Best of the Quarter Century (2001-2025)
The best 25 drivers aged 25-and-under
By Kyle McFadden
DirtonDirt staff reporter
As part of our coverage looking at the first quarter century, we dive into the top 25 Dirt Late Model drivers 25-and-under, listed alphabetically (Best of 2025 coverage index):
Tucker Anderson, Blairsville, Ga.
Age (birthdate): 18 (Feb. 16)
2025 highlight: Two Southern All Star victories at Sugar Creek in Blue Ridge, Ga., on June 21 and Aug. 16
Biggest career victory: Southern All Stars at Sugar Creek in Aug. 2025 ($5,757)
2026 outlook: Roughly 40 races in top Southeast regional Super events aboard family-owned No. 22 machine
Comments: Racing Late Model-style cars since age 12, the recent high school graduate holds the record as the youngest Red Clay 602 Series winner. Notched five victories this year, including two Southern All Stars wins at Sugar Creek Raceway in Blue Ridge, Ga., each paying over $5,000 in first Super season, and is a two-time CRUSA Winternationals East Bay victor.
Hayden Cardwell, Knoxville, Tenn.
Age (birthdate): 22 (Feb. 11)
2025 highlight: $30,000 CRUSA victory at All-Tech Raceway
Biggest career victory: Powell Memorial at All-Tech Raceway for $30,000
2026 outlook: Another special event Crate and Limited schedule with hopes of finding a Super ride
Comments: The 2020 iRacing World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion has parlayed his sim racing success into an emerging Dirt Late Model career. Since entering the division in 2021, he has won 27 features and captured two American All-Star Series titles. Cardwell scored a career-high $30,000 on Oct. 18 at All-Tech Raceway in a race bolstered with Super Late Model regulars and also notched $12,037 in steel-block action at Wartburg (Tenn.) Speedway on Aug. 2.
Tristan Chamberlain, Richmond, Ind.
Age (birthdate): 18 (July 2)
2025 highlight: Six Super victories across three tracks
Biggest career victory: Ultimate Heart of America at 191 in Campton, Ky., in ($5,000)
2026 outlook: Targeting third consecutive WoO campaign
Comments: The 2021 Ultimate Heart of America Series champion posted his most successful Late Model season to date with six feature victories in 2025. His biggest win came at 191 in Ultimate Heart of America action for $5,000, and he added two wins each at Montpelier and Moler. Chamberlain also finished 13th in World of Outlaws points with one top-five series finish and was the youngest driver to qualify for the 2023 World 100, finishing 17th in the event.
Carson Ferguson, Lincolnton, N.C.
Age (birthdate): 25 (March 22)
2025 highlight: Winning the Blue-Gray 100 prelim at Cherokee in Gaffney, S.C., for $8,022
Biggest career victory: Hunt the Front at Swainsboro in Oct. 2023 ($23,000)
2026 outlook: Second full season on the Lucas Oil Series for Paylor Motorsports
Comments: Stepping into Tim McCreadie’s shoes as Paylor Motorsports’ flagship driver is no small task, but Ferguson’s closing in on his first national tour victory. He led the Lucas Oil Series event on July 4 at Atomic before an engine failure. Finished ninth in his first full Lucas Oil campaign with three top-five finishes in 47 features. Two of his 11 career Super Late Model wins are five-figure paydays with the Hunt the Front at Swainsboro in October 2023 for $23,000 and the 4B4EVER 40 at Brushcreek for $10,000.
Payton Freeman, Commerce, Ga.
Age (birthdate): 23 (July 8)
2025 highlight: Five top-10s in 20 feature starts
Biggest career victory: Hunt the Front Southern Showcase at Deep South in Loxley, Ala., in Nov. 2022 ($22,000)
2026 outlook: Says he’s determined to perform better and race more regionally in the Southeast after winless ’25 season.
