DirtonDirt Dispatches
Dispatches: Virginia pre-teen's stellar season
Wyatt Coffey (2) heads to a Natural Bridge victory. (Clifford Dove)
Among the latest notes and quotes from around Dirt Late Model racing from Nov. 5-8 (look for coverage of the World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series World Finals elsewhere). Also find a listing of live-streaming video from specials around the country:
Pre-teen’s stellar season
Wyatt Coffey never dreamed his first full season racing a 602 Late Model would go as well as it did. The 12-year-old from Waynesboro, Va., made the full-time switch to Dirt Late Model competition in May and never looked back.
Previously successful in other forms of racing, Coffey tallied 15 feature victories along with 602 Crate Late Model titles on the first-year Elite Racing Series, the Mid-East 602 organization and Natural Bridge (Va.) Speedway.
“I felt confident I could win races, but I never thought we’d end up winning as many as we did,” said Coffey, who still has a few more races on his schedule this season. “It really all comes down to the leadership from my crew chief Jeff Smith. He has really helped me become a better driver this year and he always prepares great race cars for me.”
Smith, who is in his first year working with Coffey, is thrilled with his development thus far and excited to see what’s ahead in 2026.
“Wyatt has been a pleasure to work with. He is very mature behind the wheel for his age,” Smith said. “He listens really well and has been coachable beyond my expectations. He absorbs the information and advice that I give him like a sponge. I feel that Wyatt has a God-given talent behind the wheel. We have built such a good relationship that goes beyond driver development.
“I consider Wyatt (and parents) Kenny and Amanda as extended family. Kenny has been gracious enough to allow me to captain the ship as I would like to and bring Wyatt along at a good pace. Wyatt has done a fantastic job all year. I'm really excited for what the future holds going forward.”
With a strong first season under his belt, Coffey now turns his attention to planning for 2026.
“I’ve got more experience now and in racing it’s all about experience,” Coffey said. “I think I’ll be able to take what I’ve learned this year and use it to be an even better driver next year. Our team is capable of winning. We have everything we need to be successful.
“None of this would have been possible without Poppy and my family behind me. Without them I wouldn’t be able to do any of this. They work so hard to make sure I can go racing and I’m grateful to have them all on my side.” — Tonya McCallister
Streaming schedule
Among upcoming Dirt Late Model special and sanctioned events available via live streaming:
Thursday, Nov. 6
• World of Outlaws World Finals prelims at The Dirt Track Charlotte in Concord, N.C. (DIRTVision)
Friday, Nov. 7
• World of Outlaws World Finals prelims at The Dirt Track Charlotte in Concord, N.C. (DIRTVision)
• Revival Super Dirt Series-United Rebel Late Model Series at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas (Start2Finish TV)
Saturday, Nov. 8
• World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C. (DIRTVision)
• Southern Thunder Super Dirt Series at Clarksville (Tenn.) Speedway (Hunt the Front TV)
• Wesley English Memorial at Toccoa (Ga.) Raceway (Dirt Rich TV)
• Fall Frost Classic at I-55 Federated Raceway Park in Pevely, Mo. (Live Stream STL)
• Revival Super Dirt Series-United Rebel Late Model Series at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas (Start2Finish TV)
