LUCAMA, NC – Championship contenders in three different divisions will have two opportunities to either close the gap or widen their advantage in the standings in Saturday night’s Wilson County Tourism Development Authority Summer Fest at Southern National Motorsports Park.
Jacksonville’s Hunter Brown, who began his racing career in the spring of 2023, finds himself on the precipice of a second track championship at Southern National – this time in the KONI Shocks Charger Division. He leads Kenly’s Davis Renfrow by just 13 points heading into Saturday’s doubleheader, which is the penultimate race of the spring season.
“I’m going to do all I can do,” Brown said. “I won’t say anything can happen, because anything can happen. I’m going to go there and do my best, as I have all season, and see where we end up at the end of the night. It’s a whole new ball game racing with people who have been doing it a lot longer than I have. I’m very blessed to be doing this.”
Brown won the Any Car division championship at Southern National in 2023.
Last season, Raleigh’s Andrew Watson won the Any Car championship. One year later, he stands poised to repeat amidst a dominant season where he has scored five wins. Watson leads by 21 points over Richlands’ T.J. Medeiros.
Sammy Pacitti (43) and Andrew Watson (08) battle for the lead during a Marhc 2025 Legend Car race at Southern National Motorsports Park. (Andy Marquis photo)
“Heading into the race this weekend, I have a good lead on points,” Watson remarked. “I can’t count out Sammy trying to make a comeback. He’s got that car figured out.”
However, it is his battles with fellow Any Car driver Sammy Pacitti that have been captivating audiences at Southern National all season long, and both drivers are looking forward to another showdown after a thrilling duel at Carteret County Speedway on Sunday.
Much like in the Any Car division, the two top contenders in points at Southern National are coming off a 1-2 finish at Carteret County.
Broady Rhodes (9) and Scotty Benford (51) battle for the lead during a Marhc 2025 Legend Car race at Southern National Motorsports Park. (Andy Marquis photo)
Bladenboro’s Brody Rhodes, who finished second to Swansboro’s Scotty Benford at Carteret on Sunday, leads the Legend Car division standings by just six points over Benford. Both drivers have scored victories at Southern National this season, but Rhodes has yet to win a championship.
“I really just plan to do what I can do. We’re going in with no expectations because, just like Scotty had a rough week last race, we could have a rough week just as well. I feel like we’ll have a hot rod just like we have had every week thanks to Willie and Three Sixteen Motorspors. We have a strong mindset going in.”
Benford is the two-time defending champion at Carteret, where he holds the points lead in his pursuit of a three-peat.
Track owner Michael Diaz gets back in the saddle
Michael Diaz on track at Southern National Motorsports Park. (Andy Marquis photo)
With siblings Mason and Trinity Diaz handling much of the day-to-day operations at Southern National, their father, track owner Michael Diaz, has found time to have some fun at the track he has owned since November 2011.
“It was fun,” Diaz said. “It was good to come out here and race with the guys. They’re fast, let me tell you. They whipped these things around the tracks so it was super cool. They’re excited, the fans are kind of cool. Everyone gave me high fives. So they think it’s kind of neat. I thoroughly enjoy it as well.”
After the race, Diaz credited the work of his family and staff for how well run the track is, which allowed him the opportunity to race.
“Thank you for recognizing my daughter and my son, and my wife, and they’ve all stepped up. As a whole, we have a fantastic staff here, from the guys that just take care of the track and our staff that comes in… It’s just a really, really good staff. We’re all having fun and that’s what’s really cool about it. We’ll struggle through the low car counts and everything else like that and we’ll dig through it, but today was fun… We’re having a blast”
Prior to taking over Southern National, Diaz was a Legends racer – predominantly on road courses where he had multiple runner-up finishes in national championship standings.
Saturday Schedule
The Wilson County Tourism Development Authority is serving as the title sponsor of Summer Fest at Southern National Motorsports Park.
Pit gates will open at 3:00pm, with practice begigging at 4:15pm. Grandstands will open at 5:30pm. Qualifying takes place at 6:00pm. Pre-race ceremonies begin at 6:50pm. The Wilson County Tourism Development Authority Summer Fest feature racing program will commence at 7:00pm.
Any Cars, Legend Cars, and Chargers will all be in action with doubleheaders.
Race Order: Any Car – Twin #1 (15 laps); Legend Car – Twin #1 (25 laps); KONI Shocks Charger – Twin #1 (35 laps); Any Car – Twin #2 (15 laps); Legend Car – Twin #2 (25 laps); KONI Shocks Charger – Twin #2 (35 laps).
Tickets are available online at snmpark.com and at the gate on race day. For those unable to attend, the race will be broadcast live on Ultra Broadcasting, the official broadcast partner of Southern National Motorsports Park and the Ultra Racing Association.
KONI Shocks Chargers lined up to take the green flag during a May 2025 race at Southern National Motorsports Park. (Andy Marquis photo)
