Harry Artemisio races to victory lane in Carteret County opener

PELETIER, NC – Harry Artemisio picked up his first career Bomber win in Saturday afternoon’s season opening race at Bobby Watson’s Carteret County Speedway.

Artemisio started on the pole and led all 25 laps. However, he had to hold off a late charge from Deanna Stancil as both drivers navigated through lapped traffic. Stancill drew within a car-length in the closing laps, but Artemisio was able to hold her off to score the win.

“The lapped traffic held me up a few times but they were racing each other and I can’t blame them for that,” Artemisio said in victory lane. “It was a good race. Deanna got right to my rear bumper and I thought she was going to catch me and maybe make a move for a pass. Fortunately, I think she got caught up in the lapped traffic too and I got away. It was a great race.”

Artemisio had won a B-Main race at Carteret prior to this season. Prior to making the move to Bombers, he competed in Champ Karts at Coastal Plains Raceway and intends to race in the Champ Kart races at Carteret County in 2026.

Stancill went on to finish second, a career-best effort in Bomber, on the same day her grandfather, William Stancill, performed the National Anthem. Kayle McCallister finished in third while Carrier Piercey and Michael Withrow rounded out the top-five.

Two weeks ago, in a U-CAR exhibition feature, Eddie Humphrey passed Michael Ludwig on the last lap and edged him to the line. This time, Ludwig would not be denied as he drove away from the field and built a comfortable margin between himself and Humphrey.

“It feels really good,” Ludwig stated after the race. “Last year, I had a bunch of trouble. My car fell of its face in the final five laps and I was like oh no not again. I was just trying to hold on as best I could. I think we’ve got a really good car this year.”

Humphrey finished second while Andrew Jackson, Juan Mejia and Jeff Dunn rounded out the top-five.

Zac Reimer dominated Saturday’s Croatan Veterinary Hospital Mini Stock feature, driving away from Travis Miller and Noah Walker to open the season with a win.

“It’s a great way to start the season,” Reimer said. “Travis, he can turn some times around here too so you gotta be on your A-game. I seen him catching me so it means I had to get up on the wheel. It could be his race next one.”

Reigning Street Stock division champion Tyler Smith picked up the victory in Street Stock over John Sharp and Jonathan Belfiore.

“All three of we, we didn’t have a good car,” Smith said. “I had a better car. Belfiore’s been dealing with brakes all day. All in all, I’m okay with a win.”

Scotty Benford won the Legends victory, but an unconventional “Mystery Purse” format had all the drivers draw for their envelope, with one driver winning $1,000. That driver was Carsyn Gillikin, who finished fifth in the feature race.

Jase Williams won in Jr. Mini Cup.

Carteret County Speedway’s 2026 racing season resumes on Saturday, May 9 with the Islander Hotel & Resort Spring Showdown featuring Chargers, the Vintage Racing League, U-CAR, Bomber, Legend Car and Champ Kart racing.

Next Saturday, May 2, Carteret County Speedway will host the inaugural Rise of the Flower Moon Natibve American Festival & Car Show. The Rise of the Flower Moon Carteret Pow Wow is free to the public.

For more information about upcoming events at Carteret County Speedway, visit carteretspeedway.com.

Unofficial Results

Legend Car

1. 51-Scotty Benford[1]; 2. 28-Oliver Missner[2]; 3. 6-Keagan Abrams[5]; 4. 97-Michael Bivens[4]; 5. 99-Carsyn Gillikin[3]; 6. 99K-Bobby Arthur[7]; 7. 52-Daniel Dean[6]; 8. (DNS) 2-Greg Farley; 9. (DNS) 22-Haiden Thomas

Bomber

1. 72-Harry Artemisio[1]; 2. 9-Deanna Stancill[7]; 3. M19-Kayla McCallister[2]; 4. 88-Carrie Piercey[5]; 5. 34-Michael Withrow[8]; 6. 67P-Edward Piercey[6]; 7. (DNS) 47-Sawyer Devan; 8. (DNS) 28-Bubba Parker

Street Stock

1. 51-Tyler Smith[1]; 2. 9-John Sharp[3]; 3. 55-Jonathon Belfiore[2]; 4. (DNS) 94L-Michael Ludwig; 5. (DNS) 94-Lenny Spence

Mini Stock

1. 23-Zac Reimer[1]; 2. 99-Travis Miller[2]; 3. 7-Nolan Walker[3]; 4. 11-Abby Jolly[7]; 5. 55-Randy Hewett[4]; 6. 0-Travis Provost[6]; 7. 19-Ian Szaklu[5]

U-CAR

1. 13-Michael Ludwig[1]; 2. 14-Eddie Humphrey[7]; 3. 11-Andrew Jackson[4]; 4. 43M-Juan Mejia[2]; 5. 1-Jeff Dunn[5]; 6. 43-Joe Wade[10]; 7. 27-Kaleb Watson[3]; 8. (DNS) 08-Cayce Stucker; 9. (DNS) 34-Matthew Newman; 10. (DNS) 77-Richard Smith

Jr. Mini Cup

1. 4-Jase Williams[1]; 2. 18-Maci Stancill[2]; 3. 75-Savannah Key[3]