6/22/2025
New Smyrna Speedway
Kenny Gibson Wins First Pro Truck Race in Thrilling Fashion & Brad May Dominates FL Sunbelt Series 50.
New Smyrna Speedway
6/21/2025
The only thing hotter than the temperature outside was the action on track as the weekly warriors of the New Smyrna Speedway put on another thrilling night of racing action.
Brad May would set fast time for the Florida Sunbelt Series David Rogers Super Late Model 50 lap contest. The invert would put him third on the grid, but he would take the lead on lap 1. A chain reaction pile up in turn 2 on the second lap would bring out the yellow for the first time. Pole sitter Mike Williams would lose power off turn 2 and stack up the pack behind him with Williams going around and George Gorham suffering damage. Gorham would return to the race but retire around halfway due to overheating issues. Brad May would establish dominance on the field holding off a charge from Bryton Horner who would eventually fade back to 3rd after losing his brakes. A returning Charlie Ayers would end up taking the runner up position late in the race to pick up a career best finish with a car that was smoking for the last handful of laps. When the smoke settled Brad May would once again find himself in victory lane for the 3rd time this year!
The 602 Modifieds would see some new faces up near the front in their feature race. A couple of early cautions would slow the pace, but once things got going it was a fantastic battle between father and son. Christopher Hatton Jr. and Chris Hatton Sr. would trade the lead several times in a thrilling battle. With the back-and-forth battle for the lead, Carter Blue would make it a three-car race for the lead in the late stages. But when it was all said and done, defending champion Christopher Hatton Jr. would pick up his first win of the season, with is Father Chris Hatton Sr. in 2nd and Carter Blue picking up his first Career Podium finish!
Another competitive field of Ashley Homes JAX Pro Trucks gave the fans their monies worth with a race that left the stands buzzing! After a wild pair of heat races that saw Gage Spears destroying his truck and having to watch from the stands, things were very calm to start. Kenny Gibson would start on the pole, but it would be JT Chastain who would take the top spot and be the man to beat. George Gorham Jr. had to start out back as the most recent winner and he was charging up through the pack. He had just moved into 3rd when the only yellow of the race came out with 4 to go for a spinning Randy Koon. The leaders all had to hold their breath and scoot through the incident as it happened right in front of the lead group. At the “choose” for the restart, leader and 2nd place runner Kenny Gibson would choose the inside for the restart giving George Gorham the outside of the front row. On the restart Chastain gave Kenny Gibson just enough room on the inside to get his nose in there, after some rooting and gouging Gibson would come off the 2nd turn the leader. The action in his mirror was fierce as the rest of the field would fight for position. It was a crazy final few laps but Kenny Gibson would hold them all off to score career win number 1 at New Smyrna Speedway! George Gorham would score the runner up position with Wilson Martins coming through the chaos for 3rd. JT Chastain would get shuffled back to 7th after cutting a tire on the final lap. The Ashley Homes JAX Pro Truck division is one of Florida’s premier divisions and there is no debating that!
The Bomber A division would have the dubious honor of following the instant classic that was the Truck race, and they would put on a very good race of their own. After dominating the heat race, Brandon Monroe and Dustin Higdon would take command of the race as they pulled away from the rest of the field. Behind them, the field seemed to be allergic to the 3rd position as announcer Ryan Stevens would wear out the “police sirens” button as it seemed that ever 2 laps the 3rd place car would “break out” (running a lap under 24 seconds). While the race went caution free there was so much action through the field that the final 20 laps of the night flew by! With the last remaining glimpse of sunlight on the horizon, Brandon Monroe would pick up his first victory in 2 years holding off his teammate Dustin Higdon at the line and Stephen Brown who would claim the elusive 3rd position.
The New Smyrna Speedway races once again delivered the thrills that everyone came for! There were spins, crashes, thrilling racing, great finishes and a good time for all and it all wrapped up just as the sun set on this beautiful June afternoon. The momentum of this great 2025 rolls on to Family Fun Night next Saturday June 28th featuring 6 great racing divisions, beach themed activities, a kids Poster Contest and $5 general admission. We hope to see you all then!
Full Race Results: https://www.newsmyrnaspeedway.org/schedules/event/544293
Full Event Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@SpeedwayVideo
Event Photos: https://jimjonesphoto.photoreflect.com/
Submitted By: Ryan Stevens
Article Media
