ector, Public Relations
South Boston Speedway
SOUTH BOSTON, VA (March 17, 2025) – The young reigning King of the Modifieds knows he will be facing a tough challenge when the best-of-the best Tour-Type Modified drivers and teams converge on South Boston Speedway March 21-22 for the Second Annual SMART Modified Tour Pace-O-Matic King of the Modifieds powered by Dominion Energy event on URW Community Federal Credit Union Race Day.
Yet, 18-year-old Luke Baldwin, who earned his first career Tour-Type Modified win in the biggest race of the season and went on to win the 2024 SMART Modified Tour championship in his rookie season, is confident he has what it takes to retain his title as King of the Modifieds and pocket the $20,000 winner’s prize for a second time.
“It’s going to take a lot to win, but I think we have it,” Baldwin remarked during a break in a testing session at South Boston Speedway. “I have a lot of confidence. I think we will be in good shape. I’ve got a lot of confidence in my racecar especially. I think my racecar will be really good. It’s just all about whether I can drive a mistake-free race and beat some of the best in the business that will be coming here for the race.”
Baldwin, who drives for Sadler-Stanley Racing, ranks winning last year’s 125-lap King of the Modifieds race as one of the top accomplishments of his young racing career.
“Winning the SMART Tour championship and winning the race here at South Boston Speedway definitely sit at the top,” Baldwin pointed out. “I’m lucky to have the opportunity to go out and do that in equipment that’s good and to be surrounded by these great people on my team. It’s all glory to these guys. They do most of the job. I’m just holding the steering wheel.”
Last year’s 125-lap King of the Modifieds race was a highly competitive one that saw Baldwin edge veteran Matt Hirschmann of Northampton, Pennsylvania, one of the best-of-the-best in Modified racing, by .415-second in a 17-lap sprint to the finish following the last of the race’s six caution periods to earn the win.
“It was a little surreal,” Baldwin remarked. “Hirschman is one of the best in Modified racing right now. I grew up watching him dominate the SMART Tour when he came down. So, to come and beat him was pretty cool.”
Baldwin has gotten his 2025 season off to a good start. The Mooresville, North Carolina resident was in contention to win the SMART Modified Tour’s season-opener at Florence, South Carolina but had to settle for a ninth-place finish. He bounced back to win the series’ most recent race at Anderson, South Carolina. Now, Baldwin will be looking to make it two wins in a row in the 125-lap King of the Modifieds race March 22 at South Boston Speedway, a track at which he feels comfortable and confident.
“I’m excited to get back to South Boston,” Baldwin said. “I’m pumped. I love this racetrack. I love every time we come here. It’s a great facility that is run by great people that puts on really good racing. I love the speed of this place.
“This is a really good racetrack for us,” he added. “It fits my style. I think I’m a little better at the higher grip, fast racetracks where I can kind of go all out the whole time. My racecar is really, really good here.”
“I really enjoyed the event last year,” he continued. “Even if we didn’t go out and win, I could have run fifth and really enjoyed the professionalism and the competition of the event. I thought the SMART Modified Tour and South Boston Speedway did a really good job in putting on something I think will be special for a long time.”
The March 21-22 URW Community Federal Credit Union Race Day event is South Boston Speedway’s season-opening event. Along with the 125-lap SMART Modified Tour Pace-O-Matic King of the Modifieds powered by Dominion Energy race on Saturday afternoon, March 22, South Boston Speedway will kick off the season for its Sentara Health Late Model Stock Car Division with twin 50-lap races, each paying $2,500 to win, with the twinbill serving as the co-feature event of the day. In addition, there will be a 50-lap race for the regional touring DriveAway Solutions STAR Super Stock Tour to round out the Saturday afternoon four-race card.
On Friday, March 21 there will be free admission to the track’s grandstand area with gates opening at 10 a.m. Fans are invited to come out and watch practice for the three series and qualifying for the SMART Modified Tour’s King of the Modifieds event. SMART Modified Tour single-car qualifying will start at 5 p.m.
Fans may purchase tickets on Friday, March 21for the Saturday, March 22 event at the speedway’s new guest services area from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Concession stands will not be open on Friday. However, fans may bring in their own food and drinks if they choose.
The tentative event schedule for Saturday, March 22 has grandstand gates opening, and practice starting at 9 a.m. Qualifying for the Sentara Health Late Model Stock Car Division is set for 11 a.m. A Pace-O-Matic Pit Party/Fan Appreciation autograph session will be held on the frontstretch after qualifying.
The SMART Modified Tour Dominion Energy Last Chance Qualifier, which will go for 25 laps or 25 minutes, is set for 1 p.m. The first of the day’s four races will get the green flag at 2 p.m.
Advance tickets for the season-opening March 21-22 SMART Modified Tour King of the Modifieds on URW Community Federal Credit Union Race Day are priced at $20. Tickets at the gate on race day will be $25 each.
Seniors ages 65 and older, military, healthcare workers, and students (with ID) can purchase tickets at the advance ticket price in advance and at the gate on the day of the event.
No VIP Suite tickets for the Saturday, March 22 SMART Modified Tour King of the Modifieds event are available as suite tickets are sold out.
Advance tickets for all of South Boston Speedway’s 2025 events may be purchased online on South Boston Speedway’s website, www.southbostonspeedway.com or by calling the speedway office at 434-572-4947 or toll free at 1-877-440-1540 during regular business hours.
The latest news and updates from South Boston Speedway about the King of the Modifieds event as well as information regarding upcoming events can be found on the speedway’s website and the track’s social media channels. Information may also be obtained by phoning the speedway during regular business hours.
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