The Modified Regional East Series delivered a massive Round 3 at Lincoln Speedway, and it didn’t just produce a winner—it produced a new points leader. Brayden E Carter put together a flawless night, scoring the win and the qualifying bonus for the maximum 13 points, while the championship picture flipped on its head behind him. After two rounds of tight margins, Lincoln became the separator event everyone expected, and the standings now reflect just how quickly momentum can change in this 7-race season.
Up front, Carter was in complete control. He led all 28 laps, recorded the fastest lap of the race (15.897), and never gave the field a real opening to mount a decisive move. It’s the exact kind of performance Lincoln rewards: get to clean air early, keep the pace relentless, and don’t give anyone a chance to reset the fight. And with this win, Carter added another milestone to an already legendary résumé—this was his 74th career win in his 318th career start, a stat line that explains why he’s always dangerous when he shows up on the entry list.
Behind him, the battle for the podium kept the pressure on all night. Branson Woodward backed up his Oswego breakthrough with another strong run to 2nd, continuing a statement start to his East campaign. Brenden McGlothlin stayed consistent with a 3rd-place finish, stacking another high-value points night and keeping himself firmly in the title conversation. Lincoln didn’t hand out anything easy—every position in the top five carried weight, and you could feel how hard the front group was pushing to maximize points.
The wildest storyline belonged to the driver who entered the night as the points leader. Aidan Strawberry was involved in an opening-lap incident that dropped him to 10th, half a track behind, and for a moment it looked like the standings might get blown wide open. But Strawberry did what champions do: he limited the damage, clawed forward, and salvaged a 6th-place finish. It wasn’t the night he wanted, but in a season-long title fight, that recovery drive may end up being the difference between staying in the hunt and getting buried. Still, with Carter’s maximum-points win, Strawberry’s margin was erased—and the points lead changed hands.
Lincoln also gave the series another promising sign for its depth. Evan Nugent recorded his second career finish and immediately made it count with a top-five result, finishing 4th in a stacked field. That’s a huge step forward, and it adds another capable name to the mix as the schedule rolls on. Dylan Alton also impressed in his rookie appearance, bringing it home 5th and showing the kind of composure that can translate into more big nights later in the season.
Now, the points story is exactly what you want after three races: tight at the top and heating up fast. Carter leads with 34, Strawberry sits right behind at 30, and McGlothlin remains a steady third at 25. Woodward is close enough in fourth that he’s one more strong night away from becoming a true title threat, and there are plenty of drivers still lurking with the ability to swing the standings with one big result. With four races remaining, the East championship is officially on.
RESULTS
- Brayden E Carter, 2) Branson Woodward, 3) Brenden McGlothlin, 4) Evan Nugent, 5) Dylan Alton, 6) Aidan Strawberry, 7) Marc Liberante, 8) Calvin D Crawley, 9) Tyler Crimmins, 10) Adam Bradley2
TOP 10 STANDINGS
- Brayden E Carter — 34, 2) Aidan Strawberry — 30, 3) Brenden McGlothlin — 25, 4) Branson Woodward — 24, 5) Justin Thomas — 11, 6) Jonathan Hanson — 9, 7) Evan Nugent — 9, 8) Dylan Alton — 8, 9) Casey Borgmeyer — 8, 10) Samuel Wright5 — 8
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