---

Steele Dominates Needmore to Capture $10,000 Early Bird 50 Victory

(Norman Park, GA – November 23, 2025) – Jeremy Steele tightened his grip on the 2025 Rogers-Dabbs Performance Parts Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series championship chase Saturday night, leading all 50 laps to score the 14th Annual Early Bird 50 at Needmore Speedway. The $10,000 triumph marked Steele’s fourth series win of the season and first in the marquee Georgia event.

Rolling from the pole after setting fast time at 13.607 seconds, the York, South Carolina driver established control early but spent the opening half of the race fending off four-time Early Bird champion Joseph Brown. Navigating heavy traffic, Steele momentarily saw Brown’s nose alongside his Longhorn Chassis but maintained the advantage before a lap-43 restart reshuffled the battle behind him.

From there, Steele faced late-race pressure from hard-charger Wil Herrington, who stormed forward 10 positions from 12th on the starting grid. Herrington slid past Brown on the restart to claim second but never brought Steele’s lead under one second. At the checkers, Steele crossed the line 2.903 seconds ahead of Herrington to secure another pivotal win in his title campaign.

Brown, of Columbus, Georgia, settled for third after running second for the opening 42 laps, followed by Josh Ray and Koulten Herbert in the top five. Series Rookie of the Year contender Austin Yarbrough posted one of the drives of the night, climbing eight positions to finish sixth.

The 50-lapper was slowed by five cautions, most notably a first-lap pileup that began with contact between Steven Jernigan and Matt Henderson in a battle for third. Henderson spun in front of the field, collecting Jared Delk, Jake Rainey, and Austin Storm. Henderson was the only driver unable to continue, credited with 24th.

Rainey rebounded from both the opening-lap incident and another on lap 18 to salvage an eighth-place finish. Delk managed to nurse right-rear damage to an 11th-place finish, while Storm continued until he and Jernigan tangled again on lap 37.

Allen Styck came to a stop on lap 33, ending his night, while Jonah Bozeman slowed on lap 43 to bring out the final caution.

Fifteen of the 27 starters completed all 50 laps in a race lasting 32 minutes.

Steele’s Early Bird triumph adds to a stellar season that already includes victories at Swainsboro (May 3), Senoia (Aug. 16), and Magnolia Motor Speedway (Oct. 11). The win extends his series points lead as the tour prepares for its final $10,000-to-win weekend of the season at Swainsboro Raceway on November 28.

Steele’s Longhorn Chassis by Wesley Page is backed by a strong lineup of partners including Xcell Grading and Waterproofing, WP Racing Shocks, Hendren Racing Engines, JS2 Home Builders, Site Works Solutions, A&M Innovation, Godfrey Builders, Yorktown Roofers, Carolina Fresh Farms, FK Rod Ends, ProFab Headers, Topgun Veterinarian Service, VP Racing Fuel, LJ Dezigns Apparel & Wraps, and Indocil Art.

Early Bird 50 Feature Results (50 Laps)

1. Jeremy Steele
2. Wil Herrington
3. Joseph Brown
4. Josh Ray
5. Koulten Herbert
6. Austin Yarbrough
7. Trynt Lloyd
8. Jake Rainey
9. Jimmy Thomas
10. Bubba Roling
11. Jared Delk
12. Austin Storm
13. Cameron Saunders
14. Steven Jernigan
15. Chase Giddens
16. Trent McLeod
17. Colton Trouille
18. Victor Matthews
19. Jonah Bozeman
20. Russell Brown Jr.
21. Allen Styck
22. Joshua Bishop
23. Trey Davis
24. Matt Henderson

Car Count: 27
Laps Led: Steele (1–50)

Scorpion Race Cars Hard Charger:
Wil Herrington (+10) 12th to 2nd

Columbus Sports Cards Tough Luck Award:
Matt Henderson (Lap 1 crash, ended his night)

My Race Pass/Fantasy Racing Hot Laps:
#11 Allen Styck | 16.179

Bama Sheds & Pole Barns Pole Award:
#22-Jeremy Steele | 15.607 (Fastest Overall)

Chevrolet Performance Heat Race Winners:
Heat 1: #92 Joseph Brown
Heat 2: #22 Matt Henderson
Heat 3: #22 Jeremy Steele

CRUSA Dirt Late Model Series – Points Standings (After Needmore)
1-Jeremy Steele | 1174 (-)
2-Joseph Brown | 1118 (-56)
3-Austin Yarbrough | 1066 (-108)
4-Koulten Herbert |1056 (-118)
5-Jimmy Thomas | 1044 (-130)
6-Matt Henderson | 1042 (-132)
7-Jake Rainey | 1016 (-158)
8-Bubba Roling | 1014 (-160)
9-Trent McLeod | 842 (-332)
10-Josh Ray | 838 (-336)

Cruise with the Champions – Rookie Points (After Needmore)
1-Jeremy Steele | 1174 (-)
2-Austin Yarbrough | 1066 (-108)
3-Koulten Herbert |1056 (-118)

The series now prepares for the $10,000-to-win season finale at the Swainsboro Raceway, November 28-29, as part of the 15th Annual Turkey 100. The event will be broadcast live on Crate Racin' USA TV.

Remaining 2025 Schedule:
Nov. 28–29: 15th Annual Turkey 100 – Swainsboro Raceway – $10,000-to-win

Special Thanks to Our Partners: Rogers-Dabbs Performance Parts • Chevrolet Performance • Hoosier Racing Tire • VP Racing Fuels & Lubricants • Knowles Race Parts & 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 • MyRacePass

Stay connected with all the latest Crate Racin’ USA updates at CrateRacinUSA.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) for results, standings, and event coverage.

---

Back to News