Month: August 2026

Thursday Night “Under The Lights” Round 5 Finale

⚠️ This report was primarily generated by an AI model.

Thursday Night “Under The Lights” Round 5 Finale

Date: August 27, 2026

The roar of tiny engines once again filled the air at Stewart Raceway for the highly anticipated Thursday Night “Under The Lights” Round 5 Finale! With the tension palpable and the competition fiercer than ever, drivers pushed their late-model NASCAR themed slot cars to the absolute limit across both the high-speed SR3 Oval Super Speedway and the challenging Stewart Raceway II Straight Road Course. Tonight delivered a spectacular display of skill, strategy, and pure racing passion, with records falling and new champions emerging under the bright lights. The camaraderie, as always, was as exceptional as the racing, with fantastic food and shared delights making for another memorable evening.

Overall Event Summary

The cumulative results from a thrilling night of racing showcased consistency and raw speed. Drivers tackled four different classes across two distinct tracks, vying for overall supremacy. Team Jolley’s Dustin Jolley, Dean Donaldson, and Steve Stewart consistently battled at the front, demonstrating exceptional control and pace throughout the evening.

Here’s a look at the overall standings from a night packed with high-octane action:

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Steve Stewart 271 194 1617.155
2 Dustin Jolley 260 182 1570.910
3 Dean Donaldson 264 180 1613.864
4 Joe Clarke 123 60 1008.738

Team Jolley’s Dustin Jolley delivered a stellar performance, securing an impressive 260 laps and 182 points, demonstrating his prowess across various car classes and track configurations. Dean Donaldson of Full-Speed Racing also showed remarkable consistency, racking up 264 laps and 180 points, narrowly missing out on a higher overall points finish due to Dustin’s strong showing.

Race 1: SR3 Oval Super Speedway – MG+ 1.5 Midget (i)

The evening kicked off on the SR3 Oval Super Speedway with the MG+ 1.5 Midget (i) class. This race was a tight battle, with drivers quickly finding their rhythm on the high-speed oval. Dustin Jolley (Team Jolley) showed his potential early, securing a fastest lap of 3.879s in Segment 2. Dean Donaldson (Full-Speed Racing) also demonstrated his speed with a 4.001s fastest lap in Segment 2.

The final standings reflected a hard-fought contest:

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Steve Stewart 78 55 549.148
2 Dean Donaldson 76 54 505.010
3 Dustin Jolley 72 47 505.752
4 Joe Clarke 65 32 518.183

Despite not winning the overall segment points, Steve Stewart clinched victory by the narrowest of margins in terms of laps, showcasing his consistent performance across all lanes. Dean Donaldson and Dustin Jolley were hot on his heels, promising a night of incredibly close racing. Joe Clarke held his own, securing valuable laps and points.

Event Photo for Race 1

View Detailed Race Report: RaceReport_ 197_Aug-27-2026_SR3OvalSuperSpeedway.html

Race 2: Stewart Raceway II Straight Road Course – MegaG+ 1.7 Lites (Support Class)

The action moved to the Stewart Raceway II Straight Road Course for the MegaG+ 1.7 Lites support class. This technical track tested drivers’ precision and car control. Dustin Jolley demonstrated exceptional skill, consistently setting rapid lap times, including a 4.334s fastest lap in Segment 2. Dean Donaldson and Steve Stewart also showed great pace, trading fastest laps.

Here are the final results for Race 2:

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Steve Stewart 79 51 472.367
2 Dean Donaldson 78 53 470.291
3 Dustin Jolley 77 56 458.038
4 Joe Clarke 58 28 490.555

This race was another nail-biter! Steve Stewart edged out his rivals by a single lap to take the win, but Dustin Jolley’s consistency earned him the highest points in this race. Dean Donaldson once again proved to be a formidable competitor, securing second place in laps and points. Joe Clarke continued his campaign, adapting to the road course challenges.

Event Photo for Race 2

View Detailed Race Report: RaceReport_ 84_Aug-27-2026_StewartRacewayIIStraightRoadCourse.html

Race 3: Stewart Raceway II Straight Road Course – Viper V-SPEC L4 NASCAR Team Jolley

Back on the road course, the Viper V-SPEC L4 NASCAR Team Jolley class brought a new level of excitement. This race saw fierce competition, with Dean Donaldson displaying an incredible burst of speed in the final segment, securing a fastest lap of 3.818s. Dustin Jolley of Team Jolley also impressed with a 3.670s fastest lap in Segment 2, showcasing his prowess with these powerful machines.

