Weekly Notebook presented by FK Rod Ends
Notes: BAPS champ plugs away with life-racing balance
By Todd Turner
DirtonDirt managing editor
Scott Palmer (Jeremy Zarfos/wrtspeedwerx.com)
Scott Palmer didn't start competing in the Dirt Late Model division until his mid-30s, but the Greencastle, Pa., driver has still been able to enjoy more than 25 years of action.
The 61-year-old racer, last year's champion at BAPS Motor Speedway and the York Haven, Pa., track's 2026 points leader, is still motoring along successfully, a weekly winner of six races over the last 12 months and the driver to beat at BAPS.
"I've probably threatened to retire — we call it retire or quit or whatever — for probably the last five or six years," Palmer said. "I don't know how much longer, but as long as I'm healthy and I'm competitive and we can still get a W, that keeps me going."
And Palmer's racing support system is key, too. While his father Ray Palmer died in April at the age of 85, John Poper spent 16 seasons as Palmer's chief mechanic while current crew chief Billy Mellott and mechanic Darrell "Tin Man" Schimmel are among veteran crew members for Palmer's self-owned team.
"If you didn't have good people in your garage — and I don't know how many people appreciate that — if you didn't have good people in the garage, I wouldn't be racing any more at this age," Palmer said. "I'd be done."
Instead of being done, Palmer continues competing at a high level, particularly at BAPS, a track he's adopted after running most of his career at closer-to-home Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway.
"I don't know if it's just a little smaller or what, but it just fits me really well. I just ran well there every time from the very first time I went there, it was one of those tracks I was comfortable at. So I said, 'Let's just run there for a whole year and see how it goes for a whole year.' So that's what we did," Palmer said. "About midway through (2025), we started to really get a setup that was working well there. Things kind of fell our way and ended up, you know, ended up with a strong finish and had a good year and the track was just racy every weekend and the people up there were very nice and it worked out really well so I decided to go back there again this year."
And he's clicking along again with victories April 18, May 9 and June 20 at the Kolten Gouse-promoted oval.
"I think that I've lost maybe a little bit of the edge," Palmer said of racing into his 60s, "but once it slicks off, I'm probably just as good now I think as what I was."
Palmer's late start in racing was in part because he played baseball and basketball and ran cross country as a youngster. He attended dirt races to watch drivers his father assisted, and later participated when the family's interests took a turn, racing go-karts at a home-built track on the farm where his father grew up.
"When we first did it," Palmer said, "it was just relatives of mine and my dad was who spearheaded it all, just goofing around with some go-karts and, just, it grew and grew and grew."
The third rendition of Cove View Speedway, still operated by Palmer's cousin, remains a popular karting venue, but Palmer ended up graduating to full-size cars for the 1999 season when one of his real estate clients sold him a dated leaf-spring Late Model.
"We didn't know a darn thing about these full-size cars," Palmer said, recalling his debut at Hagerstown. "It felt like I was driving this big old brick and it was heavy and everything else. … I spun three times in my first heat race starting in the back, because I kept thinking I was missing the setup, but what I was really doing was just driving in too hard because I didn't know any better."
He won a race in his third season in 2001, but after two rollover wrecks in 2003, decided he needed some guidance and sought out Hall of Fame driver Donnie Moran's driving school, which he calls "the best money I ever spent in racing, by far."
The experience taught him "how to drive one of these things because you don't know what you're doing wrong until you go there and you go through the process and they make you think about what you're doing with your hands and your feet," he said. "We could start feeling what the car was doing, as opposed to me doing something stupid and making the car do something stupid."
Palmer quickly clicked off a few more victories at Hagerstown and the career-long MasterSbilt Race Cars customer continued plugging away for many years in older equipment until in 2014 he decided to splurge on a brand new car that MasterSbilt dealer Huey Wilcoxon and his son Billy Vacek set up for Palmer.
"It just changed my racing completely because, all of a sudden, it made me much more consistent and competitive on a regular basis," Palmer said. "It was unbelievable how nice it was to drive a car that handled like that. I didn't realize what I was missing up to that point. So that was a big boost as far as getting things really rolling."
