The traditional start to the racing season for competitors in the Late Model Stock Car class in the Southeast is officially here with the annual running of the IceBreaker at Florence Motor Speedway.
As was the case last year, the 2024 Florence IceBreaker features a name that’s becoming more common on the NASCAR Home Track’s entry lists: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Constructed in 1982 as a dirt track before it was paved 1988, Florence is one of the Southeast’s most historic and beloved short tracks. Following the closure of Myrtle Beach Speedway in 2020, many of Myrtle Beach’s traditional events were transitioned to Florence.
That includes the Florence IceBreaker, which was first held in 2016 and quickly became a popular event for fans and competitors alike.
RELATED: Watch the Florence IceBreaker live on FloRacing
The IceBreaker presents competitors an opportunity to hit the track early in the year to test out new cars or new team pairings before the summer stretch of the season while also earning points towards the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series national and regional championships.
Below is everything you need to know about the 2024 IceBreaker at Florence Motor Speedway.
What channel is the Florence IceBreaker on in 2024?
All the on-track action for the Florence IceBreaker can be viewed live on FloRacing, the official streaming home for all NASCAR Roots properties.
The event will not be shown on a television network.
Below is the complete schedule for FloRacing’s coverage of the Florence IceBreaker.
| Date | Start Time | How To Watch |
| Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 | 2:30 p.m. ET | FloRacing |
Practice, qualifying and race schedule
The headlining Late Model Stock Car class is one of four divisions that will be on track at Florence during the IceBreaker.
The action begins Saturday, Feb. 10 with practice for all divisions, followed closely by Euro-style group qualifying.
Pre-race ceremonies are set to begin at 2:15 p.m. ET, with the first laps of the 2024 season scheduled to take place at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Below is the complete schedule for all of the weekend action at Florence Motor Speedway (all times ET).
- Thursday, Feb. 8
| Time | Event |
| 12 p.m. | Pit Gate Sign In Opens / Park Trailers |
- Friday, Feb. 9
| Time | Event |
| 10 a.m. | Pit Gate Sign In Opens / Park Trailers |
| 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Tire Area Open / Pre-Tech Line Open |
| 11 a.m. | Team Representative Meeting |
| 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Rotating Practice (Late Model Stocks, Mini Stocks, Super Trucks, Street Stocks) |
| 5 p.m. | Park Trailers |
- Saturday, Feb. 10
| Time | Event |
| 8:30 a.m. | Pit Gate Sign In Opens / Park Trailers |
| 8:30 a.m. | Tire Area Opens |
| 9:30 a.m. | Drivers Meeting |
| 10 a.m. | Rotating Practice (Late Model Stocks, Mini Stocks, Super Trucks, Street Stocks) |
| 12 p.m. | Grandstands Open |
| 12:30 p.m. | Qualifying (Euro-Style, Groups of 3, 3 Laps Each Group / All Divisions) |
| 2:15 p.m. | Pre-Race Ceremonies |
| 2:30 p.m. | Feature Racing: Super Trucks (50 Laps), Mini Stocks (30 Laps), Late Model Stocks (125 Laps), Street Stocks (50 Laps) |
Entry list
A strong list of entries are expected to take part in the ninth running of the IceBreaker on Feb. 10, including NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Earnhardt has made a habit of competing at Florence in recent years, starting with the 2022 running of the South Carolina 400. Last year, he competed in three events at Florence, including the IceBreaker, where he finished 16th.
PHOTOS: Dale Earnhardt Jr. racing Late Model Stocks
He’ll look to improve upon that this year as he once again returns to the seat of the No. 3 Late Model Stock fielded by his own JR Motorsports team. Carson Kvapil, the two-time and defending zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car champion who also drives for JR Motorsports, is also entered.
