“A Long Time Coming”: Trevor Ward Finally Snaps Father’s South Boston Victory Mark

It’s Back to Business for Ward as a Late Model Twinbill Headlines Saturday’s Six-Race Boone Tractor Race Night

By Joe Chandler

Director, Public Relations

South Boston Speedway

SOUTH BOSTON, VA (July 30, 2026) – The thought of breaking his father’s win record at South Boston Speedway has been in the back of Trevor Ward’s mind for a while now.

He had been stuck on eight victories for several events, but on July 11, Trevor finally broke through with a dominating performance, earning his elusive ninth.

Trevor’s father, Dean Ward, won eight South Boston Late Model Stock Car features in the early 2000s, and has countless wins at other short tracks around the Southeast. Trevor, a former Virginia Triple Crown champion, is an accomplished racer in his own right, but his father’s South Boston win mark was one he had been thinking about for quite some time.

It was a meaningful milestone for Trevor, but as he strapped into his No. 77 on July 11, it really wasn’t even on his mind.

“We get caught up in racing week after week,” Trevor Ward said, “and I really wasn’t thinking about the record. I was just thinking about trying to win the championship this season, and it all came together that night.”

Trevor Ward stands in Victory Lane after his Hitachi Late Model Stock Car victory on July 11. The win, his ninth career in the division, broke a tie with his father, Dean Ward, on the all-time division wins list.

Trevor Ward admitted he had begun to wonder when or if another win would come this season that would allow him to pass his father. It had been six races since Ward had celebrated his last previous victory.

“It had been a long time coming,” Trevor noted of the July 11 win. “It was like ‘When is that next one going to come?’ because you never know when the next win is going to come.”

See Trevor Go For More on August 1! Get Your Tickets Here

Breaking the victory mark was a thrill for both father and son.

“That was a huge accomplishment,” Trevor pointed out. “It was just super awesome to be able to accomplish that. You always want to compete with your dad and be able to top that record. I don’t know the other father-son duos in the South Boston history books, but I know there are a few of them. To be able to come there and replicate your family history … it is very memorable.”

Dean Ward wasn’t at South Boston Speedway on July 11 when his son broke his record. He was fulfilling an obligation competing in a Modified event at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Nevertheless, he kept a close watch on what was happening at South Boston Speedway.

“I was trying to watch it and keep up with it,” Dean Ward said. “I’m trying to keep up with what is going on with him every second he’s there at South Boston if I’m not there. We’re texting each other the whole night if I’m not there.”

Trevor pointed out that his father texted him after the win saying ‘well, son, now it’s just nine and counting.’

“Obviously he was super proud,” Trevor remarked. “He was basically saying go out there and continue doing what you’re doing and get more wins.”

Dean Ward explained he is proud seeing Trevor break his record.

“I’m super happy about it,” Dean Ward remarked. “I’m more excited for him than I would be if it had been me.

“He told me he hoped he didn’t upset me breaking my record. I said ‘No, son, like I’ve told you before, there are not many men in this field that are going to want you to be better than them except for me. I want you to break my record.’ A true father always wants better for his kids than what he has.”

Going forward Trevor Ward is looking to tally more wins at South Boston Speedway.

“We want to grow the wins stat,” he explained, “and be in the Top 20 all-time. If there are a few more wins to come, it will put us in that top tier. There is a lot of great company in there and I’d love to be able to be up there with them.”

This week Trevor’s focus returns to South Boston Speedway for the twin 75-lap Hitachi Energy Late Model Stock Car Division races that headline the Saturday night, August 1 Boone Tractor Race Night presented by New Holland and Gravely event at South Boston Speedway. He holds a narrow six-point edge over Landon Pembelton in the chase for the division championship.

“We’ve got our nose to grindstone,” he said. “We’re doing all we can do as far as checking every box, crossing every T and dotting every I. We’re going to continue to do what we do, race each race, and give it the best effort we can.”

Looking Ahead to Saturday's Boone Tractor Race Night...

