Trevor Ward and Bobby McCarty reigned victorious in Saturday night’s twin 75 lap features at South Boston speedway.
Ward takes home his third win of 2026 at SoBo and as has been the trend this year for Ward, it was maybe more exciting than he would’ve preferred. Conner Weddell led the field to green after scoring his first ever pole but Weddell’s time at the front would be short lived. Ward and Weddell were battling for the lead in the opening laps when Weddell got up and into Ward coming out of Turn 4 relegating himself back to the eighth spot and Ward back to third.
Peyton Sellers would be the benefactor of the contact but Ward methodically worked his way back to the rear bumper of the No. 26 and a classic SoBo battle ensued. For almost 20 laps Ward hounded Sellers and finally was able to make the pass and drive away to the victory.
This was Ward’s ninth career victory at South Boston Speedway, eclipsing his dads win total.
“That actually never even crossed my mind,” said Ward “I know he’s pretty proud back at home and I know he was watching.”
And on the contact with Weddell forcing the charge back to the front.
“I felt like I gave him a groove there,” said Ward “I could tell he was a little snug on the bottom and I was doing everything as a racer to keep him pinched down as much as possible. It just looks like I took the air off his nose and he washed up into me. I’m not trying to be biased about it. If I’m in the wrong, I’m in the wrong but I just feel like it was hard racing.”
The invert was eight putting Bobby McCarty out front for the second feature.
McCarty got the jump on the initial start while Ward and Sellers had to navigate their way through the field allowing McCarty to open up a gap. Sellers would climb to second but was never able to track down McCarty as he led flag to flag, scoring his second win of 2026.
McCarty has embraced the role of wearing the black hat throughout his career. Nevertheless, he still commands the respect of his peers, as evidenced by the number of drivers who congratulated him after the win.
“I don’t know if they’re meaning it or what but it’s just the biggest sign of respect,” said McCarty “I’ve never viewed myself as that kind of a guy. I’ve always worn the black hat. I’m ruthless on the racetrack, there are no friends out there. I don’t care who you are. If I got a racecar capable of contending in the top three, we’re gonna race.
“To have them guys come up (to congratulate) after the race and you can see it in their eyes, they mean it when they say it, man that means the world to me. I started here and I raced with the best of the business and to get that kind of respect from the competitors, it’s really nice but it’s kinda weird at the same time.”
– Race 1 Results
1) #77W Trevor Ward
2) #8W Conner Weddell
3) #0 Landon Pembelton
4) #26 Peyton Sellers
5) #77S Blake Stallings
6) #1 Andrew Grady
7) #33 Dillon Harville
8) #6M Bobby McCarty
9) #92 Lane Woods
10) #51 Toby Layne
11) #8J Josh Oakley
12) #7C Cory Pack
13) #0Z Zach Peregoy
– Race 2 Results
1) #6M Bobby McCarty
2) #26 Peyton Sellers
3) #0 Landon Pembelton
4) #77W Trevor Ward
5) #8W Conner Weddell
6) #33 Dillon Harville
7) #1 Andrew Grady
8) #7C Cory Pack
9) #8J Josh Oakley
10) #77S Blake Stallings
11) #92 Lane Woods
12) #51 Toby Layne
13) #0Z Zach Peregoy