Reigning NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series National champion Connor Hall and Florence Motor Speedway’s defending track champion, Matt Cox, have also filed entries, as has Locked In 150 victor Sam Yarbrough. Other notable entries include South Carolina 400 winner Kade Brown, Virginia’s Mark Wertz, Zack Miracle, Tyler Matthews and Jacob Heafner, among others.
Below is the current entry list for the IceBreaker.
| Car No. | Driver | Hometown |
| 2 | Brandon Pierce | Oak Ridge, North Carolina |
| 2D | T.J. DeCaire | Land O Lakes, Florida |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Mooresville, North Carolina |
| 7 | Strom Altman | Charleston, South Carolina |
| 8 | Carson Kvapil | Mooresville, North Carolina |
| 8B | Lanie Buice | Locust Grove, Georgia |
| 09 | Riley Gentry | Easley, South Carolina |
| 11 | Jeff Oakley | Prince George, Virginia |
| 13 | Cody Kelley | Hartsville, South Carolina |
| 16 | Casey Kelley | Hartsville, South Carolina |
| 15 | Mike Bledsole | Whitsett, North Carolina |
| 16M | Adam McCumbee | Orrum, North Carolina |
| 18 | Alex Meggs | Riegelwood, North Carolina |
| 18M | Truett Miranda | Concord, North Carolina |
| 18R | David Roberts | Simpsonsville, South Carolina |
| 22 | Connor Hall | Hampton, Virginia |
| 23 | Kade Brown | Denver, North Carolina |
| 27 | Matthew Gould | Mooresville, North Carolina |
| 32 | Zack Miracle | Indian Trail, North Carolina |
| 51 | Matt Cox | Little River, South Carolina |
| 51S | Donovan Strauss | Marietta, Georgia |
| 55 | Mark Wertz | Newport News, Virginia |
| 61 | Justin Hicks | Marston, North Carolina |
| 63 | Tyler Matthews | Richlands, North Carolina |
| 81 | Landon Huffman | Claremont, North Carolina |
| 88 | Alex Hicks | Loris, South Carolina |
| 88B | Doug Barnes Jr. | Forest Hill, Maryland |
| 94 | Jamie Weatherford | Darlington, South Carolina |
| 95 | Jacob Heafner | Dallas, North Carolina |
| 95Y | Sam Yarborough | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina |
| 99 | Colby Higgins | Kingsport, Tennessee |
Florence IceBreaker results: List of winners
The IceBreaker is a relatively new tradition that began at Myrtle Beach Speedway in 2016 as a way for drivers to get an early start to the racing season in the Carolinas.
Held five times at Myrtle Beach Speedway before the track’s closure, Tommy Lemons Jr. emerged as the winner of the inaugural event in 2016. Four-time NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series National champion Lee Pulliam claimed the IceBreaker victory in 2017, with NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series veteran Timothy Peters scoring the win in 2018.
Current NASCAR Cup Series star Ty Gibbs took home the IceBreaker trophy in 2019. Regional star Sam Yarbrough was the winner of the final IceBreaker held at Myrtle Beach in 2020.
The IceBreaker was moved to Florence beginning in 2021; Chad McCumbee took home the checkered flag that season, with NASCAR Xfinity Series star and 2020 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series National champion Josh Berry winning the race in 2022.
Doug Barnes Jr. is the defending winner of the IceBreaker after his victory in the 2023 running of the event.
Below is the complete list of winners of the IceBreaker.
| Year (Track) | Winner |
| 2016 (Myrtle Beach Speedway) | Tommy Lemons Jr. |
| 2017 (Myrtle Beach Speedway) | Lee Pulliam |
| 2018 (Myrtle Beach Speedway) | Timothy Peters |
| 2019 (Myrtle Beach Speedway) | Ty Gibbs |
| 2020 (Myrtle Beach Speedway) | Sam Yarbrough |
| 2021 (Florence Motor Speedway) | Chad McCumbee |
| 2022 (Florence Motor Speedway) | Josh Berry |
| 2023 (Florence Motor Speedway) | Doug Barnes Jr. |