CENTER LISLE, N.Y. — It was a battle.
Darren Smith picked up his first checkered flag of 2026 at Thunder Mountain Speedway in the Doug Worthing Memorial, but it was earned. Smith held off a late challenge from Brandon Walters to take the win for the first time in 2026 at the speedway.
Also winning on Saturday night at the speedway were Cody Jackson in the DIRTcar Sportsman, Doug Stack Jr. in the first IMCA Modified feature, Brandon Loucks with the 600cc Modifieds, Zach Bobbett with the 600 Sprints, and Jason Rhodes in the Factory Stocks.
The Dirt Track Digest TV Modified feature saw Kreg Crooker jump out to the early lead before Jimmy Zacharias mounted a charge. Zacharias pounded the top side to take over the top spot on lap four.
Zacharias ran away for much of the opening laps as Smith worked his way both high and low from the 11th starting spot. Smith used a handful of cautions and a fast race car to move forward.
Smith made his move with 11 laps to go, working the top side as Zacharias was focused on the bottom. Upon taking the lead, Smith moved back to the inside.
As the 36-lap feature worked to its conclusion, Smith was challenged by Brandon Walters. Walters never gave up on the top side as he closed in on Smith.
With three laps remaining, Walters made it close as he found the outside lane. Smith kept working the bottom with Walters gaining ground on the top. Over the final handful of laps, Walters was close to taking the lead.
On the final circuit, Walters charged into turns one and two on the top, with Smith getting the drive he needed off the bottom of the speedway. Smith slid up in front of Walters off turn four to earn a well-deserved checkered flag.
Walters was second, while Matt Smith drove from 19th to finish third. Zacharias fell back at the end for fourth, and Crooker was able to secure the final spot in the top five.
Starting deep in the field from 16th, Cody Jackson overcame early adversity after a trip to the pits following an accident and charged back through the field to score an impressive feature victory. Jackson completed his remarkable comeback by taking the lead on lap 19 and never looked back, driving the No. 1 machine to the win. Will Eastman also made a strong run from 14th to finish second, while Matt Brewer crossed the line third after starting eighth. Stephen Winsor finished fourth, with Chance Spoonhower Jr. rallying from 15th to complete the top five.
Cody Jackson overcame early adversity to score a remarkable DIRTcar Sportsman feature victory after starting 16th on the grid. After making an early trip to the pits, Jackson stormed back through the field and used the top side of the speedway to take the lead on lap 17 before driving away for the win in the No. 1. Will Eastman also turned in an impressive charge from 14th to finish second, while Matt Brewer crossed the line third. Stephen Winsor finished fourth, with Chance Spoonhower Jr. rallying from 15th to complete the top five.
Doug Stack Jr. put together a strong late-race charge to capture the IMCA Modified feature victory after starting seventh on the grid. Stack tracked down race leader Jakub Ingham and took command on lap 15 after muscling his way past for the top spot, then held on over the final laps for the win in the No. 41S. Ingham turned in a solid run to finish second, while Tyler Belcher crossed the line third. Jake Maynard charged from 11th to finish fourth, with polesitter Tyler Stoddard rounding out the top five.
Brandon Loucks put on an impressive charge through the field to score the 600cc Modified feature victory after starting 16th. Using the high side of the speedway to his advantage, Loucks powered into the lead on lap 12 and drove away to claim the win in the No. 23. Charles Lohmeyer also made a strong run from 15th to finish second, while Justin LaDue crossed the line third. Jared Green advanced from 14th to fourth, with Logan LaDue completing the top five.
Zach Bobbett made a late-race move to capture the 600cc Sprints feature victory after starting fifth on the grid. Bobbett charged to the front and took the lead on lap 17, then held off the competition over the closing laps to secure the win in the No. 99Z. Polesitter Cameron Searls turned in a strong run to finish second, while Kyle Pierce advanced from seventh to claim third. Ivan Forney finished fourth, with David Johnson rounding out the top five.
Jason Rhodes powered to the Factory Stocks feature win in the 20-lap main event after starting second on the grid.
