Round two of the World Series of Asphalt at New Smyrna Speedway turned into a statement drive from Joey Conner in the Tour Type Modifieds, who delivered a flawless night when it mattered most. In just his second career start, Conner picked up his first career win—and it wasn’t a “hold on and survive” kind of victory. He was unchallenged at the front, setting the pace from the opening lap and never giving the field a real opening to turn the race into a fight for the lead.
Conner’s control showed up everywhere in the box score. He started on the front row and proceeded to lead all 40 laps, turning clean air into a full race of clean execution. Add in the series bonus point for fastest qualifying, and Conner walked away with the maximum kind of points night—exactly the sort of performance that can launch a driver from “new name” to instant threat in a hurry.
Behind him, the battle became about who could best capitalize on limited opportunities. Caleb Oliver delivered a sharp, efficient run into 2nd, staying close enough to keep pressure alive while also protecting his position from the pack. Brayden E. Carter continues to look like the most reliable points scorer in the entire World Series, charging up from 8th to 3rd and stacking another strong finish that keeps his overall championship momentum rolling.
If you’re looking for the “move of the race” from a pure positions-gained standpoint, it belonged to Doug Welch. Welch dug out of 12th and drove to 5th, a seven-position gain that screams consistency and patience—two things New Smyrna rewards when the pace is hot and the margins are thin. Anthony Warren also made meaningful progress, advancing from 10th to 6th and adding another steady points result to his early-season profile.
The night’s toughest break happened immediately. Davis Warren was the race’s first casualty, getting turned around on the opening lap off Turn 2, ending what could’ve been a meaningful opportunity to bank points early in the season. In a series where every finish matters, those zero-point nights can become the difference between chasing the lead and chasing the top ten.
With two races now in the books, the championship picture is starting to take shape. Carter remains the overall leader with 23 points, and that gap matters because the World Series of Asphalt title is built on repeatedly delivering results. Conner’s win rockets him up the chart and gives him immediate credibility in the overall battle, while Welch’s consistency keeps him within striking distance. And don’t overlook the mid-pack tightening up—there are ties forming and single strong runs are already swinging drivers multiple positions up and down the standings.
RESULTS (Plain Text): 1) Joey Conner, 2) Caleb Oliver, 3) Brayden E Carter, 4) Chris Allison2, 5) Doug Welch, 6) Anthony Warren, 7) Carson Southern
STANDINGS – TOP 10 (Plain Text): 1) Brayden E Carter (23), 2) Doug Welch (17), 3) Kaleb Smith2 (14), 4) Joey Conner (13), 5) Michael Mennenga (12), 6) Caleb Oliver (11), 7) Carson Southern (11), 8) Jack Watts (10), 9) Chris Allison2 (9), 10) Dylan Schriner (7)
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