"Clayhill Motorsports Park"
April 6, 2026 --- This past weekend, the 45 Truck Salvage Race Team attended the opening night of the 2026 season for Clayhill Motorsports Park in Atwood, TN. With a stellar field of twenty entries, Nelson would start the second heat at P-7 while Herndon would roll to the start of the third heat occupying the pole position after the pill draw. Dale would advance to P-3 in his qualifier with T.J. displaying a convincing win of the third heat. In the street stock feature, Herndon would take the green from the P-3 position with the #N1 of Nelson starting P-8.
As the feature event got underway, the pole sitter Wyatt Hill assumed the point with the Atwood Outlaw breathing down his neck. Although the track was one lane dominant on the bottom, Herndon’s car was faster rotating the bottom than the #3 car of Hill. Herndon gained position and made a pass for the lead on lap four only to be negated by a caution flag. With the #1 car showing his hand, after the restart Hill slowed down on entry and made sure to hug the tires leaving Herndon no option to pass other making a move to the outside. On lap seven, Herndon made a move to the high side and lost a good bit of ground to the leader. Herndon immediately ran the leader back down but was forced to ride in line for the remainder of the event. As the checkered flag concluded the event, The 45 Truck Salvage Race Team finished the opening night with both entries finishing in the top three. The #3 of Wyatt Hill went on to take the win followed by T.J. Herndon, Dale Nelson, Graydon Hall, Dakota Berry, Zac Harris, Joe Hamm, Andrew Adams, Ryan Latch with Jason Dukes rounding out the top ten. For the latest news and results associated with this event log onto www.clayhillmotorsportspark.com or check the MyRacePass app.
"Arkansas Spring Nationals"
March 30, 2026 --- This past weekend, the 45 Truck Salvage Race Team traveled to Batesville Motor Speedway in Batesville, Arkansas for their annual IMCA Arkansas Spring Nationals / Wimp Reed Memorial. After getting rained out for the Friday night portion of the event, Herndon drew the lowest pill in the draw to start P-1 in the first heat on Saturday. Unfortunately, management decided that they would utilize passing points for the first time in producing the line-up for the feature event. In the qualifying heats Herndon would go on to win heat 1 with Nelson finishing P-3 in the 3rd heat of the evening.
After passing points were applied, Herndon would roll to the green in the feature occupying P-4 with Nelson starting P-8. Both cars had a good showing for the first night out in the IMCA stockcars for the year. As the checkers flew over the completion of the contest, the winner would be the #11 of Peyton Taylor. Following Taylor to the stripe would be Patrick Linn, T.J. Herndon, Neil Kemp, Dale Nelson, Randy Weaver, Scooter Scruggs, Tony Anglin, Tommy New with Steven Brewster rounding out the top ten. For the latest news and results associated with this event log onto www.batesvillemotorspeedway.com or check the MyRacePass app. If you want to watch the lap by lap live action, the event was also streamed on IMCA.tv.
"Battle of the States"
March 16, 2026 --- This past weekend, the 45 Truck Salvage Race Team kicked off the 2026 season by traveling to Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, MS. to compete in the Battle of the States at the “House of Hook”. With 21 drivers on hand for the event, T.J. Herndon struggled in qualifying and timed-in P-14 overall, which placed him in the P-5 starting position in the second heat race. After finishing P-5 in the heat, Herndon would be slated to start the feature occupying the P-14 starting position.
As the feature race got underway, Herndon immediately started making moves toward the front. At one point, the #1 car had surged to the P-4 position by mid-race. Unfortunately, on a late race restart, Herndon was pinched down into an infield tire which broke the idler arm on the #1 machine resulting in a handicapped P-9 finish. As the checkers flew over the completion of the contest, the winner would be the #82 of Trey Bright. Following Bright to the stripe would be Shay Knight, Logan Bright, Chase Pennington, Landen Jackson, Mickey Trosclair, Nic Brooks, Bubba Vandygriff, T.J. Herndon with Bobby Gregory rounding out the top ten. For the latest news and results associated with this event log onto whynotmotorsportspark.com or check the MyRacePass app. The event was also streamed on CrateRacinUSA.tv.
"31st Annual Coors Light Fall Classic"
On Saturday, after the remainder of the field was set through two B-mains, Herndon started the main event occupying the P-3 starting spot. As the race got underway, Herndon immediately discovered that the set-up he chose to roll with severely handicapped him as far as traction. Unfortunately, as the race continued, the #1 car slipped further and further back into the field with Herndon unable to get on the throttle at all without breaking traction. As the checkers flew over the completion of the contest, the winner would be the #05 of Caiden Jackson. Following Jackson to the stripe would be Shay Knight, Trey Bright, Jamey Boland, Justin McCree, Carl Kilgore IV, Johnny Stokes, Mickey Trosclair, T.J. Herndon with Matt Salyers rounding out the top ten. For the latest news and results associated with this event log onto whynotmotorsportspark.com or check the MyRacePass app. The event was also streamed on HunttheFront.tv. Dale Nelson and the other half of the 45 Truck Salvage Race Team chose to go to Camden Speedway in Camden, TN for their last race of the 2025 season. Nelson won both the heat and the feature and was recognized as Camden Speedway’s CRUSA Street Stock 2025 Track Champion.
