Henry Strikes Fremont Gold for First Win of 2026; Top Ten Against High Limit

FREMONT, Ohio (June 1, 2026) - Two years ago, then 24-year-old Kalib Henry, packed his bags, jumped on a plane, and left his family behind in California to pursue the next step in his racing career. A short drive home was now a 34-hour multi-day road trip, living room conversations became late night phone calls, and family nights at the track are now done through a phone screen. Friday night however, a rainout in Missouri, setup a surprise family night at the Lawrenceburg Speedway and it might have been just what the doctor ordered.

Landon Henry, Kalib's younger brother, was set to race at Doe Run Raceway with the POWRi National Midget League, but rain would force a cancellation early in the afternoon. With the All Star Circuit of Champions and High Limit Racing just hours away at Lawrenceburg, the Henry family loaded up and headed east. "I'm so pumped," Kalib said when he heard the news and everyone knows the saying: "...if you feel good, you play good."

Henry and his Valvoline, C&H Veteran Enterprises, Triple J Towing, Birchard Financial, Pub 400, BulterBuilt sponsored machine came out of the box 17th in qualifying against the 29-car field. Utilizing a three-heat format, Henry would miss the invert and be relegated to a sixth place starting spot in heat race three. The start would be the only time Henry was sixth place as the Sacramento, California native made quick work of Brent Marks and Sye Lynch on the opening lap to quickly move into fourth. With two laps to go, leader Kerry Madsen would suffer a mechanical failure and coast to a stop. On the restart, now third place running Henry was passed by Marks but it would all be for not when the caution would wave before a lap could be completed for a slowing Danny Sams. The second restart attempt went much smoother for Henry who held onto his third-place spot for the final two laps.

"Racing with these guys just raises the bar and I feel like we're there," Henry said when speaking with High Limit's Tony LaPorta. Earlier in May, Henry drove to an 11th place finish with High Limit and the All Stars at Kokomo.

Henry would fire for the A-Main from the tenth starting spot outside of Justin Peck. When the green flag dropped, Henry fired and retained his tenth place starting spot till a caution on lap 11 for third place running Kyle Larson. With the field regrouped, Henry would restart ninth with 20 laps to go. He would remain there until the red flag would fly on lap 21 for crash between second and third place running Aaron Reutzel and Tanner Thorson. On the restart, Henry maintained the seventh spot for a lap before Larson, who was on a charge from 20th, got around the Racers for Life No. 101. Henry and Marks would race for eighth till the finish with Marks taking the spot on the last lap. 

Henry's ninth place finish marks his third career top ten against High Limit Racing, two of which have come at Lawrenceburg. "I'm in a fantastic mood," said Henry, "seeing my family is everything and it's even better to go out there with them there to watch, and put together a top ten run against the best in the country, at one of the toughest tracks out there." Henry was the highest finishing All Star with championship rival Cale Thomas finishing 12th.

That mental boost translated to pure speed one night later when Henry and crew chief Andy Potter signed in for Attica Fremont Championship Series action at Fremont Speedway. Against another 29-car field, Henry scored his third career quick time at "the track that action built" beating out Ohio standout Cap Henry and 2007 National 410 Rookie of the Year, Chris Andrews. 

With the invert, Henry rolled off in the second row in the first heat race behind Kody Brewer, Craig Mintz, and Creed Kemenah. Much like the night prior, Henry made the most of the opening circuit passing third place starter Kemenah on the start before getting around Brewer in turn four. From there, Henry set his sights on Mintz. Henry was able to close the gap at the halfway mark, but Mintz pulled away to secure the heat victory with Henry finishing in the runner-up spot. Following the completion of heat race three, the invert dice was rolled and landed on an eight. Putting Henry, the night's high point man, on the outside of the fourth row for 30-lap A-Main.

When the green came out, Henry was able to use the outside to get around seventh place starter Cap Henry as the inside line bottled up on the entry to turn one. A caution with three laps completed bunched the field back up with Henry restarting seventh behind Andrews. On the restart, Henry drove around Andrews for sixth and began working on Aiden Price in the fifth spot. Price would catch a rut in turn one on the ninth circuit of the event, setting Henry up to make the pass around the outside coming off of turn four. Just four laps later, Trey Jacobs and Kemenah were battling for second when Henry was able to sneak by both of them on the bottom side of the track. The chase for the lead was on just before halfway with leader Zeth Sabo having just over a one second advantage on Henry. That advantage did not last long as Henry closed the gap within two laps and got to Sabo's inside coming out of turn two before sliding Sabo for the lead in three and four. Henry never looked back and dominated the field to secure his first win of 2026 by nearly five seconds.

"Andy made my job easy. That thing was an absolute beauty to drive. It would go wherever I wanted, whenever I wanted." Henry said in front of his Fremont, Ohio based machine. "Somebody come up on the backstretch, and I saw them giving me the big lead [signal] or whatever it was."

Fremont track announcer, Brian Liskai, asked Henry in victory lane about what seeing his family meant this weekend. "It's huge, last year was obviously pretty rough for me and went six months without seeing my family, and the only reason why I did at first was because I got hurt. So, to be able to see my family, I was like a kid in a candy store...I needed that."

The Racers for Life camp will not have much time to celebrate though as the All Star championship trail heads east to take on some of the most formidable opponents anywhere in America, the Pennsylvania Posse. Williams Grove will open the weekend on Friday night with Lincoln Speedway closing out the action on Saturday night.

Landon Henry competed Saturday night with the POWRi National Midget League at Southern Illinois Raceway where he finished in ninth place driving for Trifecta Motorsports.

2026 Season Stats (U.S. Races Only)
9 Races / 1 Wins / 3 Top-5s / 4 Top-10s

Next Events
June 5 - Williams Grove Speedway - All Star Circuit of Champions
June 6 - Lincoln Speedway - All Star Circuit of Champions

Social Links
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Media Contact
Zane Scott
Zane Scott Media
zanescottmedia@gmail.com

Photo By: Inszn Media