The second leg of the Virginia Late Model Triple Crown, the Hampton Heat at Langley Speedway, is widely regarded as the most physically and mentally demanding of of the events that make up the three-race series.
With the Hampton Heat’s race date traditionally falling in the middle of July, Late Model Stock competitors are usually tasked with managing the sweltering, midsummer Virginia heat. That doesn't change even when the sun goes down, as temperatures inside the cars regularly exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit by the time the checkered flag waves.
Since 2008, a select few have beat the heat in Langley’s crown jewel event to establish themselves as Hampton Heat champions. Doing so requires more than just adapting to the adverse temperatures, as Langley’s flat, circular layout always keeps competitors on alert.
As has become routine with the Hampton Heat, Langley’s local competitors will look to mix it up with Late Model Stock racing's elite. While the interlopers seek to build momentum in the Virginia Triple Crown, Saturday is an opportunity for Langley’s local heroes to etch their name in the track’s record books as a Hampton Heat winner.
Below is everything to know about the 2026 Hampton Heat at Langley ahead of Saturday evening.
[caption id="attachment_519639" align="alignnone" width="2560"]What TV channel is the Hampton Heat at Langley Speedway on?
All the on-track action for the Hampton Heat can be viewed live on FloRacing, the official streaming home for all NASCAR Regional properties.
The event will not be shown on a television network.
Below is the complete schedule for FloRacing’s coverage of the 2026 Hampton Heat.
| Date | Start time | How to watch |
| Saturday, July 25 | 7 p.m. ET | FloRacing |
Race-day schedule
This year’s Hampton Heat will take place on Saturday, July 25.
Only one support division will join the Late Model Stocks on the Hampton Heat schedule; Langley’s UCAR class. The UCAR feature will comprise of 35 laps or 30 minutes prior to the 200-lap Late Model Stock event, which concludes the evening’s festivities.
Below is the complete race-day schedule for Langley.
(All times ET)
| Time | Event |
| 11 a.m. | LMSC Gates Open/Parking Gates Open |
| 12 p.m. | Grandstand Gates Open |
| 12-12:35 p.m. | LMSC Open Practice Round 1 |
| 12:40-1:15 p.m. | LMSC Open Practice Round 2 |
| 1:15 p.m. | LMSC Qualifying Tires Released |
| 2:30-3:10 p.m. | LMSC Driver, Crew Chief, Spotters Meeting (VIP Pavilion/Turn 4) |
| 3:10 p.m. | LMSC All Work Is Complete And Cars Backed Out Of Their Pit Area, Head To Inspection |
| 3:30 p.m. | LMSC Teams Remove All Pit Tents In Preparation For Qualifying |
| 3:45 p.m. | LMSC Hampton Heat Qualifying (Scuff-Green-White-Checkered) |
| 4:30-5 p.m. | LMSC Haulers Removed From Infield |
| 5-6:30 p.m. | PBR Hampton Fan Fest (Frontstretch) |
| 6:30-7 p.m. | LMSC Final Work Session |
| 7 p.m. | LMSC Driver Introductions |
| 7:35 p.m. | UCARS (35 Laps/30 Minute Limit) |
| 8:05 p.m. | LMSC Line Up On Frontstretch |
| 8:20 p.m. | Command To Start Engines |
| 8:30 p.m. | 18th Annual Hampton Heat (200 Laps) |
Entry list
Plenty of notable names comprise the entry list for the 2026 Hampton Heat.
Leading the charge is Matt Waltz, who earned his first Hampton Heat victory last year after leading 104 laps. Previously a Langley Speedway track champion in 2017, Waltz has copious experience at the track as he looks to become the third driver to win the Hampton Heat more than once.
If Waltz wants to defend his Hampton Heat crown, he will have to deal with two of the best drivers in Langley’s modern history; Brenden Queen and Connor Hall.
Queen, a three-time Langley track champion, will attempt to pull double duty this weekend, as he is also competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on Friday evening. A win for Queen on Saturday evening would be his fourth in the Hampton Heat, the most of any driver in event history.
Hall, a two-time NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O'Reilly Auto Parts national champion, has already earned nine victories in Langley’s local Late Model Stock division this year. Hall is once again bringing out his iconic blue No. 77, known affectionately as ‘Smurf,’ to chase a win Saturday night. This is the same car Hall drove when he won earned his lone Hampton Heat win in 2019.With Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 winner Kaden Honeycutt not expected to compete Saturday at Langley, Trevor Ward enters the Hampton Heat as the highest-running driver in the Virginia Triple Crown standings. In two prior Hampton Heat starts, Ward finished inside the top 10 on each occasion, but he will seek to improve upon those performances as he chases a second Virginia Triple Crown title.
Another notable entrant for Saturday night is Lee Pulliam, who will again pilot an entry out of the JR Motorsports shop with support from the NASCAR Channel. Saturday's race is the first time Pulliam will compete in the Hampton Heat since 2019.Other drivers pursuing a Hampton Heat victory this weekend include two-time ValleyStar Credit Union 300 winner Landon Pembelton, along with Blake Stallings, Conner Weddell, Chase Burrow, Brandon Lopez, Chase Johnson and Trey Crews.
The complete entry list for the 2026 Hampton Heat will be available later this week.
[caption id="attachment_519644" align="alignnone" width="2560"]Hampton Heat history, winners
The first Hampton Heat was held at Langley Speedway in 2008, with Nick Smith taking home the checkered flag that day.
Across the 17 previous runnings of the Hampton Heat, only two drivers have scored multiple victories in the crown jewel event; C.E. Falk III and Brenden Queen. Those two are tied for the most Hampton Heat wins with three, but Queen will look to eclipse that record Saturday evening.
Such parity amongst the other Hampton Heat victors further highlights how difficult of a race it is to win. Despite numerous victories at Langley over the years, Connor Hall only has one Hampton Heat win; a mark he shares with other Late Model Stock elites like Lee Pulliam, Philip Morris, Peyton Sellers and Josh Berry.
Despite the challenges of the Hampton Heat, many of the best Late Model Stock drivers have still found a way to win the event, even if it was just one occasion. A fresh group of competitors look to add their name to that prestigious list on Saturday against a handful of previous champions like Queen, Hall, Matt Waltz and Woody Howard.
Below is the complete list of winners in the Hampton Heat
| Year | Winner |
| 2008 | Nick Smith |
| 2009 | Woody Howard |
| 2010 | C.E. Falk III |
| 2011 | C.E. Falk III |
| 2012 | Matt Bowling |
| 2013 | Peyton Sellers |
| 2014 | C.E. Falk III |
| 2015 | Lee Pulliam |
| 2016 | Not held |
| 2017 | Bobby McCarty |
| 2018 | Philip Morris |
| 2019 | Connor Hall |
| 2020 | Brenden Queen |
| 2021 | Josh Berry |
| 2022 | Jared Fryar |
| 2023 | Brenden Queen |
| 2024 | Brenden Queen |
| 2025 | Matt Waltz |
Virginia Triple Crown standings
- Kaden Honeycutt (1.0)
- Trevor Ward (2.0)
- Landon Pembelton (3.0)
- Carson Brown (4.0)
- Landen Lewis (5.0)
- Caden Kvapil (6.0)
- Connor Hall (7.0)
- Trey Crews (8.0)
- Doug Barnes Jr. (9.0)
- Blake Stallings (10.0)