Comments: Despite a winless 2025 campaign, the licensed plumber has already established himself as one of the Southeast’s more recognizable up-and-coming talents. The 2021 Southern All Star Series champion owns 39 career Late Model victories and finished second in DIRTcar Summer Nationals points in 2022. His résumé is highlighted by a $22,000 triumph in the Hunt the Front Southern Showcase at Deep South Speedway in Loxley, Ala., in November 2022 over Brandon Overton. Expecting first child, a daughter, with wife Hannah in January.
Michael Leach, Sun River, Mont.
Age (birthdate): 22 (Nov. 26)
2025 highlight: Won 604 Crate World Short Track Championship at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C., for $8,000
Biggest career victory: 604 Crate World Short Track Championship at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Nov. 2025
2026 outlook: Another loaded Super schedule of 100-plus events all across the schedule.
Comments: The 2023 Gallatin Speedway champion in Belgrade, Mont., continues to gain experience racing high-level Super Late Model events across the country. He owns seven career Late Model victories and 19 total dirt wins while posting six top-five finishes in touring Super competition this season. With the Longhorn Factory Team not operating for the time being, Leach’s No. 09 team is the lone operation based out of Longhorn Chassis’ headquarters in China Grove, N.C. Planning Midwest-heavy 2026 schedule that includes at least a stint on the DIRTcar Summer Nationals.
Kaede Loudy, Rogersville, Tenn.
Age (birthdate): 20 (Dec. 28)
2025 highlight: Schaeffer’s Southern Nationals champion
Biggest career victory: No Late Model wins per DirtonDirt records
2026 outlook: Unconfirmed as of Dec. 16 but likely a mix of regional events across Southeast
Comments: Loudy captured the 2025 Schaeffer’s Southern Nationals championship, edging Garrett Smith and Jimmy Owens by six points to secure the Ray Cook–promoted miniseries title. Although winless, he recorded two top-five finishes and 10 top-10s in 11 minitour events. His best result of the season came July 26 at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn., where he was runner-up to Mike Benedum.
Sammy Mars, Menomonie, Wis.
Age (birthdate): 21 (May 12)
2025 highlight: Runner-up in Cedar Lake Speedway track title race
Biggest career victory: 2024 Structural Buildings WISSOTA Challenge Series victory at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis.
2026 outlook: Plans to split his schedule between WISSOTA and Super Late Model events and find more national tour events to compete in
Comments: The son of Hall of Fame driver Jimmy Mars has piled up the accolades in the state of Wisconsin since entering the division in 2021, capturing three total track titles (two at Red Cedar, one at Cedar Lake), two Late Model state titles and the state’s top performer award on DirtonDirt in 2024. He didn’t win a feature this season, but finished runner-up in Cedar Lake Speedway’s weekly Late Model points. Currently a Manufacturing Engineering student at University of Wisconsin-Stout.
Dillon McCowan, Urbana, Mo.
Age (birthdate): 21 (Jan. 13)
2025 highlight: Comp Cams winner at Springfield (Mo.) Raceway
Biggest career victory: Turkey Bowl XVIII at Springfield (Mo.) Raceway in Nov. 2024 ($6,064)
2026 outlook: Could make a run at Lucas Oil tour Rookie of the Year depending on standing following Georgia-Florida Speedweeks
Comments: The two-time Lucas Oil Speedway Modified track champion has steadily climbed the Late Model ranks since his breakout sixth-place finish in the 2023 Show-Me 100. He capped that season with MLRA Rookie of the Year honors before breaking through with first-ever victories on the MARS, MLRA and Comp Cams circuits in 2024. In 2025, he placed third in DIRTcar Summer Nationals points with nine top-five finishes in 28 starts and matched his richest career payday of $6,064 at Springfield.
Caden McWhorter
Age (birthdate): 19 (July 13)
2025 highlight: First career Super Late Model victories at Farmer City (Ill.) and Montpelier (Ind.)
