Looking Back on The First Two Krush Races Benefitting The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation

On Saturday, November 14, South Boston Speedway plays host to the third running of the Krush 250 presented by Rogers Heating & Cooling benefitting The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation. The event has already provided plenty of thrills and memories in its first two years, with the chance to add to that this weekend.

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Ward Burtons's Return to Racing in 2024

Photo: Will Bellamy/Racing America

The biggest headline entering the inaugural Krush race in 2024 was certainly the presence of 2002 Daytona 500 winner Ward Burton. Burton took part in the event benefitting his wildlife foundation, competing in his first race since the season-opening NASCAR Truck Series event at Daytona International Speedway in 2012.

Fellow NASCAR Cup Series veteran Jeremy Mayfield was also part of the invitation-only field for the Orange Krush 200, held at Orange County Speedway. They were joined by some of the top Late Model Stock competitors of past and present, with 23 cars taking the green flag for the event.

Burton finished 15th in the Orange Krush 200, and it remains his most recent appearance in a race car. However, Jeb Burton is in Saturday's field, and Ward Burton will once again be in attendance this Saturday at South Boston, participating in a pre-race on-track autograph session.

Kaden Honeycutt vs. Bobby McCarty

Photo: Victor Newman/South Boston Speedway

Kaden Honeycutt is two-for-two in the Krush, but it hasn't been without a fight from three-time zMAX CARS Tour champion Bobby McCarty.

The 2024 Orange Krush 200 featured a top-eight redraw at the halfway mark of the race. McCarty qualified on the pole and led the first 100 laps, but went from first to eighth on lap 100 due to the redraw.

Honeycutt moved from second to first at the break, leading the final 100 laps of the race to finish ahead of Deac McCaskill. McCarty worked his way up to third, but couldn't come any closer to the win on that night.

Honeycutt went back-to-back in 2025 as the race moved to South Boston after a thrilling battle with McCarty. McCarty took the lead from Honeycutt in the final 10 laps, but Honeycutt muscled back around McCarty on an overtime restart.

Together, the two drivers have led 339 out of 465 laps in the first two Krush races.

Supporting the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation

-Photo: Joe Chandler/South Boston Speedway

While the Krush 250 has become a must-see event on the Late Model Stock calendar, it started with a vision to benefit The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation. The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit conservation and outreach organization founded by Burton, a South Boston native.

All ticket sale proceeds benefit the organization's conservation and outreach programming. Last year, the Krush 250 raised $70,000 for The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation.

Fans will be able to watch all of the action live on RacingAmerica.TV. Broadcast coverage of the event includes Late Model Stock Car qualifying ahead of feature racing for the Late Model Stock Cars and Southern Ground Pounders.

Click here to subscribe to RacingAmerica.TV to watch coverage of the Krush 250 presented by Rogers Heating & Cooling benefitting The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, starting at 11 a.m. ET on Saturday, November 14.

-Featured photo credit: Will Bellamy/Racing America