The Pro Lite Crandon Championship stayed at Crandon International Raceway for Round 2 on Jan 25, and the early-season story took a sharp turn. Brandon Dittmer captured the win in his 23rd ICL start, earning his second career ICL victory and his first since scoring a 410 Sprint Car win at Knoxville last August. The result shakes up the championship picture immediately, because this points format rewards both winning and showing up—every position matters, and the QuickTime bonus can flip the order fast.
Up front, the race featured two leaders and one key lead change. Justin Bennetts came out swinging, leading the opening two laps and looking like he might grab his first career win. Dittmer stayed within reach and made the pass to take control, then drove away over the remaining laps to lead six total and finish P1. While Bennetts had to settle for second at the line, the night still stands as his best career ICL finish, and it’s a massive points haul early in the season.
The podium fight added even more momentum to the Round 2 storyline. Josh Franklin2 finished third in only his second career ICL start, also scoring his best finish to date. Franklin’s run was the kind of result that changes expectations—he didn’t just survive a tough Crandon race, he banked 10 points and inserted himself into the championship conversation. Right behind him, Dusty Fincher continued his steady start to the season with a fourth-place finish, gaining positions and stacking points for the second straight round.
Crandon’s “who can move forward” theme showed up clearly in the middle of the top ten. Matthew Linde delivered the hard-charger drive of the night, climbing from 10th on the grid to finish fifth—five positions gained in an eight-lap main event. On the other side, Branden Staccone had one of the toughest swings in track position: after scoring QuickTime for the 1-point bonus, he slid back through the order and finished sixth. That single bonus point mattered, though—because it kept him tied in the standings cluster that’s already forming just outside the top group.
Dittmer also stamped his win with pace. He recorded the fastest lap of the race at 1:22.541 and paired it with the cleanest overall run in the front group. Bennetts’ early laps showed he had the speed to contend, Franklin backed up his podium with consistency, and Fincher’s fourth-place points continue to look more valuable with each round completed.
After two races, the points battle is already tense—and it’s proving you don’t need a win to lead the championship. Bennetts’ second-place finish launches him to the top of the standings, while Fincher’s consistency has him right on his bumper. Meanwhile, Connor Barry—who opened the season with a win—now sits third, showing how quickly the standings can compress when drivers miss a round. Dittmer’s victory puts him fourth despite only one start so far, and that sets up a huge pressure point for the next event: if the front-runners keep showing up and stacking points, anyone missing races is going to have to win to make it back.
Results – Pro Lite Crandon Championship – Season 1 – Round 2 (Jan 25, 2026)
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Brandon Dittmer
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Justin Bennetts
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Josh Franklin2
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Dusty Fincher
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Matthew Linde
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Branden Staccone
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Dennis Holley
Top 10 Standings – Pro Lite Crandon Championship – Season 1 (After Round 2)
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Justin Bennetts – 16
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Dusty Fincher – 15
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Connor Barry – 13
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Brandon Dittmer – 12
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Josh Franklin2 – 11
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Sean Winkler – 11
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David Holdren – 10
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Mason Cassidy2 – 9
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Matthew Linde – 8
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Dylan Schriner – 8
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