MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — October 11, 2026. Derek Locke has added another championship to his Williams Grove Speedway résumé. The Mechanicsburg racer and his No. 77 team secured the 2026 HJ Towing & Recovery 358 Sprint Car track title, the fourth of his career at the famed Pennsylvania dirt oval.
Locke previously claimed the track championship in 2020, 2021 and 2022. His return to the top in 2026 came through steady results across all seven 358 Sprint Car events contested at Williams Grove this season.
Consistency brought the championship home
Locke won once, finished third twice, fourth twice and sixth once during the 2026 season. Those results gave him a 4.7 average feature finish, according to Williams Grove Speedway’s October 11 release. His lone victory at the track came on April 10.
The final championship margin was narrow: Austin Reed finished second in the standings, just 20 points behind Locke. Cody Fletcher took third after leading the points standings for a substantial portion of the season.
A competitive 358 Sprint Car season
The division saw wins by Andy Best, Cody Fletcher, Chase Gutshall and Reece Raudabaugh in addition to Locke. Eli Tuckey was the only repeat winner, taking two victories. Brock Hammaker of Grantville finished eighth in the season standings and earned the division’s Rookie of the Year honors.
For Locke, the championship adds to a run of success at Williams Grove that now spans four track titles over seven seasons. For Pennsylvania's 358 Sprint Car racing scene, it was another season in which consistency mattered just as much as outright speed.
Source: Williams Grove Speedway news release, October 11, 2026, provided to Pitmark Racing Co. by Shawn Brouse. Featured image: official Williams Grove Speedway logo. Read more at Williams Grove Speedway.
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