RECAP/PHOTOS: 16th Annual New Year’s Bash At Dillon Motor Speedway

by Hunter Thomas January 5, 2026 1 comment

DILLON, SC – Bobbie Tumbleston III dominated to win his third-career New Year’s Bash at Dillon Motor Speedway on Sunday night.

Throughout the 100-lap prestigious Street Stock feature, Tumbleston avoided trouble and survived by staying up front. He now surpasses Jeff Melton for second-most wins in the New Year’s Bash. Gary Ledbetter Jr. tops event winners with six-career victories in the annual January race. Tumbleston won the 2021 and 2024 events.

The turning point of the race came with about 30 laps to go when the leaders crashed hard heading into Turn 1. As the leaders raced down the frontstretch, Tumbleston was on the bottom of three-wide, with Melton in the middle and Sparks on the outside. Sparks and Melton made contact entering Turn 1, which sent the two drivers hard into the outside wall. The rear-end of Sparks’ No. 7 car hit so hard the rear wheels left the ground. Easton Brewer, who was running fourth at the time, was caught up in the accident as well.

Alby Ovitt finished second behind Tumbleston, followed by Josh Way, Scott Adams and Darlington’s Ricky Locklair Jr. Completing the top-10 was Sonny Schoffen, Ricky Locklair Sr., Brandon Oltra, Austin Flanagan and Corey Fanning.

Below are images TheFourthTurn.com’s Hunter Thomas snapped throughout the event in Dillon, South Carolina.