Palmer clicked off 15 of his 40 career victories over a two-year stretch, winning Limited Late Model titles in back-to-back seasons at Winchester (Va.) Speedway and Hagerstown, then moving up to Super Late Models and adding another Hagerstown championship in 2016. He went back to Limiteds after four years in Supers, and his 2025-26 stretch marks his most consistent success since.
His April victory at BAPS was meaningful because it came the day after his father, who struggled with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, died after contracting pneumonia. He'd attended all but one of his son's races throughout his Late Model career.
"I mean, he was kind of like a brother. We were father-son, but we did everything together that way and racing was just one of those things that we really enjoyed," Palmer said. "It was a little tough there in April when that happened. It was unexpected, but he passed on the 17th, and I went to BAPS on the 18th because I knew that he wouldn't want me sitting around. So the guys decided whatever I wanted to do, and so I said, 'Well, we're gonna go race.'
"It was one of those nights where I started, I think sixth, but like everything opened up when I needed to. I got through the traffic pretty quick and was able to get to the front and win the race. And yeah, so it was worth it."
A Penn State graduate with a bachelor's degree in accounting, Palmer has spent 40 successful years as a realtor, often among Coldwell Banker's top residential sellers and sometimes finding clients at the racetrack.
"Sometimes the fans, but I think as much anything that, you know, race car drivers or crew members that know me over the years," he said. "I've definitely benefitted in real estate sales; racing's brought me business for sure, no question about it."
While he's got a white-collar job and his prime avocation is decidedly blue-collar, Palmer has enjoyed a work-life balance that has turned out well for the father of two daughters with two granddaughters.
"I put a lot of time into real estate over the years and trying to balance raising a family and your business. And I started (racing) when I was in my mid-30s when you don't have a lot of money because everything's crazy then trying to pay for a house and all that," he said. "I started out with an open trailer and an old car that wasn't even up to standards at that time. … It's one of those deals where that's why I've only raced one night a week, basically. That's the balance that I could handle. Today, I could afford dollars and cents wise to do more, but now my body says, you know, once a week's enough. That's where the age catches you a little bit.
"It's a balance that you got to figure out. And for me, the balance was race Saturday night somewhere … and that's pretty much why I get 20 to 24 races a year in. If I'd have raced more, if I had a few more nights out there, I might have had a few more wins, but between family and business, it's tough to squeeze all that in unless you're really gonna commit to it and hurt something else, so that's been the balance that's worked for me."
Weekly highlights
• Hitting two milestones on a two-victory weekend July 26-27, Rusty Schlenk of McClure, Ohio, earned his 300th career victory. He won Late Model features at Attica (Ohio) Raceway Park and Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon, Ohio; it was his 50th Attica main event victory.
• Trent McLeod of Baker, Fla., earned $2,500 with June 27's Crate Late Model triumph at Southern Raceway in Milton, Fla. McLeod picked up $1,500 in purse earnings and a $1,000 bonus for winning his heat race after electing to start on the tail.
• Leading all 25 laps, Chad Finley of St. Johns, Mich., scored a $3,000 Super Late Model victory June 27 at Silver Bullet Speedway in Owendale, Mich.
• Rallying from the sixth and final row, Josh Parkerson of Millspring, Miss., captured June 27's 604 Crate Late Model feature at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Miss.
• Nick Anvelink of Bonduel, Wis., earned a $1,500 victory June 27 at Plymouth (Wis.) Dirt Track, one night after a Wabam Dirt Kings Tour triumph at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour, Wis.
• Topping a 14-car field, Cody Leonard of Sinton, Texas, rallied from 12th for a Late Model victory at I-37 Speedway in Pleasanton, Texas.
First things first
Recent first-time occurrences at the dirt track:
• Winning June 27 at Shelby County Speedway in Harlan, Iowa, Aidan Mohr of Blair, Neb., notched his first Late Model victory.
