The Fun Returns: Andrew Grady Sets His Sights on 2026 South Boston Speedway Hitachi Energy Late Model Stock Car Title

By Joe Chandler

Director, Public Relations

South Boston Speedway

SOUTH BOSTON, VA (February 11, 2026) – The fun had disappeared from racing for Andrew Grady.

“That was something I had been missing in my racing career – taking it seriously, but still making sure we had fun,” Grady remarked.

The Knightdale, North Carolina resident made a difficult decision to step away from the zMAX CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour. Late last summer he came to South Boston Speedway to try his hand against the racers that competed regularly at the storied oval.

The veteran Late Model Stock Car competitor’s first test was a twin-race event on August 9 where he finished ninth and seventh. He returned for a twin-race event on August 23 and saw better results, logging finishes of seventh and fourth. In addition, he led 23 laps of the second race. Bolstered by his steady progress at the .4-mile oval Grady returned for the track’s 100-lap race on September 6. He finished a strong third, earning his best finish at the track.

“Going to South Boston Speedway was the best move I’ve made lately,” Grady remarked. “I was against it at first. I wanted to continue running the CARS Tour. I was a CARS Tour loyalist. But, once we did it, I had fun again. It was a really good decision.”

Grady is excited about returning to South Boston Speedway this season to compete for the Hitachi Energy Late Model Stock Car Division title.

“I’m very excited to come back,” Grady said. “With how well we ended last year there it’s hard not to be excited, especially going back with Craig Oliver and all the guys at TORP, and all of the knowledge and good runs Craig has had there in the past.”

Grady’s desire in coming to South Boston Speedway is simple – claim checkered flags.

“My goal this year is to win races,” Grady added. “Parking in Philip Morris Victory Lane is my agenda. It’s going to be awesome when I finally win a race at South Boston Speedway. If I can win a race or two and top-five them to death, there’s no doubt we will be in the hunt for the championship.”

Grady admits winning the track’s Late Model title will be a tough task.

“I have raced at South Boston Speedway only five times in my career, so it’s going to be very, very difficult to fall in there and outlast guys like Peyton Sellers who know every crack and every nuance of that place,” Grady noted. “It’s going to be hard, but I don’t want anything to be easy. Winning a championship at South Boston Speedway sure isn’t easy.”

Grady noted he was somewhat surprised at how tough the competition was at South Boston Speedway last season.

“I was used to competition on the CARS Tour,” he continued. “Going to South Boston I knew there were two or three guys who can get it done. I got there and there were five or six drivers that could win that night.

You’ve got Sellers, (Trevor) Ward, (Landon) Pembelton, (Jacob) Borst, and (Blake) Stallings, all good drivers. Even the guys I had not heard of were fast.

“That was something that really got my attention,” he added. “The competition level at South Boston was stout, it was top to bottom with killers. That’s what I want. I want to race somewhere where there are killers throughout the field from top to bottom. I think with Hitachi coming back on board this year with the loyalty bonus program you’re going to see a lot of big names show up.”

Grady describes South Boston Speedway as a “white-knuckle” track that fits his driving style.

“I seem to thrive in those environments,” he explained. “It’s 110 percent. You’re qualifying every lap. The first time I went, the first twin-race event, I was taken aback because I didn’t expect everybody to go so hard. I expected there would be some falloff. My tongue was hanging out. Knowing what I now know, I’m ready to come back for 125 laps, 100 laps, 75 laps, it doesn’t matter. I’m ready for any kind of racing we’re going to do this year.”

Grady and his fellow competitors will begin their quest for the 2026 track championship on Saturday, March 21when South Boston Speedway kicks off its season with a 100-lap race for the Hitachi Late Model division that will be part of the URW Race Day King of the Modifieds event.

The URW Race Day King of the Modifieds event will be headlined by a 125-lap race for the SMART Modified Tour and the 100-lap Late Model Stock Car race. A 35-lap race for the competitors of the Southern Ground Pounders Vintage Racing Club will round out the season-opening event. Race time will be 2 p.m.

Advance tickets are priced at $20 each. Tickets at the gate on race day will be $25 each. Seniors age 65 and older, military, healthcare workers and students (with ID) can purchase tickets at the advance ticket price at the gate only on the day of the event.

The latest news and updates about the URW Race Day King of the Modifieds 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.