SMART Modified Kenny Minter Classic

It is well into the season with new management and new ambitions. It’s a little scaled back from the 2024 season but the logic is sound for the racing schedule at Franklin County Raceway. (Yes… That is a slight change from “speedway”)

Perhaps it’s a balance of reality with desire. Whatever the case, the SMART Modified Tour made their way in as the fourth race of the season. Rain put off what would have made SMART the fifth.

This is the fifth consecutive year for the SMART Tour to travel to Callaway. The track still has a feel of being held together by duct tape and vice grips. Some cell phones don’t get a signal. Shirts with sleeves are optional. None of this, however, puts a damper on the show of racing.

That said, surprises and miscalculations did extend the racing just a wee bit past what should have been “scotch and bedtime”. Unfortunately and painfully, a fan in the stands fell and broke a leg minutes before the green flag was set to flay. That held racing for a bit over 30 minutes as the safety crew had to handle the situation and get the person safely away for attention.

Once SMART took the track with the opening 110 lap main opener, racing was close and challenging. Some lead changes and some chargers moving through the field gave a few things to keep track of. However, another strange bit popped with less than 10 laps to go. Four cars were caught up in a tangle on the front stretch. One of them was towed around the track to “pit open” but was not quickly spotted to still be leaking. This put a stripe around most of the track. Materials to get it up were quickly exhausted so a logistic schedule alteration was made. That took a hot minute or two…

So…. SMART Mods are pulled off. Stock4 is moved up to run and clear the track while racing their bit.

SMART goes back out for an eight lap shoot out. Ryan Newman had been right there before the break. He wasted no time to gain the lead and held off a last lap charge by defending SMART Champion Luke Baldwin. It was a Newman win by the rail of a bumper at the line.

The Stock4 had run. A short stack (it was a quick invite beforehand) of crate 602 Mods ran four up for 50 laps. A notable inclusion was Ryan Newman’s daughter, Brooklyn. Her initial start was a spin but she caught on the restart and had the lead in fairly short order. Unfortunately, she dropped a driveshaft (what we were told…) later on and was out.

The Legends put a show on as the closer. It was a bit of a follow the leader but the chase was fast and the challengers were on the hunt. The Legends are a fun watch on this track racing at their limit for most of the run.

TOP FIVE RESULTS from each division – May 23, 2025 – Click for Full Results

Photos – SMART Modified, Kenny Minter Classic at Franklin County Raceway – May 2025