4/7/2025
Bennett Dominates the 2025 Battle of the States Late Model Feature at Whynot
Meridian, MS (April 7, 2025) – In an electrifying race on Saturday night at Whynot Motorsports Park, Ethal, LA driver Luke Bennett etched his name into the history books with a commanding performance in the 2025 Battle of the States CRUSA Late Model feature. Bennett led a staggering 24 laps of the 25-lap event, crossing the finish line first to claim a $1,500 payday and the prestigious win.
The 25-lap race saw a thrilling start, with Colton Leyendecker of Holt, FL, jumping to the early lead. However, Bennett quickly showed his speed, powering past Leyendecker on the outside to take control of the race by the second lap. From that point on, Bennett was unstoppable, holding off Leyendecker and the rest of the field to secure the victory. Leyendecker briefly led the opening lap but could not regain the lead as Bennett remained in control for the remainder of the event.
The battle for third place was equally intense, with David Williamson and Trent McLeod engaging in a fierce contest throughout the entire race. Williamson eventually emerged with the third-place finish, while McLeod settled for fourth.
Leyendecker, who had a fast car all night, could not hold off Bennett but secured a strong second-place finish, while David Williamson rounded out the top three. The race was a true showcase of the talent in the CRUSA Late Model Series, with a deep field of competitors battling it out on the high-speed track.
A Feature Results
A Feature 1: 1. 3-Luke Bennett[2]; 2. 33-Colton Leyendecker[1]; 3. 28-David Williamson[3]; 4. 58-Trent McLeod[4]; 5. 20-Nick Thrash[5]; 6. 232-Jamey Boland[8]; 7. 14-Casey Haney[6]; 8. 27-Chris McElhenney[7]; 9. 20-Bailey Callahan[9]; 10. C11JR-Chase Williams[12]; 11. 27M-Larry Murphy[10]; 12. 9-James Moore[15]; 13. 7-Chase Dewberry[14]; 14. B11-Brody Williams[17]; 15. 00M-Monte Skinner[16]; 16. 44-Tim Dees[11]; 17. 31-Easton Bollinger[13]; 18. (DNS) 3S-Cody Smith; 19. (DNS) J8-Bobby Jordan
Heat Race Results:
Heat 1: 1. 33-Colton Leyendecker[1]; 2. 28-David Williamson[3]; 3. 20-Nick Thrash[2]; 4. 27-Chris McElhenney[4]; 5. 20-Bailey Callahan[5]; 6. 44-Tim Dees[7]; 7. 31-Easton Bollinger[6]; 8. 9-James Moore[9]; 9. B11-Brody Williams[10]; 10. J8-Bobby Jordan[8]
Heat 2: 1. 3-Luke Bennett[3]; 2. 58-Trent McLeod[2]; 3. 14-Casey Haney[5]; 4. 232-Jamey Boland[4]; 5. 27M-Larry Murphy[7]; 6. C11JR-Chase Williams[9]; 7. 7-Chase Dewberry[8]; 8. 00M-Monte Skinner[6]; 9. (DNS) 3S-Cody Smith
Qualifying Results:
1.33-Colton Leyendecker, 00:14.126[9]; 2. 3S-Cody Smith, 00:14.150[7]; 3. 20-Nick Thrash, 00:14.166[17]; 4. 58-Trent McLeod, 00:14.299[6]; 5. 28-David Williamson, 00:14.349[14]; 6. 3-Luke Bennett, 00:14.353[5]; 7. 27-Chris McElhenney, 00:14.375[10]; 8. 232-Jamey Boland, 00:14.434[15]; 9. 20-Bailey Callahan, 00:14.513[12]; 10. 14-Casey Haney, 00:14.648[13]; 11. 31-Easton Bollinger, 00:14.656[11]; 12. 00M-Monte Skinner, 00:14.688[1]; 13. 44-Tim Dees, 00:14.703[4]; 14. 27M-Larry Murphy, 00:14.988[2]; 15. J8-Bobby Jordan, 00:15.028[16]; 16. 7-Chase Dewberry, 00:15.157[8]; 17. 9-James Moore, 00:15.553[3]
About Crate Racin' USA
Since its inception, Crate Racin' USA has provided a platform for grassroots drivers to showcase their talents, competing for both regional and national championships. The organization continues to thrive in the Southeast, growing its presence and providing unparalleled opportunities for racers of all levels.
For more information on Crate Racin' USA, including schedules, results, and more, please visit www.crateracinusa.com or email crateracinusa@gmail.com
A special thanks to our partners: Rogers-Dabbs Performance Parts, Chevrolet Performance, Hoosier Racing Tires, VP Racing Fuels, VP Racing Lubricants, Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, Competition Racing Equipment, Cruise with the Champions, Savage Chassis, Velocita by Melissa Markewitz, Bama Sheds & Pole Barns, MatMan Designs, O'Reilly Auto Parts, JCB WesPro, Scorpion Race Cars, Columbus Sports Cards, and MyRacePass for their continued support of the series.
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Article Credit: Cody Earley