The 75th season of racing at Hickory Motor Speedway is poised to be one of the most notable in the track’s long history.
Along with more improvements to the facility’s infrastructure, Hickory is also introducing the Grand Slam for Late Model Stock competitors. This four-race championship encompasses Hickory’s three marquee events in the Jack Ingram Memorial, Bobby Isaac Memorial and the Fall Brawl, as well as one qualifying event.
Kevin Piercy, who is entering his 17th year as Hickory’s promoter, has witnessed the historic track undergo plenty of changes during his tenure. The diamond anniversary at Hickory creates both pressure and opportunity for Piercy, who is eager to see another year of weekly competition commence Saturday evening.
“Anytime you open up for another season, there’s a lot of work, time and effort that goes into preparing for opening night,” Piercy said. “I haven’t had a whole lot of time to think about what’s next, but we’re excited to host the 75th year of Hickory Motor Speedway, America’s most famous short track.”
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Long before he started overseeing the day-to-day operations of Hickory, Piercy was familiar with how the track got its nickname as the “Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars.”
Since Hickory opened its doors to the public in 1951, many NASCAR legends have honed their skills around the half-mile oval. The list of track champions features many NASCAR pioneers like Junior Johnson, Ned Jarrett and Ralph Earnhardt, along with other accomplished competitors such as Jack Ingram, Harry Gant, Tommy Houston and Josh Berry.
Hickory also hosted several NASCAR Cup Series races from 1953-71 before later becoming a staple on the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule. Despite the last major NASCAR event at Hickory taking place in 1998, the track continues to attract both fans and competitors through its weekly racing program.
Piercy has strived to keep the proud tradition of racing at Hickory flourishing, though that often involves keeping a balance between being frugal and innovative. Full-time competitors at Hickory are becoming less common due to financial restraints, which is why Piercy said programs like the Grand Slam are essential to sustainability.
“You’re constantly trying to be creative and find new ideas,” Piercy said. “Our Limited [Late Model] division has a challenge with 10 events inside the season that make up a second crown. For people who are on a budget, that allows them to race without committing to the whole season.
“That’s the same direction we’re going with the Grand Slam this year.”
Hickory’s Grand Slam technically begins July 19 with the Jack Ingram Memorial, but a driver who wishes to compete for the in-season title can earn eligibility by competing in one weekly event between Saturday’s opener and Aug. 23. A total of 50 points toward the Grand Slam will be designated to a driver for making a weekly race start before the deadline.
STREAM: Watch Hickory’s opener live
The Grand Slam is not the only change Piercy has made ahead of the 2025 season, as he and his staff completed the installation of a new scoreboard in Turns 1-2 that doubles as a video board. With the updated technology, Piercy believes spectators will have a more optimal experience when it comes to keeping track of the leaders.
Infrastructure has been a top priority for Piercy since Hickory received more than $500,000 in North Carolina state grants following the COVID-19 pandemic. The renovated scoreboard was a continuation in a long line of improvements at Hickory over the past few years, but Piercy still has many plans outlined for the track, including a repave.
“We went as far as we could with the grant money with renovating the bathrooms, the suites and paving the infield,” Piercy said. “We have some money left, but not enough to get started on the track. We’d love to pave the track at some point, but that’s going to be a future project. The video board is a tremendous asset and an opportunity for sponsors, too.”
Piercy possesses optimism over Hickory’s future in an evolving world, but his focus is centered on ensuring everything is ready before opening night. He expects plenty of exciting moments throughout the 2025 season, one he hopes will end with a thrilling conclusion to the inaugural Grand Slam during the Fall Brawl in November.
Sustaining Hickory’s proud racing heritage is strenuous-but-rewarding work for Piercy. Having served as promoter for just under a quarter of Hickory’s lifespan, Piercy said the job remains arduous, but he’s proud of everything he and his staff continue to accomplish with one of NASCAR’s most cherished short tracks.
“When I took over, we were in a recession,” Piercy said. “I had multiple competitors come to me [back then] who felt the timing was disastrous. The first two or three years were sketchy, but we’ve evolved. It’s a rollercoaster with up and down years, but we try to be sensitive to the needs of the competitors, the fans and the sponsors.
“We try to underpromise but overdeliver on the way we do things at Hickory Motor Speedway.”
Hickory Motor Speedway’s 75th season gets underway Saturday with a full docket of racing that includes twin 40-lap features for Late Model Stocks along with Limited Late Model, Street Stock, Super Truck and Renegade races. The first green flag waves at 6 p.m. ET with FloRacing providing coverage of all the on-track action.