COLE DENTON EARNS TOP-10 FINISH IN ALLEN TURNER 100 AT FIVE FLAGS SPEEDWAY
PENSACOLA, Fla. — Cole Denton continued adding valuable late-model experience to an already diverse 2026 racing season Friday night at Five Flags Speedway, earning a seventh-place finish in the 100-lap Allen Turner Pro Late Model Series event.
Driving the No. 62 Pro Late Model, Denton entered the third round of the four-race “Road to the Snowflake 125” looking to gain additional experience at one of the most challenging and historic short tracks in the country.
Denton showed solid speed throughout the weekend, posting the seventh-fastest time during Thursday’s practice session before qualifying ninth for Friday night’s 100-lap feature.
When the green flag dropped, the 16-year-old settled into the race and focused on managing his equipment while working to move forward against a competitive field of Pro Late Model drivers.
The opening 50 laps were run under green before a mandatory halfway caution brought the field back together and set up a restart that shuffled the running order.
Denton continued battling throughout the second half of the race, ultimately advancing two positions from his ninth-place starting spot to bring the No. 62 home seventh.
More importantly, Denton completed all 100 laps on the lead lap, adding another full race of experience at a track where patience, tire management and consistency become increasingly important over longer runs.
Kaden Honeycutt captured the victory, followed by Jake Finch and Jim Wall, with Denton finishing seventh in the 12-car field.
The Five Flags appearance was another opportunity for Denton to expand his versatility during a season that has already seen him compete — and win — in the ARCA Menards Series West while continuing to develop his skills behind the wheel of a Pro Late Model.
Every lap at Five Flags also carries additional value as Denton continues gaining experience at the home of the prestigious Snowball Derby and Snowflake 125. Friday night’s race was the third of four Allen Turner events leading toward the Snowflake 125 during Snowball Derby week in December.
For a young driver continuing to build his short-track résumé, finishing every lap and moving forward against an experienced field provided another productive night of development.
Denton’s return to the racetrack also came shortly after another memorable experience away from competition.
Cole recently represented the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation as a driver in the Great American Road Rally, taking the wheel of the FOJ Tahoe for the Route 66 leg from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Amarillo, Texas.
The experience gave Denton an opportunity to use his growing platform beyond racing while helping raise awareness for the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation and its mission of improving the quality of life for children battling pediatric cancer by pairing them with local teams, clubs and community groups.
With the Great American Road Rally now complete, Denton has shifted his attention back to racing and continuing his development behind the wheel. His Five Flags Speedway appearance provided another 100 laps of valuable Pro Late Model experience as he continues building toward the next stages of his career.
ABOUT COLE DENTON
Cole Denton is one of the nation’s rising young stock-car drivers, competing across multiple disciplines as he continues his progression through the motorsports ranks. Denton began racing go-karts at four years old before moving into Bandoleros, where he became the 2022 INEX National Bandolero Champion during a remarkable season that included 12 championships and 40 victories in 62 races.
Denton continued his development through INEX Legend Car competition, earning multiple championships before advancing into full-bodied stock cars. In 2026, Denton is competing in the ARCA Menards Series West with Jan’s Racing, where he has already earned two victories during his rookie campaign while also competing in select Pro Late Model events around the country.
His diverse schedule is designed to continue developing his racecraft across different tracks, cars and styles of racing as he works toward the next stages of his motorsports career.
ABOUT FIVE FLAGS SPEEDWAY
Five Flags Speedway is a historic half-mile paved oval located in Pensacola, Florida, and one of the most recognized short tracks in the United States. Best known as the home of the annual Snowball Derby, Five Flags attracts many of the country’s top short-track competitors throughout the season.
The track hosts a variety of racing divisions and major events, including the Allen Turner Pro Late Model Series and the Snowflake 125, providing developing drivers the opportunity to compete against experienced racers on one of the most demanding tracks in short-track racing.
ABOUT FRIENDS OF JACLYN FOUNDATION
The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation improves the quality of life for children battling pediatric cancer by pairing them with local sports teams, clubs and community groups. Inspired by Jaclyn Murphy’s own battle with pediatric brain cancer, the foundation was established by the Murphy family to provide children and their families with friendship, love and support during an incredibly difficult time.
Through its adoption program, Friends of Jaclyn creates lasting relationships between children and the teams that become part of their extended support system. The organization has facilitated adoptions across the country and continues working to ensure that children battling pediatric cancer know they are never alone.
ABOUT THE GREAT AMERICAN ROAD RALLY
The Great American Road Rally is a multi-day journey along historic Route 66 bringing together celebrities, professional athletes, race car drivers, charities and supporters to raise awareness and funds for important causes across the country.
The 2026 Rally traveled from Chicago to Santa Monica, California, with participants driving individual legs along Route 66 and taking part in events and charitable activities throughout the journey. Cole Denton represented the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation on the Oklahoma City-to-Amarillo leg.
The Great American Road Rally will be featured in a 12-episode television series airing on The CW beginning September 2, 2026.
Media Contact:
Rod Wortham
Race Face Brand Development