Wake County brings the heat: Harvick, Huffman, Jones, and more…

Jul 10

Under the Friday night lights in Raleigh, North Carolina, "America’s Favorite Bullring" is gearing up for a clash of racing generations. This Friday, July 10, the tight, quarter-mile asphalt of Wake County Speedway will host the Simpkins Garage 170, a race that honors the track's grassroots history while showcasing the future of the sport.

The biggest storyline echoing through the pit area is the arrival of Keelan Harvick. Carrying the iconic Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) banner and the weight of a legendary NASCAR surname, the young driver is stepping into the local Late Model division to test his mettle. But as any short-track veteran knows, a famous last name doesn’t buy you a clean line through Wake County’s notoriously tight corners.

Harvick is stepping onto fiercely defended turf. The entry list is packed with local heavyweights and Carolina ringers who know every bump, groove, and tire mark on the Raleigh quarter-mile:

Landon Huffman (Claremont, NC): Coming off an incredibly dominant showing in the June Late Model features at Wake County, Huffman brings momentum and a reputation for aggressive, calculated driving. He is the man with the target on his back.
Carson Haislip (Raleigh, NC): A true hometown hero, Haislip consistently runs at the front of the pack. After battling Huffman hard last month, he’ll be looking to park his machine in Wake County’s victory lane in front of a local crowd.
Daniel Vuncannon (Fuquay-Varina, NC): A seasoned veteran of the Wake County asphalt, Vuncannon is a master of patience—a critical skill when trying to survive 170 laps in a 27-car pressure cooker.
Clay Jones (Goldsboro, NC) & Phoenyx Kimball (Raleigh, NC): Both drivers have shown blistering speed in recent weeks, proving they can thread the needle when the track gets crowded and the tempers flare.

The Strategy for 170 Laps
At just a quarter-mile long, Wake County Speedway leaves zero margin for error. Lap traffic becomes a factor almost immediately after the green flag drops. For Harvick, the challenge won't just be finding raw speed; it will be surviving the inevitable beating and banging that comes with navigating a swarm of local veterans determined to protect their home track.

Will the KHI prodigy conquer the bullring, or will the seasoned Carolina locals show the young gun how it’s done in Raleigh? The answer awaits at the Simpkins Garage 170.

Race Details: