Pembelton looks for strong 2026 start

Momentum from late 2025 season has Landon Pembelton excited for new year at South Boston Speedway

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Landon Pembelton, a Late Model Stock Car driver from Amelia, Virginia, is entering the 2026 season at South Boston Speedway with a lot of momentum after a strong finish to the 2025 season. Pembelton won the prestigious ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway last fall and had a close third-place finish in the South Boston Speedway championship chase, just 13 points behind the champion. Pembelton and his crew chief Marcus Richmond are looking to build on that success and compete for the 2026 Hitachi Energy Late Model Stock Car Division championship at South Boston Speedway.

Why it matters

Pembelton's success in 2025 has generated a lot of excitement and optimism heading into the 2026 season. As one of the top Late Model Stock Car drivers in the region, his performance will be closely watched by fans and competitors alike. His ability to carry over the momentum from last season and contend for the championship at the challenging South Boston Speedway track will be a key storyline to follow.

The details

Pembelton finished the 2025 season at South Boston Speedway with two wins, five second-place finishes and 10 Top-3 finishes in his 18 starts. He had a win among three Top-3 finishes in the season's final four races. Pembelton and crew chief Marcus Richmond are looking to build on that success, with Pembelton noting they've worked hard to improve their communication and program over the offseason. One area of focus is improving their qualifying performance, as Pembelton's last pole at South Boston came in 2023.

  • Pembelton won the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway in the fall of 2025.
  • Pembelton finished a close third in the 2025 South Boston Speedway championship chase, just 13 points behind the champion.
  • The 2026 season at South Boston Speedway will begin on Saturday, March 21 with a 100-lap race for the Hitachi Late Model division.

The players

Landon Pembelton

A Late Model Stock Car driver from Amelia, Virginia who is entering his second full-time season competing at South Boston Speedway.

Marcus Richmond

Pembelton's crew chief, who he has worked closely with to build their program and communication over the past year.

Peyton Sellers

The 2025 South Boston Speedway Late Model Stock Car champion, finishing just ahead of Pembelton in the standings.

Trevor Ward

The 2025 South Boston Speedway Late Model Stock Car division runner-up, finishing just ahead of Pembelton in the standings.

South Boston Speedway

The challenging Virginia short track where Pembelton will be competing for the 2026 Hitachi Energy Late Model Stock Car Division championship.

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What they’re saying

“I'm really excited and really looking forward to this season. I'm looking forward to being back at the racetrack. I have a lot of confidence going into this year and I'm sure Marcus does too. I think we're going to come out of the gate really strong.”

— Landon Pembelton (thecharlottegazette.com)

“Marcus and I have built a really good program, and we're going to keep building on it.”

— Landon Pembelton (thecharlottegazette.com)

What’s next

Pembelton and the region's top Late Model Stock Car competitors will begin the chase for the 2026 South Boston Speedway championship on Saturday, March 21 when South Boston Speedway launches its season with a 100-lap race for the Hitachi Late Model division.

The takeaway

Landon Pembelton's strong finish to the 2025 season has him and his team feeling confident and motivated heading into the 2026 campaign. Their focus on improving their qualifying and communication should put them in a good position to contend for the South Boston Speedway Late Model Stock Car championship this year.