Lee Pulliam Wins Late Model Race; Ron Silk is the New King of the Modifieds

Pulliam Visits Victory Lane for First Time Since 2019; Silk Earns First South Boston Speedway SMART Tour Win

By Joe Chandler

Director, Public Relations

South Boston Speedway

SOUTH BOSTON, VA (March 21, 2026) – It was a day fit for a king – two kings, in fact.

Lee Pulliam had gone six-and-a-half years without a win as a driver, but that changed Saturday afternoon at South Boston Speedway. The late model legend came back to his home track and looked as if he’d never left, nailing a perfect final restart to take the lead, and ultimately, the victory in Saturday’s 100-lap Hitachi Energy Late Model Stock Car Division feature.

It was a long time coming for Pulliam.

The second king? Well, he just keeps on winning.

Ron Silk of Norwalk, Connecticut became the new King of the Modifieds Saturday afternoon when he topped a strong 31-car field to win the Third Annual 125-lap SMART Modified Tour King of the Modifieds race.

Silk’s fast car and ability to nail three restarts over the final 26 laps of the race gave the two-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion the win, the $20,000 prize that went it and the king’s crown and robe, capping off an incredible 2026-opening URW Community Federal Credit Union Race Day.

Hitachi Energy Late Model Stock Car Feature

Pulliam’s victory was an emotional one as this was his first race at South Boston Speedway since September 7, 2019.

“It’s hard to fully describe,” Pulliam said of his 53rd career win at South Boston Speedway. “I was pretty emotional taking the checkered flag and definitely emotional taking the victory lap. I wanted to see every single fan. That’s what makes this thing so special – racing here at home. It was really cool to pull off this win in front of our home fans.”

Pulliam, of Alton, Virginia, led twice in the race, taking the lead from teenager Conner “C-Weed” Weddell of Centerville, Maryland with 12 laps to go when Weddell spun the tires on his car on the race’s final restart and edged Weddell by .960-second at the finish.

“I was smiling when I had the chance there,” Pulliam remarked. “I knew I had to get a good start. He just made a little mistake there.”

Weddell was close to having a win in hand. He held a solid lead over Pulliam and the rest of the field and likely would have won the race if the race’s second caution flag had not flown.

“He did a whale of job,” Pulliam said of the young driver, “and he had an awesome racecar. If we had gone green to the end, he’s probably in Victory Lane.”

Trevor Ward of Winston-Salem, North Carolina finished third after winning the pole and leading the first 29 laps of the race. Landon Pembelton of Amelia, Virginia finished fourth and Josh Oakley of Rougemont, North Carolina rounded out the top five finishers in the 18-car field.

SMART Modified Tour King of the Modifieds Feature

Once in front, Silk pulled away from Stephen Kopcik of Newtown, Connecticut and edged Kopcik by 1.101 seconds to win the 125-lap SMART Modified Tour race for tour-type Modifieds.

“This feels great,” Silk said following the Victory Lane ceremonies.

“This was a big event, packed grandstands, a great racetrack here at South Boston and a great field of cars. To come out on top feels really good.”

Silk said his win in the Third Annual 125-lap SMART Modified Tour King of the Modifieds race as one of his biggest victories.

“It’s right up there with all of the biggest wins,” he pointed out. “The Stafford Spring Sizzler is big, Thompson Icebreakers, the Whelen Modified Tour races at Loudon, New Hampshire, this is right up there with all of those.”

Former NASCAR standout Elliott Sadler of Emporia, Virginia, who has won in all of NASCAR’s three top national series, rallied from 15th place to fifth place in the final 30 laps to earn a top-five finish in his first ever Modified race.

“It was definitely fun to be here,” Sadler said after the race. “It’s always good when you’ve got a great car. Man, what a crowd. I’m so proud of these fans for showing up. They saw some great racing. Lee Pulliam won the Late Model race. I’m a big fan of his and it’s so cool to see him do it at home. I’m just glad to be a part of it.”

Former NASCAR star Ryan Newman of South Bend, Indiana finished third, Jack Baldwin of Mooresville, North Carolina and Sadler rounded out the top five finishers in the race.

Lockhart, Griffin Take Wins In Southern Ground Pounders Race

Shayne Lockhart of Chesterfield, Virginia won the Modified Division race and Bobby Griffin of Stokesdale, North Carolina won the Sportsman Division in the 35-lap race for the Southern Ground Pounders Vintage Racing Club.

The win was the third in a row at South Boston Speedway for Lockhart who swept the Modified Division races in the club’s two visits to South Boston Speedway last season.

Lockhart was the overall race winner, taking the lead from Chris Hicks of Powhatan, Virginia on the 13th lap and holding on the rest of the distance to take the win.

Next Event At South Boston Speedway

NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts action returns to South Boston Speedway on Saturday afternoon, April 4 with the Danville Toyota Race Day event.

All four of the track’s NASCAR racing divisions will be in action with twin 75-lap races for the Hitachi Energy Late Model Stock Car Division headlining the day’s racing action. Also slated are a 50-lap race for the Budweiser Limited Sportsman Division, a 25-lap race for the Southside Disposal Pure Stock Division and a 20-lap race for the Dollar General Hornets Division.

Grandstand gates will open and practice will start at 10:30 a.m., qualifying starts at 1 p.m. and the first race of the day will get the green flag at 2 p.m.

Adult advance tickets are priced at $12 each. Adult admission at the gate on race day is $15. Suite passes are $40 each. Seniors ages 65 and older, veterans and miliary personnel, first responders, healthcare workers and students with ID may purchase tickets for $12 each at the gate on race day. Kids ages 12 and under are admitted free.

The latest news and updates about the Danville Toyota Race Day event and South Boston Speedway may be found online on South Boston Speedway’s website, www.southbostonspeedway.com, the track’s social media channels. or by calling the speedway office at 434-572-4947 or toll free at 1-877-440-1540 during regular business hours.