The final results are as follows:

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Dean Donaldson 55 40 332.099
2 Steve Stewart 54 40 305.128
3 Dustin Jolley 52 40 308.228

Dean Donaldson secured a well-deserved victory in this tight contest, tying with Steve Stewart and Dustin Jolley on points but leading in laps. The competition was so close that all three top drivers finished with 40 points, highlighting the immense skill and consistency required to excel in this class.

Event Photo for Race 3

View Detailed Race Report: RaceReport_ 87_Aug-27-2026_StewartRacewayIIStraightRoadCourse.html

Race 4: SR3 Oval Super Speedway – MegaG 1.7 Whelen/SK Modifieds (i)

The final race of the night returned to the SR3 Oval Super Speedway with the powerful MegaG 1.7 Whelen/SK Modifieds (i). These cars are known for their speed, and the drivers did not disappoint. Steve Stewart, Dustin Jolley, and Dean Donaldson once again dominated the field, each pushing their limits. Steve Stewart set an impressive 3.391s fastest lap in the final segment, showing incredible speed. Dustin Jolley also showcased blistering pace with a 3.555s fastest lap in Segment 2.

The final standings for Race 4 were:

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Steve Stewart 60 48 290.512
2 Dustin Jolley 59 39 298.892
3 Dean Donaldson 55 33 306.464

Steve Stewart claimed his second victory of the night, leading in both laps and points. Dustin Jolley continued his strong performance with a solid second place, just one lap behind. Dean Donaldson secured third, rounding out a consistently strong showing across the entire event.

View Detailed Race Report: RaceReport_ 199_Aug-27-2026_SR3OvalSuperSpeedway.html

New Track Records

An extraordinary night of racing led to several new track records being set, highlighting the exceptional performance of the drivers and the perfectly tuned machines. These record-breaking runs underscore the escalating competitiveness at Stewart Raceway!

Track Class Lane Driver Date Time Laps/Distance Lap Time Type
SR3 Oval Super Speedway MG+ 1.5 Midget (i) 2 Steve Stewart 2026-08-27 20:00 38.406 2694 Race
SR3 Oval Super Speedway MG+ 1.5 Midget (i) 3 Dustin Jolley 2026-08-27 20:00 37.3578 3883 Race
SR3 Oval Super Speedway MG+ 1.5 Midget (i) 4 Dean Donaldson 2026-08-27 20:00 37.1015 4001 Race
SR3 Oval Super Speedway MG+ 1.5 Midget (i) 5 Steve Stewart 2026-08-27 20:00 36.4492 3924 Race
Stewart Raceway II Straight Road Course Viper V-SPEC L4 NASCAR Team Jolley 2 Steve Stewart 2026-08-27 22:02 69.82 4028 Race
Stewart Raceway II Straight Road Course Viper V-SPEC L4 NASCAR Team Jolley 3 Dustin Jolley 2026-08-27 22:02 69.82 3670 Race
Stewart Raceway II Straight Road Course Viper V-SPEC L4 NASCAR Team Jolley 4 Dustin Jolley 2026-08-27 22:02 69.82 3842 Race

It’s a testament to the skill present that Dustin Jolley (Team Jolley) set multiple new track records, showcasing incredible speed on both the oval and road courses. His 3.883s lap on the SR3 Oval and 3.670s and 3.842s laps on the Stewart Raceway II Straight Road Course are particularly noteworthy. Dean Donaldson (Full-Speed Racing) also contributed to the record books with a fantastic 4.001s lap on the SR3 Oval. These achievements highlight the relentless pursuit of perfection by these top-tier drivers.

Concluding Thoughts

The Thursday Night “Under The Lights” Round 5 Finale was an incredible showcase of late-model NASCAR themed slot car racing. The intense competition, coupled with the convivial atmosphere, reinforced why these events are a highlight for all participants. From the lightning-fast laps on the SR3 Oval to the technical precision required on the Stewart Raceway II Straight Road Course, every race delivered thrilling moments and exceptional driving.

