New Year's Bash

Bobbie Tumbleston III claims a second New Year's Bash victory at Dillon Motor Speedway. 
By Julian Austin
January 5th, 2025

Photo Credit to Dillon Motor Speedway

On a cold night in Dillon South Carolina, Bobbie Tumbleston III made history by becoming the third driver to win the New Year's Bash more than once. 

Tumbleston joins Jeff Melton (2015 and 2018) and Gary Ledbetter Jr (2012, 2013, 2017, 2019, 2020 &2024)

Tumbleston started on the pole and led most of the race but he would face some challenges for the lead in a race that saw it's fair share of attrition as it historically has and a number of cautions that would stop the race multiple times and eliminate some of Tumbleston's toughest challenger's.

Chris Riendeau who earned the outside pole by winning the Fall Spectacular which is one of the marquee events at Dillon during the season was involved in many incidents including the first caution five laps into the race. Shawn Swallow got into Riendeau triggering the yellow. The incident also took out New Hampshire's Nate Hamblet from competition. Swallow claimed that Riendeau chopped him into turn three and stated that folks were racing like idiots early in the race.

Shortly after the restart, Jeff Sparks would take the lead and would hold the lead through the next set of yellows which involved Davey Smart and Tyler Woodring. Tumbleston would fall back shortly after losing the lead to Sparks and would have a hairy moment as he was on the high side of a three wide situation involving former winner Jeff Melton and Maxx Porter. 

The next yellow came out for Aaron Plemons who spun off the front bumper off of Ronnie Bassett Jr. Officials ruled that the contact was a racing deal when Plemons came down onto Bassett Jr. 

This yellow would trigger a restart and set up the biggest accident of the race in regards to the number of cars involved. Jeff Sparks and Bassett Jr would make contact on the back stretch sending Sparks into the outside wall and ending his night. Riendeau, Corey Fanning, Shane Gendron, Tyler Woodring were the ones involved. 

"We were on our way to another ass whooping because I'm here to tell you, those boys were done with." said Sparks on the Racing America broadcast. "This was an absolute dominant race car." Sparks would go onto say. When it came to the contact with Ronnie Bassett Jr, Sparks would state "We had come off of two and he (Bassett) stopped to say he just hooked me and didn't mean to do it."

Former two time winner of the Bash Jeff Melton blew a motor after the next restart ending his night after running in the top five. 

Ricky Locklair Jr would assume the lead after Sparks troubles but would lose it to Tumbleston who clawed his way back through the field after dealing with carburator issues with 68 to go. Shortly after this, Locklair Jr would have issues of his own as he would endure a flat tire. He would eventually fall out of the race with frame damage. 

Gary Ledbetter poses in victory lane after winning the second last chance race at Dillon. 
(Photo Credit Racing America)

Gary Ledbetter Jr would have an eventful night. He won the second B Main and charged from starting deep into the field to claw his way to contending to the win. He would end up suffering front end damage that impaired his driving and had to pit to fix the damage. He was able to claw his back up through the field eventually placing fifth.

Boo Carlisle poses after winning the first last chance race before the New Year's Bash Main Event
Photo Credit Racing America

The other B-Main winner was Boo Carlisle who had never been able to qualify for the feature. Carlisle who promotes the STAR Super Stock Tour patiently raced towards the back of the field but made contact with Tommy O'Sullivan and crashed hard into the inside wall. Carlisle got out of his car but was taken to a local medical facility to get checked out as he was not feeling right after the impact. We will update his condition as it comes to us.

The second half of the race was all Tumbleston who did have to survive many restarts, a stumbling car, overcoming the emotion that comes from being in contention to win such a prestigious event and charges from Aaron Plemons and Ronnie Bassett. Plemons charged from the rear of the field after an early incident while Bassett was sent to the rear after the Sparks incident. The final yellow would see Chris Riendeau and Brittany Cockram involved in an incident. Tumbleston would go onto to win the race claiming his second win in the race after winning it in 2021. He would cross the line first in 2022 but the win was taken away in post race tech giving it to Kyle Lynch. 

The unofficial top ten.