New Year's Bash Prepares for 16th Running at Dillon

The New Year's Bash once again kicks off the 2026 racing season at Dillon Motor Speedway, as the event many Street Stock competitors refer to as their "Daytona 500" opens the year in South Carolina.

WATCH THE NEW YEAR'S BASH ON RACINGAMERICA.TV

The New Year’s Bash is a spiritual successor of sorts for another major wintertime Street Stock race, the Polar Bear 150. The Polar Bear 150 took place at Rockingham Speedway during the track's rebirth in the 2000s, but eventually moved to a November date before the venue closed following the 2013 season.

The first New Year's Bash at Dillon took place in 2011. Kevin Benton scored the win on that day against a field of 15 cars. From those humble beginnings grew an event that has become a hallmark for Street Stock competitors.

The 2012 edition of the event saw Gary Ledbetter, Jr. take the victory ahead of Jason Garver and Kevin Benton. Ledbetter, Jr. is now a six-time New Year's Bash winner, with his most recent victory coming in 2024.

Ledbetter took the checkered flag for the second time in 2013, with James Swan claiming the victory in 2014. Each year, the car count for the event grew, and that trend continued in 2015 when Jeff Melton scored his first New Year's Bash win.

Ricky Locklair, Jr. bested a field of 47 cars when he won the New Year's Bash in 2016 as the event continued to grow in size. Locklair, Jr. had to wait an extra day, as rain pushed the event one day to Sunday, January 10, but it was worth the wait for the South Carolina driver.

Mother Nature intervened again in 2017, pushing the entire event back by one weekend, with winter weather hitting the Carolinas. Ledbetter, Jr. returned to victory lane for his third New Year's Bash victory, as nearly 50 cars still made the trip to Dillon in spite of the delay. Similarly, winter weather delayed the event in 2018, but Jeff Melton scored the victory and celebrated with a smoky burnout after the hard-fought win.

Gary Ledbetter, Jr. went back-to-back in the New Year's Bash in 2019 and 2020, becoming a five-time winner of the event. Bobbie Tumbleston, III dominated and led every lap of the 2021 New Year's Bash.

Kyle Lynch inherited the 2022 victory in the event, following a disqualification for Tumbleston. Tumbleston returned to victory lane in 2025, joining Ledbetter and Melton as multi-time winners of the event.

While the New Year's Bash has been largely dominated by locals to the Carolinas, it frequently draws competitors from across the United States and beyond. Tommy O'Sullivan represented the Northeast well in 2023, charging from a B-Main to the feature win.

Will this year's New Year's Bash see a new winner? Or will a familiar face return to victory lane? Find out this weekend at Dillon Motor Speedway, or by watching on RacingAmerica.TV. Click here to learn more about watching the New Year's Bash at Dillon on January 2-4.

New Year's Bash Winners