"Race for Hope 71"
October 13, 2025 --- This past week, T.J. Herndon and his car chief, Daniel Potts took the 45 Truck Salvage Race Team’s IMCA car to Batesville Motor Speedway in Batesville, Arkansas for the 9th Annual Race for Hope 71 three-day event. On the first night of the event on Thursday, Herndon started P-3 in the first heat and took the win which enabled him to start P-2 in the night’s $1,500 to win feature. As the feature got underway, Herndon immediately took the lead and led the entire race through several cautions and restarts until the final caution flew with one lap remaining. On the restart of a green-white-checkered finish, the driver behind Herndon made contact with the rear of Herndon’s car causing it to unload and break traction which allowed competitors to pull alongside both high and low. As the cars entered turns one and two, Herndon was forced to sacrifice his preferred line and run through the hole which caused his car to step out and break traction once again. As the checkers waived over the conclusion of the first night’s feature, despite Herndon having the fastest lap as well as the fastest average lap time throughout the entire feature, basically the last caution that came out cost Herndon the victory as he was enjoying a sizable lead at the time. Taking the win as the checkers waved would be Peyton Taylor followed by Jack Sullivan, Patrick Linn, T.J. Herndon, Jordan Rogotzke, Hayden Linn, Joe Payne, Gavin Lowe, Randy Weaver with Steven Brewster rounding out the top ten of the twenty car field.
On night two of the event, Herndon started P-4 in the first heat and took the win to earn the pole starting position in the night’s feature. Once again, the Atwood Outlaw had a fast car as he took the lead as the green flag dropped and maintained the lead until the checkers waved over the field giving him some satisfaction after being robbed on night one. Following the Atwood Outlaw to the stripe was Patrick Linn, Jack Sullivan, Hayden Linn, Peyton Taylor, Randy Weaver, Gavin Lowe, Joe Payne, Scooter Scruggs with Kyle Hamby rounding out the top ten of the twenty-two car field.
On night three of the event, Herndon started P-3 in the third heat and once again got the win allowing him to start the night’s feature from the P-4 position. At the drop of the green, Herndon moved into P-2 by lap two where he remained most of the race. In the closing laps of the race, someone had lost a 30 lb. chunk of lead slap in the middle of Herndon’s preferred line which track officials failed to see and address. After running over the debris once, luckily with no damage, Herndon was forced to go to the bottom of the racetrack which broke his momentum and allowed Patrick Linn to get by and relegate him to a P-3 finish. As the checkers flew, it would be the father / son team of Hayden Linn and Patrick Linn seizing the top two spots followed by T.J. Herndon, Joe Payne, Haydan Hartwick, Peyton Taylor, Gavin Lowe, Randy Weaver, Steven Brewster with Jack Sullivan rounding out the top ten of the twenty-three car field. All in all, the Atwood Outlaw had an excellent week winning 3 out of 3 qualifiers and also winning 1 out of 3 features. Herndon consistently stayed inside the top five and was in contention for the win in all three features. For the latest news and results associated with this event log onto www.batesvillemotorspeedway.com or check the MyRacePass app. You can also catch all the action with a subscription to IMCA.tv.
"Schoenfeld Headers Mid-America IMCA Stock Car Championship"
As the twenty-five qualifiers took the green on a semi-rough track, Herndon methodically started a march forward making his way into the top five with twenty laps remaining. Around lap thirty, a car contacted Herndon’s left front as they ran three wide down the front stretch. After that point, the handling went away but the Atwood Outlaw struggled and fought to maintain position in the closing laps. Nelson had pulled off on lap 16 due to the rough track conditions. As the checkers waived over the conclusion of the 30th Annual event, it would be Rhome, Texas’s Jeffrey Abbey taking the honors followed to the stripe by Patrick Linn, Dallon Murty, Curtis Cook, Hayden Hartwick, Neil Kemp, T.J. Herndon, Hayden Linn, Gavin Lowe with Randy Weaver rounding out the top ten. For the latest news and results associated with this event log onto www.batesvillemotorspeedway.com or check the MyRacePass app. You can also catch all the action with a subscription to IMCA.tv.
"300 Career Feature Wins"
September 22, 2025 --- This past Saturday, the Atwood Outlaw loaded his IMCA car and struck out to Batesville, AR to shakedown and test the car prior to the $20,000 to win 30th Annual Schoenfeld Headers Mid-America IMCA Stock Car Championship later this week. Unfortunately, as the crew crossed the river into Missouri, Batesville Motor Speedway issued the call to cancel racing due to rains received the previous day. After receiving the news, Herndon and the crew immediately turned around and headed back home in hopes of joining his teammate at Clayhill Motorsports Park for their weekly racing program. After going to the race shop, swapping cars and grinding a few tires, Herndon was able to make it back to Atwood in time for the event. In the qualifying heats, Herndon managed to win the first heat after starting P-3 with his car owner and teammate Dale Nelson pulling off a P-2 finish after starting P-4. In the night’s fifteen lap Street Stock feature, Herndon fired from the pole with Nelson taking the green occupying the P-4 position. Herndon immediately took control of the lead spot where he would stay for the remainder of the race.
