4/19/2026
Crate Racin' USA
Smith Breaks Through with First Career CRUSA Victory at Dixie
(Woodstock, GA – April 19, 2026) – A new name has been added to the Rogers-Dabbs Performance Parts Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series winner’s list, as Eatonton, Georgia’s Griffin Smith captured his first career series victory Saturday night at the Historic Dixie Speedway.
Smith delivered a flawless performance from start to finish, sweeping the night by earning the Bama Sheds & Pole Barns Pole Award and leading all 40 laps of the feature to secure the milestone win.
“I knew if I could just keep that bottom protected, that’s what I needed to do,” Smith said in Victory Lane. “After how we started the first two races, we definitely needed this. We’ll see how this helps us in the points.”
After setting fast time in qualifying, Smith jumped to the early lead and never relinquished control, expertly managing the field on Dixie’s slick red clay surface.
Behind him, Hayden Cardwell charged to a strong runner-up finish, while Rome, Georgia’s Jake Knowles completed the podium in third. Joey Armistead III and Austin Yarbrough rounded out the top five in a competitive 26-car field.
Championship leader Joseph Brown saw his bid for a third straight victory come to an end after a flat tire on lap 25 while running inside the top six, opening the door for a major shake-up in the points standings.
Dixie Speedway – Feature Results (40 Laps):
1-22S – Griffin Smith
2-17 – Hayden Cardwell
3-66 – Jake Knowles
4-21 – Joey Armistead III
5-18 – Austin Yarbrough
6-00S – Jeff Smith
7-46 – Deisel Jones
8-31 – Tyler Millwood
9-515 – Bubba Roling
10-24 – Austin Bloodworth
11-5 – Lucas Ruark
12-84 – Austin Smith
13-14 – Cade Brookshire
14-47 – Ryan West
15-98 – Jay Coen
16-92 – Joseph Brown
17-4B – Shane Smith
18-C12 – Chase Giddens
19-K67 – Braiden Keller
20-58 – Trent McLeod
21-22T – Tim Clark
22-21J – Jon Ellison
23-22B – Jonah Bozeman
24-46P – Dylan Perry
25-14E – David Eubanks
26-(DNS) 00 – Dalton Polston
Event Highlights:
MyRacePass/Fantasy Racing Hot Laps: Joseph Brown (16.296)
Bama Sheds & Pole Barns Pole Award: Griffin Smith (15.591)
Columbus Sports Cards Tough Luck Award: Joseph Brown (flat tire while running 6th)
87 Ink 15th Place Finisher: Jay Coen
With Brown’s misfortune, the championship battle has tightened significantly. Austin Yarbrough’s top-five finish vaulted him into a tie for second with Deisel Jones, while Smith’s victory moves him to within striking distance—just 14 points out of the lead.
CRUSA Dirt Late Model Series Points (Top 10):
1-Joseph Brown – 268
2-Austin Yarbrough – 258 (-10)
3-Deisel Jones – 258 (-10)
4-Griffin Smith – 254 (-14)
5-Bubba Roling – 234 (-34)
6-Chase Giddens – 218 (-50)
7-Austin Bloodworth – 216 (-52)
8-Joey Armistead III – 202 (-66)
9-Jonah Bozeman – 174 (-94)
10-Caleb Gay – 168 (-100)
The Rogers-Dabbs Performance Parts Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series now shifts its focus to the next marquee event on the schedule, the 26th Annual Pine Tree 100 at Swainsboro Raceway on May 1-2, where a $10,000 payday awaits.
Fans can catch all the action live on Crate Racin’ USA TV.
For more information on Crate Racin’ USA, including schedules, results, and series updates, visit www.crateracinusa.com? or follow @CrateRacinUSA on social media.
Crate Racin’ USA extends sincere thanks to its valued partners for their continued support, including Rogers-Dabbs Performance Parts, Chevrolet Performance, Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, VP Racing Lubricants, Knowles Race Parts & Bodies, LLC, Competition Racing Equipment, Inc., Cruise with the Champions, Savage Chassis, Velocita by Melissa Markewitz, Bama Sheds & Pole Barns, MatMan Designs, LLC, Scorpion Race Cars, Columbus Sports Cards, WesPro JCB Atlanta, Next Racing Wheels, Top Knotch Customs, 87 Ink, and MyRacePass.
Article Credit: Cody Earley
