(Lafayette, AL – August 16, 2025) – Tyrone, Georgia’s Jody Knowles etched his name into the history books Friday night at Penton Raceway, capturing his first career Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series victory. Starting from the pole, Knowles had to fight every lap of the 30-lap feature to fend off relentless pressure from Joseph Brown, ultimately scoring the $2,500 payday.
Brown kept the pressure on all night, pulling alongside Knowles multiple times but never able to complete the winning pass. In the end, it was Knowles’ night to shine, as he became the fourth first-time winner of 2025, joining Michael Brown, Layton Sullivan, and Jeremy Steele.
After climbing from his No. 66 machine, an emotional Knowles credited the effort behind the breakthrough: “We’ve been working hard all year, and we actually won here at Penton a few weeks ago,” Knowles said. “I’m glad Jamie Godbee and the team are doing everything they’re doing here. It’s about an hour from home, and it feels great to finally get this one.”
For Knowles, the victory was a long time coming. He previously competed full-time with the tour in 2000, recording four top-five finishes and 11 top-10s, finishing fourth overall in the standings. Friday night, in his 29th career start, he finally celebrated in Victory Lane with a Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series checkered flag.
While Knowles celebrated his milestone, Joseph Brown continued his streak of consistency. The Georgia driver picked up his third straight podium, with his “worst” finish in that stretch being a runner-up. Brown now joins a competitive group of drivers who have gone back-to-back with the series, a list that includes names like Ronnie Johnson, Cory Hedgecock, William Thomas, Jake Knowles, and Dennis Franklin.
Rounding out the podium was Matt Henderson, who charged from seventh to finish third, while Austin Yarbrough and Jake Rainey completed the top five.
Penton Raceway – 30-Lap Feature Results
1-66-Jody Knowles [1]
2-92-Joseph Brown [2]
3-22H-Matt Henderson [7]
4-18B-Austin Yarbrough [8]
5-87-Jake Rainey [5]
6-611-Koulten Herbert [6]
7-22-Jimmy Thomas [10]
8-22S-Jeremy Steele [4]
9-24B-Austin Bloodworth [16]
10-16-Caleb Gay [13]
11-85-Corey North [11]
12-3-Austin Horton [15]
13-58-Trent McLeod [14]
14-515-Bubba Roling [23]
15-46-Deisel Jones [17]
16-5C-Mike Combs [19]
17-21J-Jon Ellison [24]
18-8-Dylan Knowles [9]
19-42T-Jake Traylor [12]
20-18E-Chase Edge [21]
21-91-Colby Darda [20]
22-5-Trent Mathis [18]
23-42-Cla Knight [22]
(DQ) 24-Payton Stevenson [3]
Car Count: 29
Bama Sheds & Pole Barns – Pole Award
Group A: 66-Jody Knowles, 13.713 (Overall Fastest)
Group B: 92-Joseph Brown, 13.753
My Race Pass / Fantasy Racing – Hot Laps
92-Joseph Brown, 13.981
Scorpion Race Cars – Hard Charger Award
Bubba Roling (+9), 23rd to 14th
Columbus Sports Cards – Tough Luck Award
Dylan Knowles – Lanett, AL
The tour now heads north on I-85 for Round #8 at Senoia Raceway tonight (Saturday, August 16). The 3/8-mile gray clay oval, just south of Atlanta, Georgia, will pay $3,000 to win. Pit gates open at 3:00pm (EST), drivers’ meeting is set for 5:30pm, and racing action begins at 6:00pm. Fans unable to attend can catch all the action live on Crate Racin’ USA TV.
Current CRUSA Points Standings (After Penton)
1-Jeremy Steele – 620
2-Matt Henderson – 608 (-12)
3-Austin Yarbrough – 590 (-30)
4-Jimmy Thomas – 582 (-38)
5-Bubba Roling – 574 (-46)
6-Joseph Brown – 568 (-52)
7-Koulten Herbert – 554 (-66)
8-Jake Rainey – 532 (-88)
9-Caleb Gay – 514 (-106)
10-Pearson Williams – 457 (-163)
Upcoming Races
8/16 – Senoia Raceway (Senoia, GA) | $3,000 to win
9/13 – Waycross Speedway (Waycross, GA) | $10,005 to win
9/18 – 9/21 – East Alabama Motor Speedway (Phenix City, AL) | $10,005 to win
10/4 – Talladega Short Track (Eastaboga, AL) | $5,000 to win
Thank You to Our Partners
Rogers-Dabbs Performance Parts, Chevrolet Performance, Hoosier Racing Tires, VP Racing Fuels, VP Racing Lubricants, Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, Competition Racing Equipment, Cruise with the Champions, Savage Chassis, Velocita by Melissa Markewitz, Bama Sheds & Pole Barns, MatMan Designs, WesPro JCB, Scorpion Race Cars, Columbus Sports Cards, and MyRacePass.
For full schedules, results, and news, visit CrateRacinUSA.com and follow Crate Racin’ USA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Photos by - Rich Images 22 Photography & Motorsports