The shared delights and camaraderie were, as always, excellent, fostering a welcoming environment for both seasoned veterans and aspiring racers. The excitement for Thursday Nights Under the Lights shall continue, promising more high-speed thrills and unforgettable moments in the future!

Overall Summer Series Final Standings (August 28, 2026)

Division Standings

Master Division

Name Laps Points
Steve Stewart 1815 1014
Dustin Jolley 1771 920
Dean Donaldson 1768 920
John Rogers 1576 838
Cece Caro 1467 670
Joe Clarke 1043 399
Kevin Webster 653 248

Advanced Division

Name Laps Points
Andy Gersh 757 352

Amateur Division

Name Laps Points
Tracker Clay 447 119
Trakker Clay 148 74
Rad Raca 123 68
Bobby Graham 118 70

Junior Division

No drivers recorded in this division for the Summer Series Final Standings.

 

Google Photos from the Event (Additional)

Event Photo

⚠️ End of AI‑generated content.

The Crash

In the final race of July 30’s “Under the Lights” event, a significant crash occurred as drivers exited Turn 4 on the SR3 Oval in Segment 5. This crash impacted literally every driver in that segment.

During the crash, the deslotted car in the Blue lane passed under the scoring gantry on its lid, triggering a lap for the driver in the White lane. While still spinning, the car was hit at full speed by the car actually in the White lane, causing that car to de-slot and come to a stop on the Orange lane. That car was then plowed into by the car in the Orange lane at full speed.  All of this occurred before the race director halted the race and cut the power.

A lot of very impactful things happened as a result of the Blue lane car deslotting:

      1. The Blue lane did not get their lap.
      2. The spinning Blue lane car triggered an early record lap for the White lane driver.
      3. The White lane car crashed hard into the slowly but still spinning Blue lane car and de-slotted, coming to a stop in the middle of the Orange lane.
      4. The Orange lane and Green lane cars both picked up a lap during the crash.
      5. The Orange lane car then slammed into the White Lane car and also de-slotted with an “Out-of-body” experience.

All the above things happened before the power was cut and the segment halted.

As the HOPRA rules below have long supported, the expectation of most drivers present was to allow the Blue lane car to regain its “missed” lap by placing the crashed car behind the scoring gantry, near where it de-slotted, and restarting. Which, as you can see in the video, was attempted.

However, the Orange and Green lane drivers disagreed with the expectation that the Blue lane car should be allowed to regain the lap it had lost.

The general consensus was pretty much a toss-up, and the track owner decided not to count the lap, and the segment and race continued. Of course, the Blue lane driver and others were not pleased with the decision.

The track owner’s reasoning was that allowing the Blue lane car to get the lap back essentially negated any negative impact on the crashing driver while significantly negatively impacting all the other drivers.

Key HOPRA Rule on Missed Laps / De-SlotsFrom HOPRA Racing Rules and Procedures (section covering de-slots and lap counting):

      • The only penalty for a de-slot (car coming out of the slot) is the time lost while a marshal replaces it.
      • A driver shall not be penalized a loss of lap(s) if their car misses the lap counter due to a de-slot or improper marshalling.
      • A driver shall not gain a lap if another car passes over their lap counter for the same reason.
      • Recognition of a missed (or extra) lap must come from an official marshal or Race Director.
      • If a car misses the counter, the Race Director adds the deserved lap to the driver’s total during or at the end of the segment.
      • If a track marshal verifies a missed or added lap, they notify the Race Director to correct the count.

In short, missed laps caused by de-slots or marshaling errors are corrected (added back) rather than left as permanent penalties. The time cost of being off-track is considered sufficient.

The keywords in the HOPRA rules are “The time cost of being off-track is considered sufficient.” In this case, there would be no time cost. Only the laps lost and the distance lost by all three of the other drivers who did not crash.

I’m sure this type of incident has been encountered before and will certainly happen again. To avoid future frustration and anger, a specific rule will be created to properly address this type of situation going forward.

View the video on Rumble here.

Just before this final race got underway, I was thinking to myself how much fun it has been racing with the Thursday Night “Under the Lights” bunch.

It is not fun when folks leave Stewart Raceway angry and/or frustrated.