B.J. Reaves Ready To Make Late Model Stock Car Division Debut Saturday

Two-time and defending Southside Disposal Pure Stock Division champion B.J. Reaves of South Boston, Virginia turned his first-ever laps in a Late Model Stock Car in a testing session Wednesday at South Boston Speedway. Reaves was behind the wheel of a car owned by veteran racer Eric Winslow.

Reaves is slated to make his Late Model Stock Car racing debut in Saturday night’s twin 75-lap Hitachi Energy Late Model Stock Car Division races at South Boston Speedway.

Former Champion Jordaine Penick Set To Make Limited Sportsman Division Debut Saturday

Jordaine Penick, who won the South Boston Speedway Dollar General Hornets Division championship in 2024, will make her debut in the Budweiser Limited Sportsman Division Saturday night at South Boston Speedway.

Penick, now a car owner, will be behind the wheel of her pink and teal No. 22S. Penick’s team, Not Forgotten Racing, is backed by military veteran Chris Hornberger who is using the effort to call awareness to disabled military veterans.

Former SBS Champion Moss Eyeing Return To Competition

The jury is still out as far as whether or not he will race this weekend, but 2021 South Boston Speedway Budweiser Limited Sportsman Division champion Daniel Moss of Danville, Virginia is looking at a possible return to competition in the division.

Moss was turning laps during a testing session Wednesday at South Boston Speedway, wheeling his No. 58 car.

SBS Late Model “Regulars” in the Top 20 of NASCAR National Point Standings

Five drivers competing in South Boston Speedway’s Hitachi Energy Late Model Stock Car Division are in the Top 20 in this week’s NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts Division I national point standings.

Track points leader Trevor Ward of Winston-Salem, North Carolina stands third in the nation with Landon Pembelton of Amelia, Virginia, who is second in track points, sitting in fifth place nationally. Eight-time South Boston Speedway champion Peyton Sellers of Danville, Virginia, who occupies third place in the track standings, stands 11th in the national standings. Conner Weddell of Centerville, Maryland, the fourth-place driver in the track standings, is 19th in the national standings.

Three SBS Limited Sportsman Drivers in Top 20 of NASCAR Division II Standings

A trio of South Boston Speedway’s Budweiser Limited Sportsman Division competitors are in the top 20 in this week’s NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts Division II national point standings.

South Boston Speedway points leader Drew Dawson of Nathalie, Virginia occupies 13th place in the national standings. Tristan Brunelli of Powhatan, Virginia and Brian Rundstrom Jr. of Green Bay, Virginia, who are tied for second-place in the track standings, are 17th and 18th respectively nationally.

Johnny Layne Is In Top 20 of NASCAR Division III Standings

Southside Disposal Pure Stock Division points leader Johnny Layne of Halifax, Virginia stands 15th in the NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts Division III national point standings.

Who has the Most Top-3 finishes in the Hitachi Energy Late Model Stock Car Division This Season?

Trevor Ward has 11 Top-3 finishes, Landon Pembelton has 10 Top-3 finishes, Conner “C-Weed” Weddell has nine Top-3 finishes and Peyton Sellers has six Top-3 finishes.

Cameron Goble Climbing Hornets Division Wins Chart

Cameron Goble won the 20-lap race on July 11, earning his 10th career win in the division. The win put him in a tie for second place with former division champions Josh Dawson, Kevin Currin and Jason DeCarlo on the division’s all-time career race wins list.

Fan Info About Boone Tractor Race Night presented by New Holland and Gravely

The Saturday, August 1 Boone Tractor Race Night presented by New Holland and Gravely event schedule has registration and pit gates opening at 2 p.m., practice starting at 3:25 p.m., frontstretch grandstand gates opening at 3:30 p.m., trackside parking gates opening at 5:30 p.m., qualifying at 6 p.m., pre-race ceremonies starting at 6:45 p.m. and the first race of the night starting at 7 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 military 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.