final winner on Friday night. Jeff Smith Jr. took top honors in the Ram Clutches Dash For Cash, with Dean Cannady landing in the No. 2 spot.
Saturday’ s main event was a stellar final between White and Elon, North Carolina’ s Randall Cantrell, who is brand new to stick-shift racing, and had a spectacular outing in his Cantrell & Son Plumbing Ford Mustang. White needed a welltimed holeshot to hold off Cantrell in the final round, thus becoming the Stick Shift Nationals only repeat winner.
The classy Bel Air continues to be a picture of consistency on the racetrack with White pulling the Lenco levers on cue.“ We’ ve put a new set of slicks on it since I won this race back in 2023, but that’ s about it!” laughs White.
The Second Chance race was among the most memorable in the history of this event, as Maryland’ s Joe White parked his dad’ s stunning 1964 Chevy Chevelle wagon in the winner’ s circle, after getting past West Virginia’ s Dan Hoyler in a Ford Mustang.
White’ s wagon is named“ The Fool” and is a legendary car with a storied past. It hails from the Maryland area and was a staple during the
Stick Shift Nationals main event winner and Gambler’ s Race winner Brandon White
Stick Shift Nationals Second Chance race winner Joe White
1970s and 1980s. The car was parked several decades ago, where it sat outside in the elements for many years. Russ White eventually acquired the car and oversaw a seven-year restoration, which turned out a stunning piece that would win best appearing anywhere.“ My 1965 GTO broke last week, so my dad told me to wheel‘ The Fool’ this weekend, so I did!” says Joe, who only made his first pass in the car on Friday night. Saturday’ s Second Chance Race showdown with Hoyler was one for the books, as White clinched the victory.
Other winners on Saturday include Virginia’ s Rodney Price, who took top honors in the Ram Clutches Dash For Cash, with Josh Barczy wheeling the Flintstone Chevy II to the No. 2 spot. New Jersey’ s Brian Moody picked up the Dan Englebert Memorial Low E. T. award presented by Choice Tire and Automotive. Moody and his Chevy Beretta clocked a 4.76 at 147 mph.
The Stick Shift Nationals continues to be a heavily attended gathering, with over 100 cars entered from 15 different states. Dubbed the“ Great American Stick Shift Race,” this event is held annually on Father’ s Day weekend at Farmington Dragway. DI
Stick Shift Nationals Second Chance race runner-up Dan Hoyler
Stick Shift Nationals main event runner-up Randall Cantrell
September / October 2026 DragIllustrated. com | Drag Illustrated | 81