain Saturday pushed racing action to Sunday afternoon, while eventual champion Ward started on pole. Ward jumped out to the early lead the opening 40-laps as Weddell hung around close behind. As the No. 26 of Sellers began to close on both cars, Weddell made his move on lap-41, leading the rest of the way in what was a fully green 100-lap feature.

After charging from seventh on the opening lap, Sellers march forward stalled at second as the checkered flag flew for Weddell with a 2.5 second advantage for the win. Landon Pembelton completed the podium while Bruce Anderson finished fourth in his Late Model Stock return. 2026 track champion Ward completed the top five.

Sunday marked the end of the points paying season for South Boston, but the track still has two events left on their schedule. The CARS Tour will return South Boston for their own championship night on October 17, and The Krush 250 returns for the second year in a row to conclude South Boston’s season of racing on November 14.

South Boston Late Model Stock Results 9/13/26:

1. Conner Weddell
2. Peyton Sellers
3. Landon Pembelton
4. Bruce Anderson
5. Trevor Ward
6. Bobby McCarty
7. Blake Stallings
8. Lane Woods
9. Brandon Pierce
10. Thomas Scott
11. Zach Peregoy
12. Raymond Pittman III
13. BJ Reaves
14. Chris Horton Jr
15. Eric Winslow