Biggest career victory: Ultimate Heart of America Series at Montpelier Speedway in October 2025
2026 outlook: Chasing MARS Rookie of the year with Curless Motorsports while hitting Summer Nationals and nationally touring events like the World 100 and Dirt Late Model Dream at Eldora Speedway
Comments: Former Modified racer made a smooth transition to Late Models in 2025, earning his first career touring victory this past October in Ultimate Heart of America action at Montpelier and was strong in Farmer City Raceway weekly competition, finishing second in track points with one win, eight top-five finishes and 10 top-10s in as many features. A former 2020 Fairbury hobby modified champion, McWhorter has earned a full-time ride with Curless Motorsports for 2026.
Trey Mills, St. Augustine, Fla.
Age (birthdate): 17 (May 9)
2025 highlight: First-ever victories on DIRTcar Summer Nationals, Comp Cams and Southern Thunder
Biggest career victory: 2025 Herald & Review 100 at Macon (Ill.) Speedway ($7,500)
2026 outlook: Chase World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year in family-owned No. 14jr entry
Comments: Mills made significant strides in 2025, recording first career victories on the DIRTcar Summer Nationals, Comp Cams Super Dirt Series and Southern Thunder Super Dirt Series. His most prestigious triumph came in a photo-finish over Brandon Sheppard at the 45th annual Herald & Review 100 at Macon (Ill.) Speedway, while his most lucrative win came in the $20,000 Cotton Pickin’ at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Miss., where he outran Jimmy Owens.
Dallon Murty, Chelsea, Iowa
Age (birthdate): 20 (Jan. 6)
2025 highlight: Eight Late Model victories with three paying $5,000-to-win or more
Biggest career victory: Malvern Bank West Series at Huset’s in Brandon, S.D. ($6,053)
2026 outlook: Special-event Super Late Model schedule as Skyline Motorsports’ new hire alongside teammate Tyler Bruening
Comments: Two-time IMCA Super Nationals winner has totaled 150 career wins across multiple divisions, including eight Late Model victories — six on the Malvern Bank tour — and three paying $5,000 or more. Among standout triumphs is a $100,000 Stock Car win at Sports Park in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Getting call-up to big leagues with Skyline Motorsports as Mike Marlar’s replacement after building an uber-impressive multidivisional resume.
Blair Nothdurft, Renner, S.D.
Age (birthdate): 24 (March 10)
2025 highlight: Series-leading three victories on RepairableVehicles.com Tri-State Series
Biggest career victory: Malvern Bank East Series at Deer Creek Speedway in Aug. 2025 ($7,000)
2026 outlook: Opening season at Central Arizona Speedway’s Wild West Shootout and Lucas Oil stretch of Georgia-Florida Speedweeks before running freelance schedule in Midwest
Comments: Georgia-Florida Speedweeks regular captured richest victory of his career worth $7,000 this past August in Tri-State action at Deer Creek Speedway, dominating by nearly 10 seconds. A two-time Tri-State Series champion in 2020 and ’24, Nothdurft has won 17 career Late Model features while proving capable against national-level competition with six top-10 finishes across Lucas Oil and World of Outlaws events, along with a sixth-place run at the 2019 Gateway Dirt Nationals.
Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Age (birthdate): 25 (Sept. 5)
2025 highlight: Two Crown Jewel victories in Knoxville Late Model Nationals and Silver Dollar Nationals in Lucas Oil Big Four playoff berth
Biggest career victory: 2023 World 100 at Eldora Speedway ($56,000)
2026 outlook: Title contender on Lucas Oil Series with entire Jason Durham-led crew returning at SSI Motorsports
Comments: Already a future National Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer, the third-generation superstar needs little introduction. Thirty-one of his 34 career national touring victories have come on the Lucas Oil Series, ranking him 10th on the all-time wins list. He captured the 2023 Lucas Oil championship in a dramatic winner-take-all finale at Eldora Speedway and already owns four crown jewel victories — the World 100, Show-Me 100, Silver Dollar Nationals and Topless 100. He’s the unquestioned No. 1 driver among this list.