• Rodney Sheridan of Ponchatoula, La., scored his first Crate Late Model victory June 26 at Hattiesburg (Miss.) Speedway.
• Piloting former standout Roger Wing's car, Kyle Hunt of Bannister, Mich., drove to his first Super Late Model victory June 27 at Crystal (Mich.) Motor Speedway
Weekly news briefs
• With June 27's rainout, Hummingbird Speedway in Reynoldsville, Pa., has hosted a single 2026 event with seven rainouts overall.
• Western Kentucky Speedway in Nebo, Ky., hast posted a $500 bounty for anyone who can beat 602 Crate Late Model standout Dustin Rollins of Princeton, Ky. Rollins must finish the race for the bounty to be collected.
• Late Models won't be on the card for the Aug. 1 opening of the newly built Belle-Clair Speedway in Belleville, Ill. Also, according to the Outside Groove, veteran promoter Toby Kruse will work with track manager WM Marketing for the event at the quarter-mile oval that's part of a multimillion project at Belle-Clair Fairgrounds Park.
• Former South Dakota standout Dirt Late Model racer Ron Droog, a winner of many special events and titles over a career of more than 20 years, died June 23. The Aberdeen, S.D., driver of the X-labeled car known as Mr. X-citement was 73. Droog had a best single season of 26 victories, was the 1987 Stock Car Stampede winner at Jamestown (N.D.) Speedway and in 1985 captured the $10,000 Triple Crown among home-state tracks in Aberdeen, Huron and Miller.
• Portsmouth (Ohio) Raceway Park has set a July 5 practice under new ownership of the Jent family of Hillsboro, Ky., who have owned and operated Mudlick Valley Raceway in Wallingford, Ky., for four seasons. The Jents completed the purchase of the 3/8-mile Portsmouth oval from the Coleman family, which founded the 36-year-old track at the confluence of the Scioto and Ohio Rivers, a longtime and popular Dirt Late Model fixture. The Jents announced Mudlick Valley will host two more events in 2026: July 4's Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series race and a Sept. 6 Super Late Model special. Six previously scheduled events were cancelled.
• Jack Bland, a veteran driver, car owner and sponsor well known for surviving one of the worst crashes in Dirt Late Model history, died June 30 after an extended battle with cancer. The resident of Waldorf, Md., was 79. He fielded Dirt Late Models for a string of standout drivers including Nathan Durboraw (pictured at right above, with Bland), Andy Anderson, Keith Jackson, Jamie Lathroum, Justin Weaver and D.J. Myers. Bland's cars won track championships at Hagerstown with Durboraw in 2005 and Anderson in '15.
• Black Hills Speedway in Rapid City, S.D., has revealed its Class of 2026 for the track's Hall of Fame. Longtime photographer J.R. Hughes is among honorees with drivers Craig Amick, Don Buckman, Darrel Hanson, Shane Liebig, Dave McCoy and Ron Rosenboom. McCoy and Rosenboom competed in multiple divisions including Late Models.
• BAPS Motor Speedway in York Haven, Pa., on July 25 is set for its promotion of completing the night's features by 9 p.m. or fans receive a voucher for free admittance to another event. Limited Late Models are part of the three-division program that begins with 7 p.m. heat races.
Weekly points
DIRTcar (Supers): Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., has 1,262 points to lead Mike Spatola (1,156) and Daniel Adam (993).
IMCA (Limiteds): Curtis Glover of Knoxville, Iowa, has 717 points to lead Zach Zeitner (683) and Tommy Elston (597).
WISSOTA (Limiteds): Shane Sabraski of Rice, Minn., has 989 points to lead Tyler Peterson (964) and Cole Schill (826).
American All-Stars (Crates): Logan Walls of Junction City, Ky., has 526 points to lead Brandon Fouts (436) and Dalton Brown (356).
Crate Racin' USA (602 Crates): Joey Tucker of Elora, Tenn., has 589 points to lead Covy Parsons (565) and Allen Edwards (554).
Crate Racin' USA (604 Crates): Shannon Lee of Lumberton, Miss., has 600 points to lead Chris Reid (575) and Nick Thrash (426).
