LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
The Loftins are First Father-Son Combination to Win Flying VA 99
The Loftin name is woven into the fabric of southern modified racing. On Saturday, in Spotsylvania, Virginia, another stitch was sown into that legacy when third-generation racer Carson Loftin scored the victory in the Flying VA Classic at Dominion Raceway with the SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic.
THE FLYING VA CLASSIC HITS ITS STRIDE IN FOURTH YEAR
30 Cars Entered for Dominion Raceway
A huge field of ground-pounding Modifieds are set to do battle at Dominion Raceway for the 4th Annual Flying VA Classic presented by VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center for the SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic. 30-plus entries make it the biggest field of Tour-Type Modifieds ever entered at the Spotsylvania, Virginia track. The 2026 edition has nearly doubled in car count, as 17-cars started last year’s race. CLICK HERE TO READ FULL STORY
ABOUT THE FLYING VA CLASSIC
BEAUTIFUL DOMINION RACEWAY
Dominion Raceway carries on a rich tradition of racing in Virginia. From 1952 to 2012 the original track, Old Dominion Raceway, was a mainstay for auto racing. After its closure, a new vision was born. A complex for to showcase all forms of motorsports. In 2016 Dominion Raceway was born.
Dominion Raceway’s Oval Track measures 4/10ths of a mile and includes uniform banking. The track is designed to enable excellent side-by-side racing at all locations and will give its competitors “equal” opportunity in both low and high grooves.
Lots of great drivers have honed their skills at Dominion in the NASCAR Advanced Auto Parts Weekly Series at Dominion: Denny Hamlin, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards, Travis Kvapil to name a very very few.
This will be the fifth time the SMART Modified Tour competes at the super-fast Virginia track.
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PREVIOUS DOMINION WINNERS
2021 Dominion SMART Winner: Matt Hirschman
2022 Dominion SMART Winner: Matt Hirschman
2024 Flying VA Classic Winner: Luke Baldwin
2025 Flying VA Classic Winner: Ryan Newman
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2026 is the Fifth Annual Flying VA Classic honoring the Hendrick family legacy. It's the third running of the event at Dominion.
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FLYING VA CLASSIC WINNERS
2022 Flying VA Classic (South Boston): Matt Hirschman
2023 Flying VA Classic (South Boston): Brian Loftin
2024 Flying VA Classic (Dominion): Luke Baldwin
2025 Flying VA Classic (Dominion): Ryan Newman
RAY HENDRICK - HENDRICK LEGACY
Ray Hendrick, one of the greatest Modified drivers of all-time, became a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2026.
Hendrick began his racing career in 1950 at Royall Speedway in the “Hot Rod” Division. Some time later, the Richmond native was a regular in a division that would effectively shape his legacy… the Modifieds.
Throughout his impressive career, Ray Hendrick transcended the southern region, traveling the entire east coast chasing big Modified races… and winning. He is said to have won over 700 times, with the majority of those wins coming behind the wheel of a Modified, like the ones you see here today.
Hendrick was also the leader of the “4 H Boys”... four racers from Virginia. Hendrick, Runt Harris, Ted Hairfeld and the great Sonny Hutchins.
The Legend of the Flying 11 was born in 1966 with a partnership with engine builder Jack Tant and Clayton Mitchell.
JUST A FEW OF RAY'S HONORS
- NASCAR Sportsmanship Award (1961);
- Most Popular Modified Sportsman Driver (1969, 1970);
- Most Popular Late Model Sportsman Driver (1975);
- National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame at Darlington Raceway (class of 1993);
- Eastern Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame (class of 1994);
- Named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers in the sanctioning body's first 50 years (1998);
- International Motorsports Hall of Fame at Talladega Superspeedway (class of 2007);
- Virginia Sports Hall of Fame (class of 2012);
- Richmond Raceway Garage Walk of Honor (2018, inaugural group).
- Five-time Champion at South Boston Speedway (four in Mods, one in LM Sportsman)
His son. Roy Hendrick, who was behind the race concept of the "Flying VA Classic," passed away in 2024. Roy was a race winning and championship driver himself. A true gentleman and a chip off the old block! The Flying VA Classic honors the entire Hendrick family and their enduring legacy to Modified racing.
SAT APRIL 4, 2026
DEFENDING WINNER - RYAN NEWMAN
