Cole Bruce's Hampton Heat Breakthrough

Cole Bruce wasn’t expected to be one of the biggest stories of the Hampton Heat weekend, but by the checkered flag, he had set himself apart from a majority of the field and became one of the weekend’s strongest performers. From fast practice times to a surprise pole award, he finished third against one of the toughest Late Model Stock fields of the season.

Bruce drives the No. 31 Clubtails Toyota, hails from Fredericksburg, Virginia, and is a regular at Langley Speedway. He got his first Late Model Stock victory there on April 19, 2025. He continues to compete at Langley, picking up more wins and momentum as he races in memory of his late father, who passed away suddenly in July of 2025.

In an article published by NASCAR, Bruce credited his father with teaching him every part of racing — from being behind the wheel to the business of racing. He even mentioned having to repair every car that he wrecked in his racing journey, lessons that shape who he is today.

Early in the 2026 season, Bruce would take the pole at Langley and stay up front before a mechanical failure ended the race for the No. 31. He would then find top-five finishes in the two races before the Hampton Heat weekend.

As we closed in on the Hampton Heat weekend, the intention was for ARCA Menards Series Driver Wesley Slimp to take the wheel of the No. 31 Clubtails Toyota, since the Heat is not a points race for Langley drivers. Those plans were changed when Slimp suffered an injury, putting Bruce back behind the wheel for the weekend.

The weekend was the result of the hard work the No. 31 team had been putting in throughout the season. Bruce was consistently near the top of the practice sessions, and Pits to Stands had a chance to speak with him after the first session.

Bruce mentioned top-five finishes the last two races entering the weekend, and said “Overall this is the most confident and happy I’ve been going into a Hampton Heat”.

The big breakthrough moment would be Bruce’s qualifying run, which landed him on the pole for the first time in a Hampton Heat. Pits to Stands interviewed him again after he established himself at the top.

Fighting through tears after earning the pole, Bruce admitted that the result had exceeded his expectations:

“I knew we had a top-five car, I wasn’t expecting the pole.”

Bruce added that he would have been thrilled to just come out of the race with the pole and a top-five finish, while still hoping to find victory lane.

The race started and Bruce would hold the lead for the beginning of the race. A few cautions and restarts would shake up the field, and Bruce would find himself shuffled into the field. As the race drew on, a late caution would take out two top contenders: Ayden Millette in the #9, and Brenden Queen in the #03. Following the late-race restart, Bruce would navigate his way to secure a well-earned third-place finish.

The Hampton Heat wasn’t just a good finish for the No. 31 team, it was proof that they belong among Langley’s top contenders. It was another reminder of a team that has accomplished so much through adversity - and proof that Bruce and the No. 31 team area continuing to go after bigger and better results.

At Pits to Stands, we are excited to see where the future lies for Cole Bruce and the whole team as he continues to take on Langley and beyond.