Weekly Notebook presented by FK Rod Ends
Notes: Kentucky teen throws left, turns left
By Todd Turner
DirtonDirt staff reporter
Caleb Todd (Jimmy Pittman photo)
Teenager Caleb Todd splits his sports activities between a couple of different positions: on the mound on the baseball diamond or in the driver’s seat at the dirt track.
The 16-year-old old from Science Hill, Ky., is again be playing baseball at Pulaski County High School in Somerset, Ky., while entering his second full season in Crate Late Model action atop DirtonDirt's Weekly Notebook presented by FK Rod Ends.
There’s not a lot of crossover between the sports — perhaps minus lifting weights and working out that helps his stamina in both — but Todd wants to make the most of his time playing baseball while following his father Tyrel Todd’s tire tracks as a dirt track racer.
He’ll focus on his baseball schedule in the spring, with racing taking precedence in the summer, but sometimes last year he missed a baseball practice to go racing. And last season, occasional doubleheaders were made up of baseball during the day and racing at night.
"I actually did that twice last year, once, at a baseball game, a Saturday morning in Adair County,” Todd said in his baritone voice. “And then after that, I just rushed over to Lake Cumberland Speedway, just before hot laps, but I actually got there and got my suit on, went to the driver's meeting.”
The 6-foot-3, 160-pound lefthander has a mix of pitches and also plays center field, while at the racetrack he’s the guy behind the wheel of a Crate Late Model. He made his debut in the division with a single 2024 race, then ran his first full-time season in 2025, capping it off with a two-victory weekend in October at Thunder Mountain Speedway in Corbin, Ky., and Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, Ky.
Young Caleb has a ways to go to match the accomplishments of his father, who was twice a runner-up in points in Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series competition (2004 and ’08) and a five-time winner on the circuit in cars owned by his father, Billy Todd. Tyrel Todd stepped away from the sport while raising a family, returned to racing several years ago in the Crate Late Model division, and now assists his son’s racing. Caleb Todd isn’t old enough to remember his father’s glory days, but he’s taking his best shot at continuing the family tradition.
Grading his rookie season, Caleb Todd settles on a B letter grade.
“We made some pretty smooth races, but there were some (races) that I made a few mistakes. And just being a rookie, just needing to learn off those mistakes. A few races I learned, sometimes I just did it again,” he said. “I'd just like to qualify a little bit better. I'm new to some of these tracks and most of these tracks just do all that qualifying, so I don't really get to feel the track out in hot laps. So I'll just go out there and just be a little bit off the pace.
"I try to race everyone with respect and I like to run smooth laps. And like, I can run the top if need to, and can roll the bottom, just depends on the track and how slick it is and where everyone else is running, just all depends really.”
Along with his father’s guidance, he’s gotten some pointers from the Winfield, Tenn.-based Marlar family that frequently races at Kentucky tracks.
"When I was a kid, I liked to watch Mike Marlar. Probably one of my favorite drivers still. He's always been a great guy. Like if I went up to talk to him, he'd always talk to me back and he's just a great guy in general,” Todd said. "He’s helped us a bunch. Well, honestly, all the Marlars have — Skylar Marlar, Cameron Marlar, and Mikey's helped us a bunch. I probably wouldn't be near as good as I am right now. Like every time we're at the track with Skylar, he'll always help me make sure I'm set up and all that. Just a huge thanks to them.”
Todd’s Oct. 24-25 victories last season were special, but another moment in his season was memorable, but not in a good way. A few weeks earlier at Rockcastle Speedway in Mount Vernon, Ky., Todd made an overaggressive move that didn’t turn out well.
"I was running third. And then I went for a slider on a restart, and I just parked it on Dustin Linville's nose. So I want to apologize for that. It gave us both damage and pretty much took us both out of a chance to win,” Todd said of the race eventually won by Jeff Watson. “Just a pretty dumb move on my part. I was just getting impatient. That's also a thing I need to work on, just being more patient and stuff. Because I'll just get impatient. I just need to work on it, honestly.”
He’s looking forward to getting back to racing after the baseball season, which could stretch into June depending on how his Kellan Jones-coached Maroons perform. The prime goal in baseball would be the state tournament, while at the racetrack Todd has his eye on the Best Plumber 604 Racing Series, which competes primarily in Tennessee with a few Kentucky races, is a possibility for Todd.
“I like racing more. I can't really play baseball forever. I'd like to play til at least my senior year,” Todd said. "So if I had to probably pick one, I'd probably pick racing. But I enjoy playing with my friends and all that with baseball.”
Weekly highlights
• In March 21 Super Late Model openers at a pair of Pennsylvania tracks, Trever Feathers of Winchester, Va., and Michael Norris of Sarver, Pa., earned $4,000 paydays. Feathers won at Port Royal Speedway while Norris captured the Pot of Gold feature at Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway in Imperial.
• DirtonDirt of Cabot, Ark., took over just past halfway of March 21’s opener at Poplar Bluff (Mo.) Motorsports Park. Payne topped a 13-car Limited Late Model field.
• Winning for the second straight week, Bobby Giffin of Maryville, Tenn., won March 21’s Limited Late Model feature at I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater, Tenn.
• Kyle Hardy of Stephens City, Va., on March 21 captured his second straight Crate Late Model feature at Winchester (Va.) Speedway.
