Family bragging rights and a prestigious El Capitan Classic victory were on the line Saturday night at Dodge City Raceway Park, and it was Sawyer Crigler who emerged victorious after fending off challenges from both Josh Leonard and his father, Scott Crigler, during the second night of POWRi Heartland Late Model Tour presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing competition.

Crigler claimed the 25-lap Pannell Chipping A-Main after a race-long duel among some of the tour’s biggest names. The victory marked Sawyer’s first Heartland Late Model Tour triumph of the 2026 season and capped a strong performance that included a win in the Smith Equipment Company Heat Race #2.

Starting alongside Friday night winner Josh Leonard on the front row, Crigler quickly established himself as the driver to beat. Leonard remained close throughout the opening stages while Scott Crigler steadily worked his way into contention, setting up a three-car battle at the front of the field.

The race’s lone caution flew with 13 laps remaining when Kayden Clatt suffered a right rear flat tire. Prior to the yellow, Leonard and Scott Crigler had reeled in the race leader, with the top three running nearly nose-to-tail as they approached traffic.

The restart proved pivotal.

Sawyer Crigler executed a flawless restart and immediately opened a comfortable advantage over Leonard’s No. 85 machine. Behind them, the battle for third intensified as Scott Crigler and Brandon Conkwright made contact down the backstretch. The exchange allowed Conkwright to take over third position while Scott Crigler briefly slipped back to fifth.

As the laps wound down, Leonard mounted one final charge. The Friday night winner closed the gap and applied heavy pressure to the leader, but a bobble against the cushion in turn three with six laps remaining halted his momentum and effectively secured the victory for Sawyer Crigler.

While Leonard regrouped to finish second, Scott Crigler began a determined march back through the field. The veteran racer eventually tracked down Conkwright and reclaimed third position in the closing laps, completing a Crigler family double-podium finish.

Leonard settled for second after posting the weekend’s strongest overall performance with a victory on Friday and a runner-up finish on Saturday. Scott Crigler completed the podium in third, followed by Conkwright and Dusty Leonard in the top five.

Earlier in the evening, Scott Crigler paced the field in Deatherage Opticians Qualifying with a fast lap of 16.234 seconds. Heat race victories went to Scott Crigler in Rick Beebe Heating and Air Conditioning Heat Race #1, Sawyer Crigler in Smith Equipment Company Heat Race #2, and Josh Leonard in Kevko Racing Heat Race #3.

The successful completion of the El Capitan Classic provided a welcome boost for the Heartland Late Model Tour after weather disruptions impacted much of the early summer schedule. With two nights of competitive racing now in the books at Dodge City Raceway Park, teams will shift their focus toward the next stop in the chase for the inaugural POWRi Heartland Late Model Tour championship.

Media Results – June 20, 2026
Dodge City Raceway Park (Dodge City, Kansas)
POWRi Heartland Late Model Tour Presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing

Pannell Chipping A Feature: 1. Sawyer Crigler 2. Josh Leonard 3. Scott Crigler 4. Brandon Conkwright 5. Dusty Leonard 6. Kip Hughes 7. Braxten Leonard 8. Jake Nightingale 9. Kayden Clatt 10. Dan Smith 11. Joey Smith 12. Mike Petersilie 13. Dustin Walker 14. Delbert Smith 15. Gary Cooper 16. William Nusser 17. TeeJay Janousek 18. John Rowland

Rick Beebe Heating and Air Conditioning Heat Race #1: 1. Scott Crigler 2. Kip Hughes 3. Jake Nightingale 4. Braxten Leonard 5. Dan Smith 6. John Rowland

Smith Equipment Company Heat Race #2: 1. Sawyer Crigler 2. Brandon Conkwright 3. Kayden Clatt 4. Dustin Walker 5. Delbert Smith 6. Gary Cooper

Kevko Racing Heat Race #3: 1. Josh Leonard 2. Dusty Leonard 3. Joey Smith 4. TeeJay Janousek 5. William Nusser 6. Mike Petersilie

Deatherage Opticians Qualifying: 1. Scott Crigler (16.234) 2. Sawyer Crigler (16.346) 3. Josh Leonard (16.442) 4. Jake Nightingale (16.551) 5. Kayden Clatt (16.643) 6. Joey Smith (16.711) 7. Braxten Leonard (16.718) 8. Brandon Conkwright (16.747) 9. Dusty Leonard (16.854) 10. Kip Hughes (17.005) 11. Dustin Walker (17.324) 12. William Nusser (17.487) 13. John Rowland (17.538) 14. Delbert Smith (17.602) 15. TeeJay Janousek (17.884) 16. Dan Smith (18.114) 17. Gary Cooper (18.537) 18. Mike Petersilie (19.633)

A $40,000 point fund guaranteed, paying back ten positions, is in place for drivers who compete in 80 percent of the series scheduled events. $10,000 of the fund has been set aside for the inaugural champion.

The POWRi Mel Hambelton Racing Heartland Late Model Tour would like to recognize and thank our season long partners. Please thank them, with your patronage for their support.

Gold Partners – Central Spray Foam & Cement Lifting, Day Motor Sports, Deatherage Opticians, Dirt Track Specialist, Dylan Scott Entertainment, Hochatown Saloon, Hoosier Tire Great Plains, Kevko Racing, Midwest Sheet Metal, Mel Hambelton Ford Racing, Pannell Chipping, RacinDirt.com, Real Racing Wheels, Rick Beebe Heating and Air Conditioning, Smith Equipment Company, Swift Springs, VP Racing Fuels Heartland, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products

Silver Partners – American Racer Tires, Buck Monson Photos, Bulletproof Tees and Racewear, Duvall Electric, Integra Shocks, JRT Trucking, Keyser Manufacturing, Midwest Automation, Photos By Boyd, Scotty Dogg’s Hideout

Bronze Partners – Bryke Racing, Fast Shafts, Freight Logistics Inc., KS Engineering, Maxima Racing Oil, Milburn Acreages by Tillison Enterprises, PEM Racing, Premier Lubricants, Schoenfeld Headers, Service Plumbing of Wichita, Transmissions Unlimited, Wagdog Spices, Wilwood Disc Brakes, Yeoman Race Engines

2026 HLMT Point Fund

1. $10,000

2. $6,000

3. $5,000

4. $4,000

5. $3,000

6. $2,800

7. $2,600

8. $2,400

9. $2,200

10. $2,000

*80 Percent attendance required to remain point fund eligible

NEXT: Josh Leonard Dominates El Capitan Classic Opener At Dodge City Raceway Park