Championship Loyalty Bonus Program Powered by Hitachi Energy and EMPOWER Broadband Returns to South Boston Speedway in 2026

More Than $75,000 In Awards Available at Season’s End Once Again

By Joe Chandler

Director, Public Relations

South Boston Speedway

SOUTH BOSTON, VA (September 15, 2025) – It will mean more for drivers and teams to race at South Boston Speedway in 2026 as more than $75,000 in season-end bonuses will be awarded to the track’s competitors through the continuation of a lucrative Championship Loyalty Bonus program sponsored by Hitachi Energy and EMPOWER Broadband.

Under the Hitachi Energy sponsorship for 2026 a $20,000 award will go to the top eligible driver in the Late Model Stock Car Division with payouts of $15,000, $10,000, $5,000, and $2,500 respectively going to the rest of the top five eligible drivers. All eligible drivers from sixth place back will receive $2,000.

“I am extremely grateful to Hitachi Energy and EMPOWER Broadband for putting their confidence in South Boston Speedway by continuing this tremendous Championship Loyalty Bonus program for the 2026 season,” said South Boston Speedway General Manager Brandon Brown. “Our drivers deserve a special championship program like this. We want the best-of-the-best drivers to race here, and we want our fans to enjoy a great season of racing with the stacked fields and the intense level of competition this program will create.”

The 2026 season will mark the second season of the Hitachi Energy sponsorship.

“Hitachi Energy is proud to continue our partnership with South Boston Speedway and bring back the Loyalty Bonus Program for a second year,” said Ryland Clark, Community Relations and Engagement Manager for Hitachi Energy. “This initiative not only supports the incredible drivers who make South Boston Speedway such a special place, it also helps strengthen our local community by keeping racing excitement right here at home. We’re thrilled to see the impact this program has made and look forward to an even bigger, better season ahead.”

For the second consecutive season EMPOWER Broadband is sponsoring awards for eligible drivers in the Limited Sportsman, Pure Stock and Hornets Divisions.

A $3,000 award will go to the top eligible driver in the Limited Sportsman Division with the next four eligible drivers receiving $2,000, $1,000, $750 and $500 respectively. The sixth eligible driver and all remaining eligible drivers will each receive a $250 award.

The top eligible driver in the Pure Stock Division will receive a $1,000 award. Payouts to the second through fourth eligible drivers are $750, $500 and $250 respectively. The fifth eligible driver and all other eligible drivers will each receive a $100 award.

A $500 award will be given to the top finishing eligible driver in the Hornets Division with the second through fifth eligible drivers receiving $250, $100, and $75 respectively. The fifth eligible driver and all eligible drivers that follow will each receive $50.

“EMPOWER Broadband is excited to continue our support of the championship loyalty program as we enter year two of our partnership with South Boston Speedway, rewarding the passion and dedication of drivers across the region,” said Casey Logan, President and CEO of EMPOWER Broadband.

“The 2026 racing season promises thrilling competition, deeper connections with race fans, and new opportunities to celebrate our local communities. We are proud to support this fun, family-oriented tradition. At EMPOWER our commitment goes beyond fast, reliable internet – we’re here to empower local communities and businesses, and we look forward to building on the success of our partnership with the speedway in 2025 and making 2026 the best season yet.”

Hitachi Energy’s facility in South Boston, Virginia, is a key manufacturing hub specializing in the production of both distribution and power transformers for the nation’s power grid, commercial buildings, and industrial facilities as well as traction transformers for use in railway applications.

These transformers play a crucial role in adjusting and stabilizing the voltage of electricity to ensure an efficient and reliable power supply across the region.

The South Boston, Virginia facility spans an area of approximately 607,000 square feet and employs about 670 individuals.

EMPOWER Broadband, Inc., a subsidiary of Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative, provides middle-mile capacity, retail high-speed internet service, as well as voice over IP telephone, and high-speed data services to over 7,500 subscribers across Southside Virginia and northern North Carolina.

With over 2,900 miles of fiber line currently deployed, EMPOWER is positioned to continue its growth to further serve rural communities. For more information on EMPOWER, visit EMPOWERmec.net.

South Boston Speedway’s 2026 season schedule will be released in the near future.

The latest news and updates about the Championship Loyalty Bonus program and all South Boston Speedway events can be found on the speedway’s website, www.southbostonspeedway.com, by calling the speedway office at 434-572-4947 or toll free at 1-877-440-1540 during regular business hours, and through the track’s social media channels.