First things first
Recent first-time occurrences at the dirt track:
• Leading all 20 laps, Braden Jones of Cherryville, N.C., captured his first Limited Late Model feature victory March 21 at Lavonia (Ga.) Speedway. The 15-year-old is in his second season in the division.
• Outside front-row starter Treyton Lee of Mercersburg, Pa., on March 21 notched his first career Limited Late Model victory, winning at BAPS Motor Speedway in York Haven, Pa.
Weekly news briefs
• Mid-Michigan Raceway Park co-owner Linda Henrickson died on March 11 at the age of 73. Along with husband Gene, “she helped create a place that brought racers, fans and families together,” according to her obituary. “The track became more than a business to Linda — it was a second home and a gathering place for the community she cared so deeply about.” The Fenwick, Mich., track hosts dirt racing events that include the season-ending Corn Harvest.
• The Brownstown (Ill.) Bullring cancelled all March events after heavy late-winter rain collapsed the backstretch wall, promoter Josh Carroll announced. Repairs are complete, but the track is putting the finishing touches on the facility with tentative plans to open the season April 3 with a weekly program that includes non-touring DIRTcar-sanctioned Super Late Models.
• West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells is adding aluminum bleachers with more than 5,000 seats. The improvements put 25 rows of seats on the backstretch, 15 more than before, and provides additional ADA seating.
• Seal-Tight Pavement Maintenance has signed on to sponsor the Crate Late Model division at Latrobe (Pa.) Speedway in 2026, the track announced.
• Merritt Speedway is mourning the passing of Kynlea Robson, known as the “Popcorn Girl” at the Lake City, Mich., track. The 14-year-old freshman at Houghton Lake High School and Florida native died unexpectedly March 20.
• Thunderbird Raceway’s 2026 season is in doubt after the Muskegon, Mich., track announced racing plans are “on hold until further notice" and that the facility that typically runs Super Late Models on Saturdays is for sale. The turnkey 34-acre facility — owner Heidi Smith says is in default because of a disagreement with land contract-holder — is listed for $400,000. Smith, who was previously the track photographer, purchased the venue prior to 2023 with her husband Jeff Morell, but the couple is in the midst of a divorce that has complicated the track's situation, Smith said. She would like to continue operating the track, but "unless I get some good financial backing" it's likely the track will remain dark in the meantime. (https://carwm.resimplifi.com/listings/1f449f70-350-w-rileythompson-rd)
• Toccoa (Ga.) Raceway is mourning last month’s passing of Valerie Wragg, a longtime concession stand worker. The Alto, Ga., resident was 82.
• Raceway 7 in Conneaut, Ohio, has expanded its September Shootout to two events this season. The Sept. 4-5 action includes $3,000- and $5,000-to-win Super Late Model races, the division’s lone appearance of the season at the track that hosts weekly Crate Late Model action.
• Skyline Speedway hopes to complete offseason electrical repairs before the Stewart, Ohio, oval’s April 4 opener, the Jeff Burdette-owned track announced. Deteriorated electrical wiring and other damage that left equipment inoperable was discovered during preseason prep work, requiring unplanned electrical upgrades. The opener is the first of 11 races with DIRTcar-sanctioned Super Late Models among divisions.
• Mudlick Valley Raceway in Wallingford, Ky., is mourning the passing of 19-year-old A.J. Farrow, who previously assisted the track’s former flagman and his father Justin Farrow in the track’s flagstand. The younger Farrow died in an automobile accident.
• The reopening Winston Speedway in Rothbury, Mich., plans to add property north of the original property to expand the pit area, new track owner Andrew Heykoop told MARC News. The expansion will also allow room for a planned campground area to potentially open the previous campground area as a dedicated music and event venue. The track is set to open May 1 with Super Late Models and Crate Late Models part of weekly programs.
• Hollis Speedway in Heflin, Ala., cancelled practice the last weekend in March after a drain clog in turn two flooded the racing surface.
Weekly points
Crate Racin’ USA (602 Crates): Landon Mathews of Dublin, Ga., has 97 points to lead Ken Ricks (92) and Nick Morris (81).
Crate Racin’ USA (604 Crates): Austin Storm of West Monroe, La., has 132 points to lead Shannon Lee (126) and Sid Scarbrough (123).
(Several organizations have yet to have points races)
Upcoming weekly specials
Among non-touring and independent special events coming up for Late Models at dirt tracks around the country:
Needmore Speedway, Norman Park, Ga. (March 27-28): Alongside Crate Racin’ USA touring events, Limited Late Models chase a $5,000-to-win payday in the two-day Southern Heritage Classic.
Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway (March 28): Trever Feathers goes for his second straight $4,000 Super Late Model payday on the undercard of a PA Posse event for sprint cars.
Michaels Mercer (Pa.) Raceway (March 28): Super Late Models chase a $3,000-to-win purse in the Chiller Thrill for the track now promoted by Earl and Michelle Michaels. M&T Appliances has posted a $500 bonus for a driver who can win the Chiller Thriller and the track’s July 1 Jay's Automotive United Late Model Series event.
Laurens County Speedway, Laurens, S.C. (March 28): The Limited Late Model Showdown pays $2,500-to-win if there are at least 15 entrants; wristbands from March 21 rainout accepted.