As the flagman waved the checkers at the conclusion of the final lap, it would be the Atwood Outlaw crossing the stripe with a straightaway lead to collect his 300th career victory. Although many of Herndon’s wins have occurred at many different tracks in many different states, it’s so fitting that things worked out as they did and this milestone was met at the track that he has always considered his home track. Following Herndon to the stripe would be his teammate, Dale Nelson who was trailed by Jason Dukes, Dustin Hays, Cole Edwards, Ryan Latch, Brandon Jones, with Marlin Cathey rounding out the field. For the latest news and results associated with this event log onto www.clayhillmotorsportspark.com or check the MyRacePass app. Later this week, the 45 Truck Salvage Race Team plans to travel to Batesville Speedway in Batesville, Arkansas for the $20,000 to win 30th Annual Schoenfeld Headers Mid-America IMCA Stock Car Championship.
"Camden Speedway"
September 15, 2025 --- The 45 Truck Salvage Race Team had an exceptional outing this past Saturday night at Camden Speedway in Camden, TN. In his first night out with his open engine package since reworking the failed shock mounts that plagued him in the Nationals, Herndon qualified with fast time, winning the heat and feature while lapping deep into the field up to the third-place car. Nelson, his teammate and car owner finished P-2. Saturday’s trip to victory lane was Herndon’s 299th win placing him firmly on the precipice of 300 career feature victories.
As the checkers waived, it would be the Atwood Outlaw taking the honors in convincing fashion with a 9.494 second lead over Nelson in the 2nd position. Following Nelson to the line was Jason Dukes, Marlin Cathey, Dakota Berry, David Cooper with Ryan Latch rounding out the field. For the latest news and results associated with this event log onto www.camdenspeedwaytn.com or check the MyRacePass app. This weekend, Herndon plans to travel to Batesville Speedway to test his IMCA car prior to next weekends $20,000 to win 30th Annual Schoenfeld Headers Mid-America IMCA Stock Car Championship.
"2025 XR Stockcar Rampage"
September 2, 2025 --- This past week, T.J. Herndon took the 45 Truck Salvage #1 IMCA stockcar to Sports Park Raceway in Fort Dodge, Iowa for the $100,000 to win XR Stockcar Rampage. The week got kicked off on Monday afternoon with 58 drivers showing up for a practice night. Herndon unloaded with a decent car and began his tune to a track that he had never visited in the past.
On Tuesday, with 76 of the best drivers in the country showing up to vie for one of the 24 spots in the main event, the drivers were separated into one of three groups by pill draw for the purpose of time trials that would populate six qualifying features. Herndon timed in 4th out of the twenty five drivers in Group 3 and would roll to the green in qualifier #6 occupying the P-4 position. Herndon noticed that his right rear tire had leaked down right before answering the call to the grid. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough time to change the tire so the crew reset the air pressure and hoped for the best. Herndon faired well with the given circumstances and was able to pass for the P-3 position on lap five which would lock him into the show on passing points. But as luck would have it, with the tire consistently losing pressure, Herndon allowed a car to get around him with just two laps remaining. That pass relinquishing him to a P-4 finish would put him in a three-way tie for the last spot of the fourteen drivers that were locked in on the first night through the qualifiers. The other two drivers involved in the tie had more passing points which resulted in Herndon being pushed to start Wednesday’s 15 lap B-main occupying the P-2 starting spot and having to finish in the top ten to secure his spot in the main event.
In the B-main, Herndon managed to keep the #1 machine at the front of the pack slipping to P-4 with two laps remaining and locking him into the big dance and securing his $2,000 start money. In the main event, the Atwood Outlaw rolled to the green in the P-18 starting spot. At the completion of lap one, Herndon had advanced to P-12 but as he entered turn one, several cars had spun on the bottom blocking the racetrack leaving and Herndon nowhere to go. Herndon managed to get slowed down enough to sustain minimal damage to the front of the car but as luck would have it, a car behind him made heavy contact to his left rear and knocked the rearend completely out from under the car ending the state of Tennessee’s only entry’s chances just one lap in. Congratulations to Dallon Murty on the win and his $100,000 dollar payday. Following Murty to the stripe were Ryan Gustin, Cayden Carter, Jake McBirnie, Ricky Thorton, Jr., Damon Murty, Shelby Williams, Jim Chisholm, Chanse Hollatz with Devin Smith rounding out the top ten. For the latest news and results associated with this event log onto MyRacePass app or you can log onto www.plusxrevents.com to watch the live stream action that occurred on August 26th and 27th 2025.
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