When Hunter Morgan made the decision to jump into Late Model Stock Cars for the 2024 season, he knew expectations needed to be reasonable against a stout group of drivers at Tennessee’s Kingsport Speedway.
The results were far beyond what Morgan anticipated. He consistently held his own with seasoned Late Model Stock veterans to earn the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Division I Rookie of the Year honors with four victories and a fourth-place finish in Kingsport’s final standings.
Morgan was pleasantly surprised with the success he experienced during his maiden Late Model Stock campaign. His initial goals were to log laps and gain respect, but he credited everyone around him for fostering an environment that allowed him to thrive behind the wheel.
“It definitely means a lot,” Morgan said. “We really worked hard for this and didn’t really expect it to happen this year. I was just hoping to run a race or two to get my feet wet, but we delved in deep. My team Chase Dixon Motorsports put in a lot of effort to get me here.”
Although he is a first-generation competitor in his family, motorsports has been a part of Morgan’s life since his early childhood. His passion for racing started by watching NASCAR races at home, which was further galvanized when his family took him to see his first race at Kingsport.
The desire Morgan displayed to one day join the local Kingsport heroes on track was enough for his family to get him involved in go-karts at 4 years old. Morgan spent the next seven years refining his skills in go-kart races around the region before advancing into Bandolero competition.
Morgan immediately found a comfort zone with the cars, as he racked up wins at several different tracks and earned three consecutive Bandolero Outlaw Tennessee state championships. With Morgan enjoying so much success in Bandoleros, the next logical step was for him to try Late Model Stocks.
The Late Model Stock division at Kingsport would be Morgan’s toughest challenge in his brief career to date. Morgan knew there would be a learning curve with the heavier cars, but he relied on Chase Dixon Motorsports for advice on how to seamlessly transition into the discipline.
“Going into a Late Model [Stock], I pretty much had to forget everything I learned about driving a Bandolero,” Morgan said. “The only similarities are that they both have a motor, steering wheel and pedals. It definitely was a hard transition, but I was able to figure it out pretty well.”
That process also involved a careful study of previous Late Model Stock events at Kingsport. The facility’s unorthodox layout, which features a concrete surface that does not take in rubber, requires both precision and patience for drivers to gain track position.
By the time the second week of competition arrived at Kingsport, Morgan was already in Victory Lane as the driver of a Late Model Stock, having claimed the second of two features on April 26 over eventual champion Keith Helton. Morgan backed up his performance with three more victories, including one in the season finale on Sept. 13.
While Morgan was not able to make a run at the Kingsport track championship, his efficiency was enough to stay in front of Riley Neal in the national Rookie of the Year standings by 10 points. There is still plenty Morgan admits he needs to learn about Late Model Stocks, but he is more than satisfied with the progress and accomplishments obtained in Year 1.
“I was really just trying to get as much seat time as I could,” Morgan said. “I wanted to learn the car, the tires and try to take it easy. Toward the end, we really had to step things up to continue our [Rookie of the Year] points lead. We ended up really exceeding expectations, because I didn’t imagine getting anything more than a few top fives.”
Obtaining Late Model Stock experience is still a goal for Morgan as he makes early preparations for the 2025 season. He intends to compete at venues outside of Kingsport and has not ruled out participating in select CARS Tour events if the funding materializes.
Morgan particularly has his eyes on South Carolina’s Florence Motor Speedway, a facility with an abrasive surface that often forces drivers to conserve tires. The more knowledge he obtains on how Late Model Stocks operate at different tracks, the better off Morgan believes he will be in the long-term.
“Hopefully, we can run pretty solid at Florence,” Morgan said. “I’ve always really liked that track, so maybe we can pick up a few wins there. I want to go to as many places as I can and hopefully run solidly in the top five. I’m trying to gain as much experience as I can.”
The 2024 season showcased how adept Morgan is becoming with Late Model Stocks. Although he is tempering expectations ahead of an expanded 2025 schedule, Morgan is committed to building on his national Rookie of the Year campaign by establishing himself as one of the best short track competitors in the southeast.