Eli Ross, Muskogee, Okla.
Age (birthdate): 17 (Sept. 5)
2025 highlight: Comp Cams Rookie of the Year in seven-win Late Model season
Biggest career victory: Hayden Ross Memorial at Thunderbird in Muskogee, Okla., in June 2025($6,600)
2026 outlook: Sophomore season on the Comp Cams Super Dirt Series
Comments: The high school junior finished fourth in 2025 Comp Cams Super Dirt Series points, earning Rookie of the Year honors. The 2024 Sooner Series champion owns 10 career Super Late Model wins, highlighted by a $6,600 victory at Thunderbird Speedway in his brother Hayden’s memorial race against a field including Billy Moyer.
Sam Seawright, Rainsville, Ala.
Age (birthdate): 22 (Sept. 26)
2025 highlight: Nine special-event victories across three tours
Biggest career victory: Hunt the Front’s Deep Fried 75 at Duck River in Wheel, Tenn. ($15,000)
2026 outlook: Likely another Southeast-focused regional schedule
Comments: DirtonDirt’s 2025 Top Performer from Alabama claimed nine special-event victories across multiple tours, including Hunt the Front, Southern Thunder and Schaeffer’s Southern Nationals, as well as Talladega’s Ice Bowl. He earned four five-figure paydays, highlighted by a career-high $15,000 Hunt the Front win in Duck River’s Deep Fried 75, and also captured the CRUSA Winter Shootout miniseries title.
Garrett Smith, Eatonton, Ga.
Age (birthdate): 22 (Oct. 11)
2025 highlight: Titles on the Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals and Coltman Farms Cup
Biggest career victory: 2022 Dirt Track World Championship at Portsmouth (Ohio) Raceway Park ($100,000)
2026 outlook: Will likely start season at Georgia-Florida Speedweeks and may pursue national tour depending on where he’s at in the Lucas Oil or WoO standings
Comments: The youngest-ever Dirt Track World Championship winner reestablished his presence in 2025 by capturing the Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals title. He notched four victories on the year — three on Schaeffer’s circuits and one on the Southern All Stars tour, highlighted by a $10,053 score in the 26th Rebel Yell at Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Ga. Smith also claimed the $4,000 Coltman Farms Cup, the Schaeffer’s miniseries intermixing Spring and Southern Nationals events, and owns a 2022 Prairie Dirt Classic semifeature victory among his 20 career Late Model wins.
Dustin Sorensen, Rochester, Minn.
Age (birthdate): 25 (Nov. 2)
2025 highlight: Five top-fives in 39 features on WoO tour
Biggest career victory: Wabam Dirt Kings Tour at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., in Aug. 2023 ($5,000)
2026 outlook: Targeting a third consecutive WoO campaign
Comments: The 2022 USMTS national champion remains relatively new to Late Model competition, with just three full seasons against elite fields under his belt. He finished 10th in his rookie World of Outlaws campaign and 11th this past season, coming closest to his first national tour victory with a runner-up finish to Dennis Erb Jr. at Humboldt (Kan.) Speedway in October. Four of his five career Late Model victories have come on the Wabam Dirt Kings Tour.
Lane Snook, Port Royal, Pa.
Age (birthdate): 17 (May 26)
2025 highlight: Breaking out for 20 victories across seven tracks
Biggest career victory: Ron Zimmerman Memorial at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway in June 2025 ($6,000)
2026 outlook: Making the jump to Super Late Models with Pennsylvania-heavy schedule and hopes of DIRTcar Summer Nationals stint
Comments: DirtonDirt’s top performer from Pennsylvania enjoyed a true breakout season in 2025, piling up 20 victories across seven tracks while capturing track championships at Port Royal and BAPS Motor Speedway. A defining stretch came midseason when he reeled off three straight wins in a single weekend at BAPS, Bedford Speedway and Selinsgrove Speedway. A high school senior who crews for Drake Troutman during Georgia-Florida Speedweeks, Snook is working to assemble the funding needed to debut on the DIRTcar Summer Nationals in 2026.
