Ironic..? Or maybe a little unexpected..? Or maybe, it’s just gone unnoticed until I followed one in.
Granted, it isn’t really crucial for race day but it does show a level of “getting serious” that some pockets are just not deep enough for. Many are stretched to keep the car competitive and may have some spare bits on hand to fill available space on a trailer, or in a trailer, or perhaps a flatbed hauler. There is also a “getting serious” step up as I couldn’t help but notice as I drove into Natural Bridge Speedway.
Here’s the thing. Natural Bridge is kind of… Rural. The race track is a 3/8 mile dirt oval.
It’s located back off and away from Route 11 which is off and away from Interstate 81 in an area between Buchanan and Lexington in Virginia. There is a natural wonder (the namesake, as it is) with a classic hotel, a safari park and zoo (still open…?), some kind of dinosaur adventure…
However, a financial metropolis it is not. So, as I drove in behind a full bore camper cab, fifth wheel Kenworth tractor with full size NASCAR style hauler, I thought “Wow! This one is serious!”. Once I got parked and started getting around and looking… I mean really looking for it… There were others with big rigs and full trailers. Yes, of course there were a lot of pickups with hitched trailers and hot and ready race cars but mixed in were these “serious” haulers.
The point, perhaps, is to not think for a minute that a “dirt track” is second place or a step backwards from the conventional asphalt racing that is “common”. The racers are coming in barely on a budget or running a bankroll and every level in between. The fans are coming in the same way with broad backgrounds and economies. The racing is the common factor in all of it and the racing is fast, sideways and close. The track action is the show and what brought the car in is just a package.
Coming in behind a big hauler, perhaps, was a little distracting but the track went hot and the racing went green and the show went on. There was a brief halt after hot lap practices and qualifying for kids to find some Easter eggs. (From the looks of it… Every kid came away with a haul)
The racing schedule put five divisions on the track with Street Stock, 602 Late Model, Pure Stock, Late Model and the Rookies.
Street Stock: Ben Hamilton (#22) and Howard Hall (#23) were top of the field for the 20 lap run but it was always Hamilton that kept the edge out front. Chris Cordle (#282) and Keith Herring (#50) ran a good battle for 3rd but some hard turns, contact and a spin put them back to 4th and 5th as Lee Herring (#5) drove up to finish 3rd.
602 Late Model: The race had the bulk of the 20+ car field chasing the top five. Cautions and restarts shook the order but Kendal Tucker (#00) kept the lead to take the win. Tim Stalnaker (#11) had a good early run to catch Tucker but fell back for 5th at the end. Wyatt Coffey (#2) came up to run in 2nd and hold to the end. The 3rd and 4th slots were battled by Michael Ayers (#8) and Bryce Smith (#4)
Pure Stock: The race seemed to be for who was going to be 2nd. Jacob McCormick (#08) dominated but Donald Keesee (#2K) gave him a good run getting inside shots but could not get it by. Aiden Meade (#38) held back challenges to hang onto 3rd. Robert Tyree (#11) and Matthew Hamilton (#22) were driving top five but fell back as Braddick Pruett (#17) stayed in it for 4th and Parker Flint (#200) drove through some cautions to claim 5th.
Late Model: It was clear early on that Tyler Bare (#B8) had the car and was going to be the one to chase down in the 19 car challenge. He was out front coming out of turn two on every restart but the first. Derrick Rankin (#72) had the first or 2nd lap lead but Bare quickly took over and held it. Rankin fell back and was running 4th and 5th for most of the rest but dropped back to 6th by the finish. Logan Roberson (#17) became the 2nd place chaser early on and held that spot to the checkers. Justin Williams (#2W) and Joe Leavell (#8) ran the 3rd and 4th for a big part of the race to the finish. Jack Brown (#26) was able to claim the 5th as a late race restart shook the middle of the field.
Rookie: The way on the track at Natural Bridge is starting out in the “rookie” class. Give it a shot… Who knows…? The field is open for newcomers. This evening, there were two challengers, Owen Drewry (#111) and Kaden Cunningham (#18), who put their foot in it to close it out.
Natural Bridge runs weekly, mostly. There are some good touring shows coming through and the drive to the track is a pleasant one. Skip the McD’s on the way in and have a burger or a dog at the re-set concessions. Parking is on each side of the track but check the signs as some of those spots are reserved..
Reserved season parking. That’s “getting serious”!
Full photo gallery – Natural Bridge Speedway – April 19, 2025
