Tanner Huddleston successfully defended his championship aspirations on Saturday night, securing his first SPEARS CARS Tour Southwest Limited Late Model victory of the season at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. Huddleston led all 75 laps in the Haddad 75 October Classic, managing to keep his championship hopes alive as he battled competitors, including the undefeated Jeffrey Peterson.
Huddleston, who started the evening with a pole position, managed to hold off Peterson, who entered the race with five consecutive series wins. The race featured intense action, including a multi-car incident on Lap 49 involving Skyler Schoppe, Kenna Mitchell, and Chris Monez, which forced several drivers to retire or pit.
The battle for the podium was fierce. Joey Iest managed to hold on to finish third, while championship leader Kenna Mitchell recovered from a difficult weekend to finish fourth. Christian Bazen rounded out the top five, with Brenden Ruzbarsky also finishing in the top group.
The victory marks Huddleston’s first win of the 2026 season and his first victory over Peterson in series competition. With the season finale set for November at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Huddleston remains within striking distance of Mitchell, who maintained her championship lead.
Source: Short Track Scene