Jeremy Steele, York, S.C.
Age (birthdate): 24 (Oct. 24)
2025 highlight: CRUSA 604 Series champ with four wins of $10,000 or more
Biggest career victory: CRUSA 604 Series Turkey 100 at Swainsboro (Ga.) Raceway vs. field including Carson Ferguson, Trey Mills and Cody Overton ($10,000)
2026 outlook: Increase Super Late Model events with his single-car, single-engine family team with hopes of winning first feature in open-competition class. Lucrative Crate events on radar.
Comments: Broke through in 2025 with six victories and a CRUSA 604 Series title in his rookie season on tour. Bedazzling the resume is November’s Turkey 100 at Swainsboro Raceway victory, where he outran a field featuring open-competition regulars, and last June’s Volunteer 50 at Volunteer Speedway, outrunning Ricky Weiss and Cory Hedgecock. A former 2022 Mid-East 604 champion, Steele’s won 29 Late Model features since debuting in 2021 while balancing full-time work as a lineman at Pike Electric.
Clay Stuckey, Shreveport, La.
Age (birthdate): 21 (Jan. 28)
2025 highlight: Capturing the MLRA Throwback at Springfield (Mo.) Raceway for $10,036
Biggest career victory: MLRA Throwback in March 2025 at Springfield (Mo.) Raceway ($10,036)
2026 outlook: An aggressive schedule of more than 100 events planned across the country.
Comments: Raised in the sport as the son of renowned chassis builder Ronnie Stuckey — whose cars have fielded Steve Francis, Don O’Neal and Earl Pearson Jr. — the younger Stuckey is working to apply the wealth of technical knowledge at his disposal. He broke through with a Comp Cams Super Dirt Series victory last March at Springfield Raceway and has collected seven career Late Model wins across Arizona, Mississippi, Missouri, Louisiana and Oklahoma.
Dylan Thornton, Orcutt, Calif.
Age (birthdate): 24 (Aug. 16)
2025 highlight: Malvern Bank East Series champ in 11-win campaign
Biggest career victory: Sweeping the IMCA Super Nationals in a Late Model, modified and stock car
2026 outlook: Midwest-heavy regional schedule aboard the Kay-owned No. 38 with perhaps select special events with Cody Sommer’s No. 13 DRT house car program.
Comments: The move from Orcutt, Calif., to Iowa is paying dividends for the multidivisional standout, who has become one of IMCA racing’s most accomplished young talents. Thornton owns more than 100 career victories and is one of the rare drivers to sweep IMCA Super Nationals titles in Late Model, stock car and modified competition. He added a Malvern Bank East Series Late Model championship to his resume this year while continuing to supplement his Late Model schedule with a self-owned modified program and a Shawn Ritter-owned stock car in IMCA country.
Drake Troutman, Hyndman, Pa.
Age (birthdate): 20 (May 16)
2025 highlight: First career World of Outlaws victory on June 21 at I-55 Federated Raceway Park in Pevely, Mo., on way to series Rookie of the Year
Biggest career victory: WoO at I-55 Raceway Park in June 2025 ($20,000)
2026 outlook: Back on the national circuit with G.R. Smith’s Team 22 Inc. planning 120-plus races — one of the busiest schedules in Dirt Late Model racing
Comments: One of two Dirt Late Model drivers to make FloRacing’s 20 Under 20 list this year, Troutman’s modified success to starting to translate to the fendered discipline. A winner of two modified crown jewels — the 2023 Gateway Dirt Nationals and this year’s $100,000 payday at Mississippi Thunder Speedway — Troutman’s taken home Rookie of the Year honors on the Lucas Oil and WoO tours in ’24 and ’25. Among his 139 career Late Model and modified wins, two are on national tour action: June 10’s WoO event at I-55 Raceway and last June’s Firecracker 100 semifeature victory at Lernerville Speedway.