DIRTcar (Crates): Braden Johnson of Taylorville, Ill., has 724 points to lead Chase Wilson (689) and Hudson Dick (593).
Gen X (Crates): Trevor Walsh of Watertown, S.D., has 572 points to lead Blake Swenson (656) and Parker Gilbertson (639).
RUSH (Crates): Devin Brannon of Winchester, Va., has 1,298 points to lead Davin Kaiser (1,265) and Kurt Stebbins (1,208).
Ultimate (Crates): Brandon Adkins of Jumping Branch, W.Va., has 205 points to lead T.J. Salango (185) and T.J. Hicks (164).
USRA (Crates): Jason McFadden of Jim Falls, Wis., has 3,518 points to lead Lucas Peterson (3,182) and Josh Wahlstrom. (2,618).
Upcoming weekly specials
Among non-touring and independent special events coming up for Late Models at dirt tracks around the country:
Plymouth (Wis.) Dirt Track (July 2): The Independence 30 pays $3,000-to-win for the Late Model division in topping a five-division card.
Laurens County Speedway, Laurens, S.C. (July 2): The 602 Crate Late Models chase a $2,000-to-win purse to open the holiday weekend.
34 Raceway, West Burlington, Iowa (July 2): The IMCA Late Models battle for a $1,500-to-win on Laverne Sanitation Fan Appreciation Night with five divisions in action.
Lake Cumberland Speedway, Burnside, Ky. (July 3): The Crate Late Model division tops the card with a $3,500-to-win event.
Moler Raceway Park, Williamsburg, Ohio (July 3): Super Late Models chase a $2,000-to-win purse the night before Independence Day.
Potomac Speedway, Budds Creek, Md. (July 3): Limited Late Models top the card paying $3,000-to-win with Quality Auto Body and Collision and D&S Glass Service sponsoring the night.
Thunderhill Raceway, Summertown, Tenn. (July 3): The fourth annual Red, White & Blue event pays $3,000-to-win for the 602 Crate Late Model feature with fireworks as part of the program.
Wartburg (Tenn.) Speedway (July 3): A nine-division holiday weekend card is topped by a $3,000-to-win Limited Late Model race (there's also a dunking booth!).
Hidden Hollow Speedway, Colson, Ky. (July 3): Crate Late Models chase a $1,500-to-win purse in topping a five-division card (the track cancelled a Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series event).
Big South Fork Raceway, Huntsville, Tenn. (July 3-4): The holiday weekend features Limited Late Models with the $5,000-to-win Freedom 40 and $10,000-to-win Freedom 50 (the track cancelled a Southern Thunder Super Dirt Series event).
Twin City Raceway, Kenai, Alaska (July 3-4): The Willie Creech Memorial and the Late Model Dirty 30 make up a big holiday weekend of action for the Late Model division.
Xtreme Speedway, Moulton, Ala. (July 3-4): The Bama 100 is highlighted by the Limited Late Model division with $2,000- and $4,000-to-win events for the track's traditional favorite.
201 Speedway, Sitka, Ky. (July 4): The Freedom Revolution has six divisions in action with Super Late Models going for $10,000-to-win.
Marion Center (Pa.) Raceway (July 4): The sixth annual Nathan Lauer Memorial pays $5,000-to-win for Super Late Models with sponsorship from Townsend Gas & Oil.
Duck River Raceway Park, Wheel, Tenn. (July 4): A $5,000-to-win Super Late Model event highlights an 11-division program with 602 Crate Late Models ($1,500-to-win) also in action.
Merritt Speedway, Lake City, Mich. (July 4): A fireworks display is part of the holiday special with Super Late Models battling for a $2,500-to-win event.
Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway (July 4): A $4,000-to-win Super Late Model program is on the undercard of the eighth annual Greg Hodnett Classic for sprint cars.
Willamette Speedway, Lebanon, Ore. (July 4): The Firecracker 100 special includes Super Late Model and Limited Late Models on the three-division card.
