8/12/2025
Crate Racin' USA
CRUSA Late Model Sportsman Tour Heads to Penton & Senoia for First-Time Visits
(Eastaboga, AL – August 12, 2025) – The Rogers-Dabbs Performance Parts Crate Racin’ USA Late Model Sportsman Tour is wasting no time catching its breath after last weekend’s thrilling action at Magnolia Motor Speedway and Xtreme Speedway. With the season’s intensity building, the tour now turns its focus to a brand-new challenge — a double-header weekend at two tracks the series has never visited before.
It all begins Friday night, August 15, when the tour makes its first-ever trip to Penton Raceway in Lafayette, Alabama. The 3/8-mile oval, nestled near the Alabama-Georgia state line, will become just the second track in the Heart of Dixie to host a CRUSA Late Model Sportsman Tour event. On the line will be a $1,500 payday for the winner of the 6th round of the 2025 season — and if the trend continues, it could be another fresh face in Victory Lane.
So far this year, no driver has claimed more than one feature win. Wyatt Coffey (All-Tech), Mark Whitener (Needmore), Matt Cooper (Pine Ridge), Mario Gresham (Magnolia), and Braden Mitchell (Xtreme) have each stood atop the podium, but the chase for that elusive repeat victory is still on.
Once the checkered flag falls at Penton, the tour will quickly shift gears for another debut — this time at Senoia Raceway in Senoia, Georgia, on Saturday, August 16. Known for its steep banking and distinctive gray clay surface, the track has earned a reputation for fast, elbows-up racing. The event was originally scheduled for May 31, but rain postponed it to this weekend, creating a rare opportunity for the Late Model Sportsman Tour to share the stage with the Rogers-Dabbs Performance Parts CRUSA Dirt Late Model Series (604 Late Models) under the same lights. Saturday’s feature will pay $2,000 to win.
In the championship chase, Moultrie, Georgia’s Brayden Johnson remains at the top of the standings with 440 points. His margin, however, is razor-thin — just 22 points ahead of Caleb Ashby, who’s determined to better last year’s third-place finish in the final standings. Brennen Shirley (-44) and Chase Giddens (-46) remain within striking distance, with Brodie Thompson rounding out the top five despite missing one event.
Current CRUSA Late Model Sportsman Tour Points
1-Brayden Johnson | 440 (-)
2-Caleb Ashby | 418 (-22)
3-Brennen Shirley | 396 (-44)
4-Chase Giddens | 394 (-46)
5-Brodie Thompson | 316 (-124)
6-Mario Gresham | 280 (-160)
7-Bryson Mitchell | 192 (-248)
8-Logan Bradford | 180 (-260)
9-Brody Smith | 176 (-264)
10-Jarrett Jones | 170 (-270)
Upcoming Events:
August 15 – Penton Raceway – Lafayette, AL – $1,500 to-win
August 16 – Senoia Raceway – Senoia, GA – $2,000 to-win
October 17 – Talladega Short Track – Eastaboga, AL – $2,000 to-win (June 14 Make-Up)
November 21-22 – Needmore Speedway – Norman Park, GA – $2,500 to-win
November 28-29 – Swainsboro Raceway – Swainsboro, GA – $5,000 to-win
The Rogers-Dabbs Performance Parts CRUSA Late Model Sportsman Tour is proudly supported by Rogers-Dabbs Performance Parts, Chevrolet Performance, Hoosier Racing Tires, VP Racing Fuels, VP Racing Lubricants, Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, Competition Racing Equipment, Cruise with the Champions, Savage Chassis, Velocita by Melissa Markewitz, Bama Sheds & Pole Barns, MatMan Designs, WesPro JCB, Scorpion Race Cars, Columbus Sports Cards, and MyRacePass.
For more information, visit CrateRacinUSA.com and follow Crate Racin’ USA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for live updates, race coverage, and behind-the-scenes content.
Article Credit: Cody Earley