Logan Veloz, Colona, Ill.
Age (birthdate): 21 (March 26)
2025 highlight: Second in IMCA Late Model points as rookie in 11-win season
Biggest career victory: Winner of multiple weekly events.
2026 outlook: Chase an IMCA Late Model national title.
Comments: The heavy equipment technician was an instant IMCA national title contender, falling just 20 points shy of the championship in his rookie Late Model season. He captured his first Late Model victory his third night racing the division and earned DirtonDirt’s Best Homegrown Performance in Illinois after five straight IMCA victories in May. Previously, he dominated sport mods in the Quad Cities with 75 feature wins and track titles at Davenport (2024) and East Moline (2023).
Ashton Winger, Hampton, Ga.
Age (birthdate): 25 (Jan. 22)
2025 highlight: World of Outlaws victory on Sept. 13 at Senoia (Ga.) Raceway for $15,000
Biggest career victory: Lucas Oil Series Winternationals at East Bay Raceway Park in Feb. 2023
2026 outlook: May take another crack at a national tour, but will likely stick to pick-and-choose regionally in the Southeast
Comments: The son of veteran mechanic Gary Winger has developed into one of dirt racing’s most hard-nosed competitors. A six-time national tour winner, his résumé is highlighted by a victory over a 60-car field at East Bay Raceway Park’s Wieland Winternationals in Feb. 2023, along with $20,000 triumphs at a WoO stop at Cedar Lake Speedway in July 2020 and at All-Tech Raceway in Dec. 2022. The 2023 DIRTcar Summer Nationals champion and 2020 World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year has scored victories across nearly every major regional tour and is a two-time Fall Classic winner (2023, ’25).
First five out
Davin Kaiser, Winchester, Va.: The 19-year-old scored RUSH-best 13 Crate Late Model victories in 2025, finishing fourth in RUSH weekly national points while capturing hometown title
Jordan Koehler, Mount Airy, N.C.: The 23-year-old has one Super victory in Ultimate Southeast Series action at Ultimate in Elkin, S.C., for $7,500
Cade Nelson, Hermantown, Minn.: The 15-year-old racked up 17 USRA victories en route to third straight title while adding Cedar Lake championship in New Richmond, Wis.
Brock Pinkerous, Ellenville, N.Y.: The 15-year-old and former RUSH champ captured his first Super victory at Stateline in Busti, N.Y. this year
Anthony White Jr., Clinton, Tenn.: Seven Limited victories in 2025 between Big South Fork and Wartburg)
Honorable mention: Peru, Ill.’s Daniel Adam; Deland, Fla.’s Holden Allen; New Haven, Mo.’s Chevy Boyer; Waynesboro, Va.’s Wyatt Coffey; Woodruff, S.C.’s Luke Cooper; Foley, Minn.’s Devin Fouquette; Shueyville, Iowa’s C.J. Horn; West Lebanon, Ind.’s Braiden Keller; Lake, Mich.’s Rylee Knoll; Warsaw, Mo.’s Tyler Kuykendall; Mechanicsville, Md.’s Austin Lathroum; Pontiac, Ill.’s Michael Ledford; Jacksonville, Fla.’s Trynt Lloyd; Rock Hill, S.C.’s Beckham Malone; Zeeland, Mich.’s Luke Morey; Greenville, S.C.’s Devon Morgan; Clay Hill, Fla.’s Bubba Roling; Weston, Ohio’s Colin Shipley; Dade City, Fla.’s Brenden Smith; Dade City, Fla.’s Brody Smith; Belmont, Ohio’s Lincoln Smith; Six Lakes, Mich.’s Mason VanderVeen; Hoopestown, Ill.’s Chase Wilson; Blackshear, Ga.’s Austin Yarbrough; Hookstown, Pa.’s Logan Zarin.
