The uncertainty of a NASCAR race, especially on a massive track, is what makes the sport tick. And when it comes to NASCAR, this uncertainty can only mean one thing: wrecks. Let’s be honest, most NASCAR fans love to see them happen, as long as the driver comes out safe that is.
And last season, when the biggest ‘Big One’ happened at Talladega, we thought it was a moment no other track could replicate. After all, taking 28 cars out of the equation in just one lap is no easy feat. But that’s when the racing gods spoke, and the Lancaster Motorplex answered, but first, a little background on this lesser known NASCAR speedway.
A track rich in history, dating back to 1959, it was a dirt oval track that featured a half-mile drag strip, sports car course, and a clubhouse with showers. In 1963, the surface was paved, giving the facility a new look. Flash forward to 2019, and the facility went through some dramatic changes with new ownership.
Mike Swinarski and Vito Antonicelli joined forces to buy the 77-acre facility, securing its future as a racing ground. The duo changed the name of the track to New York International Raceway Park (NYIRP) as it embarked on its 60th year of racing. Their vision was simple: to shape the future of racing at Lancaster for generations to come. Antonicelli shared his motivation back in 2019, saying, “When the possibility of racing not happening at Lancaster in 2019 started to become a reality, Mike and I decided we needed to step in and help. We look at it as redefining the future for generations to come. To keep the facility open for our current racers and fans while growing and adding racers and fans that will keep it going for another 60 years.” This commitment to the track’s legacy and growth is what has driven the changes we’ve seen, including last night’s event.
Last night was a night to be remembered, and for reasons not normally associated with a typical Street Stock show. The footage on video is nothing short of chaos—smoke, wreckage, and a track full of wrecked cars.
Racing America posted, “THE ENTIRE FIELD WRECKED Chaos ensued at @LancasterMtplx as the Street Stock event went green and the rain started to fall… oh my!” The reactions poured in, with Patrick Cole noting, “Wreck was so big it took out the microphone!” and Kevin Zabloudil marveling, “It looks like maybe 2 cars got through. Wild.” The event’s scale and the dramatic footage have made it a hot topic across social media and news outlets.
THE ENTIRE FIELD WRECKED
Chaos ensued at @LancasterMtplx as the Street Stock event went green and the rain started to fall… oh my!
All drivers are ok pic.twitter.com/HCN1oB4l3A
— Racing America (@RacingAmerica) May 18, 2025
Luckily, all drivers escaped unscathed, but the wreckage left behind is a mechanic’s worst nightmare. It’s described as a crash big enough to include the whole field, making a mundane Street Stock show an event that’s got the racing world abuzz. Rain began falling as the green flag waved, and in no time at all, pandemonium had broken out. Cars were skidding, colliding, and up in heaps all over the place, a scene more reminiscent of a film disaster than a race. The event has been splashed in major media outlets everywhere, and rightly so.
This isn’t only about one wreck, though. Lancaster Motorplex has been causing a stir with its racing calendar. The 2023 season was especially thrilling, with the return of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. The July 2023 Nu-Way Auto Parts 150 witnessed Patrick Emerling win in a virtual photo finish over Justin Bonsignore, which was one of the most momentous occasions on the track. The season also featured the Sportsman 50, the first appearance by the 350 SMAC Supermodifieds, Thursday Night Thunder, and Autograph Night, attracting crowds and making memories that would last a lifetime.
Despite last night’s mishap, Lancaster Motorplex’s future looks bright. The track’s journey from a local gem to a national contender is marked by events like this, which, despite the chaos, showcase the passion and dedication of everyone involved. The wreck might have been a setback, but it’s also a reminder of the track’s growing prominence.
So, what’s next for Lancaster Motorplex? With more races on the horizon, including the highly anticipated events of the upcoming season, the track is poised to continue its upward trajectory. Last night’s spectacle has put Lancaster Motorplex on the map, and it’s a story we’ll be talking about for a long time. Stay tuned, because the checkered flag is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter in racing history.
The wreck that shook North Wilkesboro
The second night of North Wilkesboro’s racing weekend was charged with anticipation as the zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Window World 100 took center stage at the iconic 0.625-mile short track. Fans packed the stands, and FS1 cameras rolled for the series’ first-ever broadcast on the network. But just two laps into the 100-lap battle, a catastrophic crash turned hope into heartbreak, derailing dreams for several drivers in a chaotic pileup.
Landon Huffman, starting 31st after a self-admitted qualifying blunder, felt the sting deeply. “Disappointed that I qualified bad, that was on me. I overdrive, got a little greedy,” he confessed. “I got through [Turns] 1 and 2 really good yesterday, and I was like, ‘Oh yeah, this is going to be money,’ and then I drove it to about the Tyson sign and tried to turn too much.” Despite the early hit, Huffman’s car took a beating, losing its driver’s side door—but he soldiered on for 98 laps to finish sixth. “We honestly might have had a car that could have won,” he said, frustration lacing his voice. “Even with no left side, we were the fastest car on the track for a good portion of that run.” His Carroll Speedshop team’s resilience shone through, but the “what-ifs” lingered.
The incident ignited when Lanie Buice, a rising star with her eyes on becoming the first female CARS Tour Late Model Stock winner, battled Jake Bollman for the runner-up spot behind pole-sitter Landen Lewis. As they roared through the tight turns, contact between Buice and Bollman sent both cars spinning. The chain reaction was brutal—Dustin Storm, Landon S. Huffman, Sam Butler, Ryan Wilson, and Daniel Silvestri plowed into the wreckage, their machines mangled. All seven drivers were knocked out of the race, with Buice credited with a gut-wrenching 32nd-place finish. For Buice, who carried the weight of history on her shoulders, the crash was a cruel twist of fate.
Drivers pinned the chaos on the track’s tricky surface. Earlier NASCAR Cup Series runs had laid down heavy rubber, which the CARS Tour’s Hoosier tires ripped up, making the track slick and unpredictable. The early-race sloppiness was evident as cars slid and scrambled for grip, setting the stage for the Lap 2 disaster.
While Landen Lewis dominated, leading every lap to claim victory and the points lead, the spotlight lingered on the wreckage. For Buice, Huffman, and the others caught in the crash, the night was a painful reminder of racing’s highs and lows. As the series heads to Langley Speedway on May 31, streamable on FloRacing, those drivers will carry the scars—and the fire—to fight another day.
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