Hardin Dominates Attrition-Filled Night at USA International Speedway

Lakeland, FL — The Bootleg Racing League SteelCraft Structures Super Late Model Series produced one of its wildest races of the season in Round 9 at USA International Speedway, where Jeffery Hardin powered his #36 machine to victory after surviving an attrition-filled 100-lap battle. The win marked Hardin’s second triumph in the past three races and further cemented his place among the strongest challengers as the season begins to wind toward its conclusion.

The night erupted into chaos almost immediately after the green flag. As the field accelerated down the frontstretch to begin the race, a massive multi-car pileup broke out in what commentators described as a classic “concertina effect,” with cars stacking up and spinning as the tightly packed field had nowhere to go. Nearly half the grid was involved in the incident, dramatically reshaping the race before the opening lap had even fully settled. Among those caught in the wreck were several prominent contenders, including points leader James Lowe and Lewis Flowers. Both drivers sustained damage but were able to continue, while others were not so fortunate. Up front, polesitter John Wilson and Jeffery Hardin managed to thread their way through the carnage along with a handful of others, escaping with clean race cars and immediately gaining a major advantage.

The race remained unsettled through the early laps. On lap 12, the second caution appeared when Steve Hilbert and Kurt Smith spun after a bold three-wide move by Ed Foster squeezed the field exiting the corner. Just a few laps later, another yellow flag waved when Ruben Altice, running near the front, spun after making contact with Lowe while battling for position. The repeated cautions fractured the field and left several drivers already struggling with damage before the race had even reached the halfway point.

For Lowe, the evening became a test of perseverance. Already carrying damage from the opening wreck and the later incident with Altice, his night grew even more difficult when race control issued a black flag for a pit-road exit violation. The penalty forced Lowe to serve a green-flag stop-and-go, dropping him deep into the running order and leaving him with a significant deficit to overcome. Despite the setback, Lowe slowly worked his way forward during the long green-flag stretches that followed, clawing back positions with his typically measured approach and ultimately salvaging a seventh-place finish on a night that easily could have ended much worse for the championship leader.

While chaos unfolded behind him, Hardin steadily took control of the race at the front. After stalking Wilson in the early stages, Hardin eventually worked his way into the lead and began setting a consistent pace around the rubbered-up ¾-mile oval. Observers noted that Hardin appeared particularly comfortable on the track surface, possibly benefiting from a recent equipment upgrade that included a new set of racing pedals. Whatever the reason, his car remained stable and predictable as he navigated traffic and managed the race from the point.

The closing laps, however, brought a final surge of tension. Ed Foster, widely known in the paddock as the “Adelaide Blade,” began charging toward the front after recovering from earlier incidents. With careful tire management and an aggressive rhythm through the corners, Foster methodically reeled in the leader. What had once been a comfortable margin began shrinking rapidly as Foster cut a half-second advantage down to just two tenths in the final laps, applying intense pressure to Hardin’s rear bumper.

Lap after lap, Foster searched for an opening, but Hardin refused to give him one. Running a disciplined line along the inside groove, Hardin forced Foster to try the longer outside path if he wanted to attempt a pass. Foster threw everything he had at the leader, but a slight bobble with three laps remaining allowed Hardin to regain just enough breathing room to secure the victory.

Hardin crossed the finish line first, with Foster close behind in second after his impressive late charge. Mark Herzog quietly completed one of the strongest drives of the evening, climbing thirteen positions from his starting spot to finish third, while Adam Schoen and Todd Liston rounded out the top five.

In victory lane, Hardin credited his ability to remain composed during the chaotic race and the closing pressure from Foster, saying he focused on staying “calm and zen” even as the battle intensified. Foster, though disappointed to fall just short of his first win of the season, acknowledged the difficulty of passing a driver running a flawless defensive line. “He was running a perfect line,” Foster said afterward. “At that point it really requires the other guy to make some sort of mistake.”

With Round 9 now complete, the SteelCraft Structures Super Late Model Series shifts its attention to the legendary short track at Hickory Motor Speedway, where the field will attempt to survive another demanding bullring and continue building momentum toward the final races of Season 26.