
NASCAR Regional drivers to watch: Jake Johnson, Casey Kelley and others building momentum
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Adam Glanzman/NASCAR Regional
Championship favorites are beginning to emerge throughout each NASCAR Regional series as the month of April rolls on. While some have established themselves as perennial contenders, others are quietly putting together consistent seasons of their own. Across the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series, here are some drivers to keep an eye on as racing picks up around the country.
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Ryan M. Kelly/NASCAR
Jake Johnson
In the IceBreaker 150 at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, Jake Johnson matched his career-best finish of second, which he obtained at the same facility last October.
That performance continues a streak of three straight top 10s to open the 2024 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season for Johnson, who is inching closer to putting the iconic Ole Blue No. 3 back in Victory Lane.
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Joe Chandler/South Boston Speedway
Carter Langley
The 2023 season at South Boston Speedway saw Carter Langley enjoy a stellar campaign that culminated in his first track championship.
Although Langley did not attempt South Boston's 2024 opener, he continued his winning ways by claiming Wake County Speedway's first Late Model Stock race of the year on April 5.
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Joe Maylish/Florence Motor Speedway
Casey Kelley
The 2024 season at Florence Motor Speedway has seen Casey Kelley build on the consistent reputation he has developed recently at the track.
Fresh off a top-five in the season-opening IceBreaker 125, Kelley has since claimed three Late Model Stock checkered flags at Florence this year, allowing him to currently hold a small points lead in the track standings.
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Erick Messer/Messer Media
Riley Neal
The Neal family has long been synonymous with success at Bowman Gray Stadium. It started with Tommy Neal, who has multiple Sportsman and Stadium Stock titles at the track.
Tommy's grandson Riley is moving up to Bowman Gray's prestigious Modified division this year. A winner in the Sportsman class at 14 years old in 2022, Riley is poised to continue his family's success inside the Madhouse.
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Emily Faith Morgan/NASCAR Regional
Marcello Rufrano
Stafford Motor Speedway was well represented in the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 150 at Richmond Raceway by Marcello Rufrano.
The 2018 SK Light Modified champion at Stafford drove a clean race in his NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour debut, bringing home a 14th-place finish in the No. 17 Modified.