4/13/2026
Jackson Motor Speedway
Factory Stocks and Crown Vics Steal the Show on Opening Night
Factory Stocks and Crown Vics Steal the Show on Opening Night!
Jackson Motor Speedway’s season-opening headlining division was the winged warriors of the ASCS Hurricane Area Super Sprint Car Series. They showed up 18 cars deep and were greeted by slam-packed grandstands full of fans who brought the energy and excitement with them.
But it was the crowd-favorite Factory Stock division—and the new kids on the block, the Crown Vics—that stole the show.
Factory Stocks
When you’ve got names like Jeff Butler and 4-time JMS track champion James Bradshaw on the front row, you get the feeling it’s already going to be a banger. Add in a hard-charging Bryce Mosely, and you’ve got a Factory Stock race for the decade.
Early on, Butler and Bradshaw never left each other’s tire tracks—swapping the lead back and forth and staying door-to-door. Butler would lead a lap, then Bradshaw would answer right back. The two Mendenhall, Mississippi natives had the JMS faithful on their feet.
But little did they know, Bryce Mosely—charging from the 17th starting spot—was on the move, and he was coming fast. In just six laps, Mosely had stormed through the field, picking up 14 positions and joining the battle up front.
A late-race caution came out for a spun car in turns 3 and 4, setting up a one-lap dash to the finish.
In the end, Butler nailed the restart, protected the bottom, and drove it home to victory. Behind him, Bradshaw had a mirror full of Mosely, who was looking for one more spot. Mosely made an aggressive move but got into the infield tractor tire while attempting the pass for second—avoiding contact with Bradshaw but losing momentum.
After an absolute banger of a race in the Patriot Roofing Factory Stock division, it was Mendenhall native Jeff “The Showstopper” Butler claiming the win—and the early season points lead.
Bradshaw finished second, Kane Butler rounded out the podium in third, and Mosely fell back to 11th after the late-race incident.
Crown Vics
A new division always comes with challenges—especially one that’s never been run in the track’s history.
The Crown Vic class was introduced as a low-cost, budget-friendly option, giving new drivers, returning racers, and even fans a chance to compete without breaking the bank.
But what we didn’t expect was the four cars that showed up for the season opener to put on one of the best races of the night. I guess the old saying is true—you only need two cars to make a race.
Manda Ledbetter and Jacob Wiggins Jr. led the field to green, with Marcus Myers starting third and Jacob Lang fourth. What happened next was something nobody at Jackson Motor Speedway truly expected.
An all-out war for the lead broke out between Ledbetter, Wiggins, and Myers. All three drivers led laps, raced hard, traded paint, and pushed each other to the limit—while still keeping it (mostly) clean. Right behind them, Lang stayed within striking distance, waiting for any mistake.
Ledbetter led laps 1–8, while Myers took over for laps 8 and 9.
But in the end, it was Greenwood, Mississippi’s Jacob Wiggins Jr. leading the final lap and capturing the first-ever Crown Vic division victory in Jackson Motor Speedway history.
Ledbetter finished second, Myers came home third after contact with the turn 4 wall, and Lang rounded out the field.
A great start to the season for the Crown Vic division. Jacob Wiggins Jr. & Manda Ledbetter are now tied for the points lead after Saturday!
If this kind of racing becomes the norm, this is definitely a class to keep your eye on.
Submitted By: Terry Sanders
Article Media
