RPW Exclusive: Rain Couldn’t Dampen The Spirits At Rockfish Speedway Saturday Night
Column By: CHARLES WISLER / RPW – RAEFORD, NC – Despite persistent on-and-off rain showers throughout the evening, the dedicated track crew at Rockfish Speedway worked tirelessly on Saturday night to maintain a race-ready surface for a packed field of drivers.
The weather did force a change in the schedule, with heat races being skipped in favor of moving directly into the feature events.
The quarter-mile dirt oval continues to see a surge in popularity, evidenced by the impressive lineup for the 600 feature race. NASCAR young guns Brexton Busch and Cole Cabre were in attendance, along with rising dirt track stars Victoria Beaner and Brooklyn Newman.
They faced stiff competition from local favorites including the Davis brothers, Sawyer and Wyatt, Jayden Wagner, Brody Snyder, Wesley Sweatman, and Aidan Turner, among others.
The night began with hot lap sessions, which were briefly interrupted by rain during the 600s’ practice. The track crew quickly responded by working the surface, allowing the youngest racers, the “Lil Rockstars,” to take to the track for their Juicebox series during a light drizzle.
For the 3-to-7-year-old drivers, the damp track made for a slippery but fun experience, with numerous spins eliciting laughter and cheers from the onlookers. Brexton Busch added to the excitement by waving the checkered flag for all the Lil Rockstar participants.
Following the adorable exhibition, the 600 and Mod Lite divisions completed their hot lap sessions. All four racing classes – 270/Restricted 600, Junior Sprint, 600, and Mod Lite – then proceeded with qualifying. However, due to the ongoing weather delays and persistent drizzle, track officials made the call to move straight into the feature races, foregoing the traditional heat races.
The 270/Restricted 600 feature kicked off the main events with a clean green-to-checkered-flag race. Alanna Bloniasz quickly maneuvered her way past Adam Bubeck to take the lead and ultimately secure the victory.
Next up were the Junior Sprints, who delivered a thrilling and tight battle among the top six drivers. Navigating lapped traffic proved to be a significant challenge throughout the feature. Liam Poston found himself caught behind slower cars, allowing Allie Jo Culbertson to capitalize. She expertly used the high side of the track to surge into the lead in her Bubba’s 33 #5 car, claiming her first career win.
The 600 feature boasted a strong field of over 20 drivers, a testament to the division’s growing popularity at Rockfish. Victoria Beaner made her third appearance at the track this season, making the long trip from Florida and continuing her transition from junior drag racing to the dirt oval scene.
Early in the race, Caleb Stroble experienced a rollover between turns one and two, bringing out one of the few caution flags of an otherwise smooth race. It was a welcome sight to see Wyatt Davis back behind the wheel of his #7D after a significant wreck at Millbridge Speedway last month.
Jayden Wagner established a comfortable lead around the midway point, while Cole Cabre and Brexton Busch gave chase. Sawyer Davis and Wesley Sweatman rounded out the top five.
Brody Snyder made an impressive charge through the field, gaining six positions to finish sixth, while Brandon “No Money” Hughes advanced seven spots to finish eleventh.
The final feature of the night saw Donovan “Action” Jackson lead the Mod Lite division from flag to flag. However, he faced constant pressure from the previous race winner, Troy Van Allen, piloting the #2X Bounty Hunter Racing machine.
Despite the challenging weather conditions, Rockfish Speedway delivered an action-packed night of racing. The next event at the track is scheduled for Saturday, June 7th, and fans are eagerly anticipating another exciting evening of dirt track competition.
