David Gravel added another piece of Williams Grove Speedway history Friday night, winning the 40th J & S Classics National Open Preliminary and becoming the event’s all-time winningest driver.
The Connecticut driver earned $12,000 for the victory and broke a four-way tie with Steve Kinser, Keith Kauffman and Lance Dewease. Gravel now owns four preliminary-night wins in the event, adding 2026 to victories in 2017, 2019 and 2020.
Justin Whittall took the early lead from the outside of the front row and began to stretch his advantage before traffic changed the race. Whittall slipped wide exiting turn four on lap nine, opening the door for Gravel to take command.
Anthony Macri moved into second on lap 12, while Justin Peck and Buddy Kofoid staged a late battle for third. Peck held the position at the finish, with Kofoid fourth and Chase Dietz fifth.
Dietz also left Friday night as the new Lawrence Chevrolet points leader at Williams Grove. With Troy Wagaman Jr. failing to qualify for the feature, Dietz moved 40 points ahead entering the final race of the 2026 track championship.
Kofoid set quick time over the 56-car field with a lap of 16.421 seconds. Heat wins went to Kofoid, Gravel, Dietz and Cameron Smith. Emerson Axsom won the B Main, Steven Snyder Jr. took the C Main and Tyler Ross won the non-qualifiers race.
Top 10 — 410 Sprint Feature
- David Gravel
- Anthony Macri
- Justin Peck
- Buddy Kofoid
- Chase Dietz
- Tanner Holmes
- Cameron Smith
- Justin Whittall
- Bill Balog
- Daryn Pittman
The 64th annual J & S Classics National Open closes the Williams Grove season Saturday night with a 40-lap feature paying $75,000 to win.
Results and event information supplied by Williams Grove Speedway.
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