5/3/2026
Crate Racin' USA
Lee Leads Every Lap of the Jerry Gilkey Memorial at Paducah
(Paducah, KY – May 3, 2026) – The Southern Dirt Street Stock Series presented by Kelley Trucking, LLC saw its third different winner in three races Saturday night, as Lucas Lee dominated the 4th Annual Jerry Gilkey Memorial at Paducah International Raceway, leading all 40 laps enroute to a $10,000 payday in the Bluegrass State.
A stout field of 69 cars packed the pit area for one of the richest Street Stock events of the season, setting the stage for an action-packed night filled with drama, cautions, and hard-fought racing throughout the field.
Lee started from the pole and wasted no time asserting control, jumping out front at the drop of the green and never looking back. Behind him, the race saw multiple interruptions early, including issues for TJ Herndon on lap two and Ty Shearon on lap four, bringing out the first caution of the night.
Trouble continued to shake up the running order as Corey Neil Jr., running inside the top three, slowed after catching a rut in turns three and four, while Trevor Woodard’s incident on lap 10 added another yellow. During that same sequence, co-points leader Rod Tucker exited the event, dealing a major blow to his championship run.
As the race settled in, battles began to intensify behind the leader. Trent Young and Brandon McDowell traded blows for the runner-up spot between laps 21 and 25 before mechanical issues slowed Young later in the event. That opened the door for Graydon Hall, who charged forward and eventually took over second, setting his sights on Lee in the closing laps.
Despite Hall’s late-race surge, Lee remained composed out front, maintaining a comfortable margin and crossing the line 2.235 seconds ahead of the field to secure the victory.
“This right here is awesome. My kids are here, and it means the world to me,” said Lucas Lee in victory lane. “I knew when we came here that if we stayed up front and kept the car where it needed to be, we’d be alright.”
Hall’s strong run netted him a runner-up finish after starting eighth, while Wyatt Hill advanced from 12th to complete the podium. Zac Harris and Chandler Neighbors rounded out the top five in an event that showcased the depth of the Southern Dirt Street Stock Series field.
Jamey Boland earned Hard Charger honors, advancing 19 positions from 29th to finish 10th, highlighting the intense competition throughout the field.
Jerry Gilkey Memorial Feature Results (40 Laps):
1-12L-Lucas Lee[1]
2-929-Graydon Hall[8]
3-3-Wyatt Hill[12]
4-82H-Zac Harris[6]
5-772-Chandler Neighbors[18]
6-N1-Dale Nelson[23]
7-777-Hayden Chavers[24]
8-5W-Ethan Wilson[26]
9-521-Mickey Trosclair[27]
10-232-Jamey Boland[29]
11-82B-Logan Bright[16]
12-18-Brandon McDowell[4]
13-2-Jaxon Moore[11]
14-10-Matt Salyers[19]
15-2S-Andrew Stone[20]
16-25-Tyler Nicely[28]
17-3T-Trent Young[7]
18-J3-Joe Hamm[14]
19-05-Caiden Jackson[9]
20-B33-Logan Hickerson[17]
21-B00-Josh Henry[15]
22-1S-Johnny Stokes[10]
23-55-Michael Lee[5]
24-12-Rod Tucker[25]
25-15-Trevor Woodard[22]
26-7-Corey Neil Jr[3]
27-45-Race McMahon[21]
28-37-Ty Shearon[13]
29-1H-TJ Herndon[2]
The night featured a full program of qualifying, six heat races, a dash, and multiple B-Mains to set the field, underscoring the level of competition present for the marquee event.
With three races complete and three different winners to start the 2026 season, the championship battle continues to tighten as the series builds momentum in its inaugural campaign.
Next up, the Southern Dirt Street Stock Series heads to the “Hornet’s Nest” at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Alabama for Round 4 of the 2026 season, where drivers will compete for a $5,000-to-win payday.
For more information, results, and updates, follow the Southern Dirt Street Stock Series on social media.
Photo Credit: OutlawEdits
Article Credit: Cody Earley
