Turner Brown secured a dramatic victory in Pensacola, leading the final 25 laps after successfully challenging Dustin Smith on the race's concluding restart. Brown, who is 15 years old and driving for P1 Racing, claimed his first win at Five Flags Speedway. Finishing second was Jake Finch, who successfully defended his title to claim the 2026 Allen Turner Pro Late Model Series Championship, while Smith held on to finish in third place.
Smith had dominated the race, leading 75 of the 100 laps, but his day was cut short by an incident. After an early race issue, Smith suffered a left front tire blowout, which sent him hard into the outside wall in turn three. He was evaluated by paramedics and required further medical attention following the crash.
Brown's performance was marked by patience and strategy. After working his way toward the front, he caught the leader, Smith, during the lap 75 caution. On the subsequent restart, Brown took the lead and maintained his pace to win the event. Finch, who finished second, expressed satisfaction with the result, noting that the championship was a testament to the consistency of the 18 car throughout the season.
Brown, who had already impressed in other Pro Late Model events, was excited about his debut at the famed oval. He noted that the track is a "beast to tame" and that he was looking forward to competing again in December.
Source: Short Track Scene