Sommers Capitalizes on Kraus's Misfortune For Win to Kick Off World Series of Asphalt

Gabe Sommers is calm, cool, and collected. And as he trailed Derek Kraus through the opening half of Friday night's David Rogers Super Late Models Main Event at New Smyrna Speedway, he never panicked, as he knew if he played his cards right, he'd have a chance to take the checkered flag first.

"Yeah, I was just riding there the whole race, pretty much. The car was really good," Sommers said after the race.

In the runner-up spot, Sommers kept his No. 15 machine clean, and when opportunity presented itself in the form of a flat tire for Kraus, Sommers inherited the lead, and he never looked back. The 22-year-old racer, who hails from Wisconsin, hit his marks and pulled away from the competition down the stretch to win the race by more than 3.3 seconds over Spencer Davis.

The win marks the first in the driver's career in the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, and it comes in Sommers' 29th career start in a Super Late Model in the prestigious series at New Smyrna Speedway.

After collecting the pivotal opening-night win in the World Series of Asphalt, Sommers gave praise to his crew chief and team for continually grinding to get their car prepared for this event.

"Man, that's what two months in the shop, seven days a week does," Sommers stated. "I gotta thank my crew chief, Dave. Yeah, it was a lot of work, but we got it here."

On what turned out to be a cooler night than usual in the Sunshine State of Florida, Sommers felt no ill effects with the handling of his racecar throughout the 60-lap race.

"The car stayed consistent the whole time in the cool weather," Sommers explained. "I don't know what it's going to really do to the car, but I just kept driving it, kept turning it all night. And man, I'm really blessed to be here."

While he was unable to catch Sommers for the win, Davis, an accomplished Super Late Model driver who has 34 career starts in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition, was able to out-duel youngster Max Reeves for the runner-up finish in an excellent duel in the closing laps.

Reeves, the 16-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing development driver, continues to showcase incredible skill behind the wheel with a top-three finish to open up the 2026 World Series of Asphalt.

Kyle Steckly would come home with a fourth-place finish ahead of Michael Hinde, who rounded out the top-five finishers in the No. 69 entry.

Fresh off his win in the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on Wednesday night, Ryan Preece competed admirably in this race and, thanks to a late-race surge, was able to collect a solid sixth-place result.

Jade Avedisian, who collided hard with the outside wall with 44 laps to go while attempting to take the second position, was able to hang tough despite the damage to her No. 24 Toyota. Avedisian finished the night in the seventh position.

Conner Jones, Nicholas Naugle, and Brandon Lopez capped off the top-10 finishers in the 60-lap main event.

It was a heartbreaking end for Kraus, who parked his car for the evening after completing 35 laps. Kraus had his foot on the throat of the competition on Friday night, but bad luck derailed his bid to score the win. Kraus would be credited with a 23rd-place finish in the 27-car field after he led the opening 34 laps of the race.

The David Rogers Super Late Models will return to the track on Saturday, February 7, for another 60-lap main event on the second night of the World Series of Asphalt. On Saturday evening, the Super Late Models will be joined by the NASCAR Whelen Modified Series Tour, which will contest a 200-lap race.

David Rogers Super Late Model World Series of Asphalt Night 1 Race Results

-Photo: Screengrab from NASCAR Channel/FloRacing Broadcast