S.M.A.S.H iRacing O’Reilly Series: Lee Richardson IV Takes North Wilkesboro Win

By S.M.A.S.H — April 18, 2026

North Wilkesboro delivered a race that was more about control than spectacle, and in the end, Lee Richardson IV put together the cleanest run when it mattered most.

In Saturday night’s S.M.A.S.H iRacing O’Reilly Series event, Richardson drove to victory over 175 laps at North Wilkesboro Speedway, finishing ahead of Shane Marcum and

Cody Oconnor in a race that stayed competitive throughout the field.

A Race Built on Position and Patience

North Wilkesboro continues to reward drivers who understand rhythm, tire management, and track position, and this race followed that pattern.

Even without a large field, the race still produced six lead changes and featured multiple drivers spending time at the front. Chris Trammell led the most laps with 78, while Cody Oconnor led 61 and Lee Richardson IV led 21 on his way to the win.

That balance at the front kept the race from ever settling in too early.

Richardson Closes It Out

Richardson’s win was built on consistency. He kept the mistakes down, stayed in position, and capitalized late to secure the top spot. His race-best result came with just 2 incidents, which stood out in a race where preserving track position and keeping the car clean mattered as much as raw pace.

Behind him, Shane Marcum put together a strong second-place finish, and Cody Oconnor rounded out the podium after leading a significant portion of the race himself.

Trammell Shows Speed, But Falls Back

One of the key storylines of the night was Chris Trammell. He showed elite speed from the start, setting the fastest qualifying lap at 19.645 and later recording the fastest lap of the race at 19.645. He also led the most laps.

But North Wilkesboro has a way of punishing anything less than a complete race, and despite having front-running pace all night, Trammell ended up finishing fourth.

Final Results

1. Lee Richardson IV

2. Shane Marcum

3. Cody Oconnor

4. Chris Trammell

5. Daryl Griffin

   
   

Race Notes

The race ran with 1 caution for 4 laps, which kept the overall flow intact and put even more emphasis on long-run discipline. The event strength of field came in at 1687, adding more quality to the result than the entry count alone would suggest.

Final Word

North Wilkesboro is not the kind of place where drivers can fake a finish.

It demands patience, discipline, and the ability to manage a race over time.

On Saturday night, Lee Richardson IV did exactly that and earned a well-executed win in the S.M.A.S.H iRacing O’Reilly Series.