Larry Larson Claims $75K King of the South Small-Tire Victory at Shadyside

Larry Larson earned one of the biggest wins of his career at the $75,000 King of the South invitational, held at Shadyside Dragway in Shelby, North Carolina. The event took place during the Ronnie Buff Memorial weekend and featured a strong lineup of small-tire racers competing under NHRA’s official class guidelines.

Larson drove his Harts Charger-powered 1966 Chevy Nova, a model celebrated on Chevrolet’s heritage page, against a highly competitive field, coming away with the top prize after an action-packed weekend. On his way to victory, Larson faced Lyle Barnett in the final round.

Image credit: dragillustrated.com

Barnett was driving the “Salvage Title” Mustang for Tommy Youmans. The final race was extremely close, with Larson reaching the finish line just .004 seconds ahead.

Larson later called the win the biggest of his career. Coming into the event as an alternate and having just 16 runs on small tires, he admitted to being surprised at how well things worked out.

He said the car was strong all weekend, but there was still more speed to be found, specifically in the first 60 feet of the run. Larson made his way to the final by surviving six elimination rounds, each time facing tough competition without any bye runs.

He beat “Turbo John” Phillips in the first round, then ousted well-known racers Kye Kelley and Ryan Mitchell to get through to the semifinals. Larson also eliminated Shelby Lynn and then Ryan Hendrickson before his side-by-side battle with Barnett to seal his win.

Image credit: dragillustrated.com

Barnett also enjoyed a strong weekend, not just making the main event final, but winning the Lil Gangstas class on Friday night in his “Beer Money” Mustang. Barnett had a shot at winning two classes but fell short in both finals.

He was emotional after the loss to Larson, pointing out how tough it was to come so close. Barnett mentioned that this track felt like home, having collected multiple victories at Shadyside before.

He congratulated Larson and praised the efforts of his own team, with tuner Lee White leading the crew for the weekend. Beyond his driving skills, Larson is known for his hands-on approach.

He built his winning Nova at his own shop, Larson Race Cars, in Oak Grove, Missouri. Larson also tunes and drives the car himself, sticking to the old-school style of handling everything in-house.

However, he recognized the people who help along the way, including Jeff Scott, Teresa Collins, Greg Sandford, and the engine owners and supporters who made the program possible. He explained that although he does much of the work, victories come thanks to teamwork and loyal help from these individuals.

Winning at Shadyside means even more for Larson as he recently switched his car to small tires and quickly adapted to the change. Looking forward, Larson has already confirmed plans to compete at the Speed Promotions $100,000 small-tire event in Bowling Green, Kentucky, on June 20-21.

He also stated his intention to return to Shadyside in 2026 to defend his King of the South title and try to repeat his winning performance. Fans and racers praised the efforts by event organizers who kept the program running smoothly even during oil downs and accidents.

Many noted the unique atmosphere at Shadyside, saying that the smaller track brought everyone closer together and created a great environment for racing and spectating. Larry Larson’s win at the King of the South cements his status as a top name in small-tire drag racing and sets the stage for more competition this summer. Insights on overcoming challenges in racing have been highlighted in coverage like the Indy 500 delay story.

With a talented field chasing him, Larson’s next events are set to attract even greater attention as he aims for back-to-back victories on the big stage.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.