Hunter Wright makes history winning World Series PLM championship

Hunter Wright won back-to-back World Series Pro Late Model championships, finishing runner-up tonight, while Brody Monahan won the race.

Hunter Wright built up a good points cushion all week, taking home two victories in the Pro Late Model at New Smyrna Speedway. His second place run tonight was more than enough to keep him at the top of the points standing, making history in the division.

Since the addition of Pro Late Models in 2007, 18 years of racing have produced 18 different Pro Late Model champions. Wright becomes the only driver not only to win multiple titles, but back-to-back titles as well.

With five races in seven days, it was a busy week with long days for Wright and his crew. However, it was also an enjoyable week for the Tennessee driver as well. Wright finished in the top-five in all five races, four of those being podiums.

“It’s a long week,” said Wright. “We get to come to Florida, the weather’s nice. I think it’s 25 degrees at home tonight. We don’t even live up north, we live in Tennessee. I feel really bad for all the guys that have to go back to Connecticut and whatever. It’s a fun week, a long week, a lot of work. Fortunately, we didn’t tear anything up this week too major. I’m just thankful to be here. So glad we get to come down here. I dreamed to come down here and get to race, much less to get to win two championships.”

Monahan took the lead four laps into the 35 lap feature and won by more than three seconds over Jimmy Renfrew Jr. Monahan has been consistently good all week, but he was most excited to finally get a win.

“This means a lot,” Monahan said. “I was getting real down on myself there. We were struggling with this race car all week long. We just made some magical changes last night into today. It absolutely turned this race car around for us. I can’t thank this Bryson Lopez Racing group enough, everything they did this week and pushed through.

“I was watching the World Series two years ago. I wasn’t old enough to be in it, and I really wanted to run it. Last year, we had a good year with Chris Walker. I was really down on myself that I wasn’t going to win a race the second time around. This really means a lot to me. I hope we can come back with these Bryson Lopez Racing guys and get some more wins.”

Renfrew earned another podium this week, finishing third, with Isaac Kitzmiller in fourth and Jade Avedisian rounding out the top five.

Pro Late Model World Series of Asphalt Race 5
New Smyrna Speedway
February 13, 2025

1. 47 Brody Monahan
2. 29w Hunter Wright
3. 00R Jimmy Renfrew, Jr.
4. 25K Isaac Kitzmiller
5. 24 Jade Avedisian
6. 4J Jeremie Whorff
7. 18R Max Reaves
8. 18S Mike Scorzelli
9. 37 Eric Gelinas
10. 42G Eric St-Gelais
11. 83 William Roberge

Championship Standings

1. Hunter Wright: 336
2. Jimmy Renfrew, Jr. -32
3. Brody Monahan -36
4. Jade Avedisian -50
5. Isaac Kitzmiller -56