BRONSON HAWKINS TAKES ON ELITE MODIFIED FIELD AT LARRY PHILLIPS MEMORIAL
POCOLA, Okla. — At just 12 years old, Bronson Hawkins continued accelerating his development behind the wheel of a USRA Modified, taking on one of the strongest fields of dirt Modified racers he has faced during the two-night Larry Phillips Memorial at Tri-State Speedway on August 28-29.
The prestigious weekend brought together the USRA Heartland Modified Tour and American Racer Modified Series, attracting championship contenders, accomplished regional racers and competitors with national-level résumés to the historic Pocola, Oklahoma dirt track.
For Hawkins, the weekend wasn't measured simply by where he finished. It was another opportunity for one of the youngest drivers in the field to gain valuable experience against racers with years — and in some cases decades — more experience behind the wheel of a Modified.
Friday night's program attracted 52 entries, immediately presenting Hawkins with a significant challenge.
The Rogers, Arkansas driver recorded a 19.406-second lap in his qualifying group, placing him 13th in Qualifying 2.
Hawkins went on to finish eighth in Heat 4, sending him into the night's B Feature as he attempted to race his way into the 30-lap main event.
He finished 10th in B Feature 2, bringing his opening night to an end just short of transferring into the A Feature.
Saturday brought another opportunity and another stout field, with 46 Modifieds returning for the second night of the Larry Phillips Memorial.
Hawkins again found himself battling for a transfer position through B Feature 2. He finished 10th in the 12-lap race, ending his bid to qualify for Saturday night's 40-lap A Feature.
While Hawkins did not transfer into the A Feature on either night, the results tell only a small part of the story.
At 12 years old, Hawkins was competing against some of the most accomplished Modified racers in the region, including drivers with extensive USRA, USMTS and national-level dirt racing experience. The weekend's field included names such as Cade Dillard, Jim Chisholm, Rodney Sanders, Stormy Scott, Terry Phillips and Jason Hughes.
The challenge was made even greater by difficult track conditions. Hot August temperatures, limited rainfall and a large car count contributed to a narrow racing groove throughout the weekend, making passing opportunities difficult even for the most experienced competitors.
For Hawkins, every qualifying lap, heat race and B Feature provided additional seat time and another opportunity to learn how experienced Modified drivers approach changing track conditions, traffic, race starts and the intense competition required to qualify for major events.
The Larry Phillips Memorial also continued an aggressive learning curve for Hawkins, who has only recently begun competing in the powerful A Modified division. Rather than limiting his development to smaller events, Hawkins and his team continue putting him into competitive environments where the level of competition forces him to learn and adapt quickly.
There will be easier races ahead, but weekends like the Larry Phillips Memorial may ultimately prove to be some of the most valuable.
At only 12 years old, Hawkins isn't expected to have the experience of the veterans surrounding him.
He's there to build it.
ABOUT BRONSON HAWKINS
Bronson Hawkins is a 12-year-old race car driver from Rogers, Arkansas, continuing his rapid progression through the dirt-track racing ranks. Hawkins has competed in multiple forms of motorsports, including INEX Dirt Legend Cars, where he finished first in the state of Arkansas and 11th nationally in 2025.
In 2026, Hawkins has continued expanding his racing résumé by competing in multiple divisions while gaining experience in increasingly powerful race cars, including the A Modified. His development program focuses on competing at different tracks and against experienced drivers to accelerate his understanding of racecraft, car control and changing dirt-track conditions.
Hawkins is also a member of the Race Face NEXT driver development program, where his development extends beyond the racetrack through training in branding, media, communication, sponsor representation and the professional skills required to build a long-term career in motorsports.
ABOUT THE LARRY PHILLIPS MEMORIAL
The Larry Phillips Memorial honors one of the most accomplished short-track racers in American motorsports history.
Larry Phillips became the first driver to win five NASCAR Weekly Series national championships and recorded an extraordinary 220 victories in 289 NASCAR-sanctioned starts during an 11-year stretch. He also earned 13 track championships across three states and was named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers.
Phillips had a strong connection to Tri-State Speedway, where he was both a track champion and regular competitor. His influence extended well beyond his own accomplishments, helping shape generations of racers throughout the Midwest.
Phillips has been selected for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2027, further cementing his place among the sport's most influential short-track competitors.
The 2026 Larry Phillips Memorial brought together the USRA Heartland Modified Tour and American Racer Modified Series for two nights of competition at Tri-State Speedway, with 52 Modifieds competing Friday and 46 returning Saturday.
Media Contact:
Rod Wortham
Race Face Brand Development
