EchoPark Speedway is known far and wide for its exhilarating NASCAR action, but that’s not the only exciting racing you’ll find at the Hampton, Ga., speedway.
Before NASCAR stars like Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, and William Byron ever turned laps on the “big track,” they cut their teeth on EchoPark Speedway’s ¼-mile Thunder Ring. For nearly three decades, aspiring racers have taken to this challenging short track to test their mettle in the speedway’s summer Thursday Thunder series.
This grassroots racing series features several divisions of drivers with varying levels of experience hitting the track to hone their talents and chase glory — often producing unforgettable racing moments.
Such was the case on July 16, 2025, during a night of double features for Thursday Thunder. That evening, young racers Colt Johnson of Smyrna, Tenn., and Lane Christensen of Pendergrass, Ga., battled to the checkered flag in a race that made EchoPark Speedway history.
Competing in the Adrenalin Powersports Young Lions division, Johnson started up front but was forced to rally through the field after being involved in an early caution. He proved up to the challenge, charging from 13th all the way to 2nd when another caution set up a green-white-checkered sprint to the finish.
When the green flag dropped, race leader Christensen and Johnson raced just inches apart through each set of turns and all the way to the checkered flag. Johnson utilized the bump-and-run in the final set of corners and edged Christensen at the line by a razor-thin 0.002 seconds. The margin of victory was not only the closest in Thursday Thunder history, but the closest in the entirety of EchoPark Speedway’s racing history — even besting the incredible three-wide photo finish won by Daniel Suárez in the NASCAR Cup Series race in February 2024.
“It’s just amazing to get my first Legends car win. This is so awesome,” Johnson said in victory lane. Asked if he ever imagined his first win would come in a photo finish, he added, “Absolutely not, but that just makes it ten times better!”
The record-setting Thursday Thunder photo finish ranks as the No. 2 entry in our Top 5 Moments of ’25 at EchoPark Speedway. More exciting and memorable moments await in 2026, including the track’s two NASCAR weekends, Feb. 20–22 and July 11–12. Tickets and camping are available for both race weekends at EchoParkSpeedway.com.
Top 5 in '25:
#1: Elliott’s electric home track victory
#2: Thursday Thunder racers produce closest finish in speedway history
