Ryley Music knows what it’s like to celebrate a Hampton Heat victory, just not as a driver.
When Brenden Queen took home his first of three Hampton Heat checkered flags in 2020, Music was a part of the crew that guided him to victory. Spearheading the effort was Music’s grandfather Phil Warren, a seven-time Langley Speedway track champion who was Queen’s crew chief during all three of his title runs at Langley.
Music is determined to apply his grandfather’s wisdom towards what he believes will be his best chance at a Hampton Heat crown this Saturday night (7 p.m. ET on FloRacing). Instead of carrying Warren’s No. 47 in his family-owned ride, Music will drive the No. 22 Toyota for Nelson Motorsports, which previously won the crown jewel event in 2017 with Bobby McCarty.
Nelson Motorsports has developed a reputation as one of the best Late Model Stock programs in the Southeast. That is why Music is motivated to reward owner Barry Nelson’s faith in him with a strong performance Saturday night.
“Me and Mr. Nelson have talked for a couple of years,” Music said. “We both wanted to work with each other multiple, multiple times. Finally, the situation just kind of worked out where he could have me sit in one of his pieces of equipment and I can’t thank him enough for the opportunity.”
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With Music being a descendant of Langley royalty, it only made sense for him to start his own racing career there.
For the last seven years, Music has methodically worked his way through Langley’s developmental ladder just like many other local heroes before him. He started in Bandoleros before refining his craft in Langley’s Modified and Limited Late Model divisions. He debuted in the Late Model Stock class in 2022.
Racing in Langley’s premier local class has predictably been a grind for Music; he only won his first Late Model Stock race last year. Yet there is nothing Music would change about his journey so far, as he gets to lean on his grandfather for advice while simultaneously learning from the many other talented drivers at Langley.
Music considers it a privilege just to race Late Model Stocks at Langley. He hopes all the countless hours of effort will one day lead to him being mentioned in the same vein as Warren and some of the Langley legends he assisted.
“I grew up going [to Langley] watching C.E. Falk [III] when my grandfather worked for him and then Brenden Queen when my grandfather worked for him before he went to Lee [Pulliam],” Music said. “It’s one of my favorite places to go to and race at because it’s so so close to home. It just means a lot to do the Hampton Heat every year.
“Growing up, I never thought I’d have the opportunity to race a Late Model Stock. Luckily my parents have done a very good job in their life and I can’t thank them enough for being able to put me in one each and every week.”
Making it to the track is one thing for Music, but being competitive in Late Model Stocks has required tremendous sacrifice and discipline. The preparation aspect is where Music particularly sees his grandfather’s influence.
All the time spent around Warren made Music realize how important finances and setups were to success in motorsports. Given that his own program operates with a limited budget, those qualities are even more important for Music, which is why he has adopted a hands-on approach to racing just like Warren.
Being patient and meticulous worked for Warren during his own racing career. Music knows he can follow a similar path.
“[My granddad’s] definitely tried to instill the older racing respect into me where you don’t just fly in there and knock somebody out of the way,” Music said. “If I don’t work on that race car, it doesn’t go in the trailer. I know pretty much the ins and outs when it leaves our shop to go in the race trailer. I really knew everything about the Nelson car before it went in the trailer.
“I can almost go to the race track and handle everything by myself with my crew if he wasn’t able to make it.”
Warren is proud of how Music continues to develop behind the wheel, but he feels a key part of his grandson’s success extends beyond racing. One reason why Warren felt Queen was able to make the jump to NASCAR was his ability to build an identity that garnered him a loyal fanbase as he continued to win races.
Although Music is much different from Queen personality-wise, Warren said the composure and maturity he shows off track are going to serve him well moving forward.
“You got to have personality, be able to talk to people, do interviews and things like that,” Warren said. “[Music] has all them qualities. Sometimes driving is a small part of what [drivers] have to do today to be successful. He has that quality to talk to anybody, so he’s good for the sponsors.”
From what Warren has observed so far, he believes Music is meshing well with everyone at Nelson Motorsports. Cohesion is going to be imperative for Music and Nelson Motorsports to contend for a Hampton Heat victory Saturday, especially since teams have the option to change two tires instead of being on the same set for the full race.
There is much more that goes into the Hampton Heat than just strategy, as Music has already deliberated with Nelson on a hydration plan for the event. As demanding as the Hampton Heat can be, Music feels he has adjusted to the routine during his last two attempts.
Now that he has the resources of Nelson Motorsports to rely on, Music is confident Saturday evening will be his best outing in the Hampton Heat to date.
“I’m definitely going to revert back to what we did in 2024,” Music said. “We ran top three all race long until we blew a right front with 25 to go. It’s going to be a lot of physical preparation outside the race car. I’m going to keep doing what I do physically and stay in shape. As long as everything works out like we plan, it’ll go well.”
Warren manage two roles during Music’s first race with Nelson Motorsports. He’ll be a spotter first and a grandfather cheering on his grandson second. From the moment Music’s career began, Warren has seen him put in all the effort needed to earn an opportunity to drive for a team like Nelson Motorsports, a moment he believes will not go to waste.
Nothing would thrill Warren more than to see Music park the Nelson Motorsports machine in Victory Lane at the end of the Hampton Heat, but he is also keeping his expectations realistic. The race is going to be challenging on multiple fronts, so Warren wants Music to maintain his composure and put together an efficient, trouble-free race.
“I would love [for Ryley] to finish in the top five,” Warren said. “That would be a real big accomplishment, but if the opportunity to race for the win is there, that’d be great. I think a good, strong finish and not tearing the car up would be a really big day. You never know where the next opportunity is coming from.”
Music’s deal with Nelson Motorsports is just for Saturday’s Hampton Heat, but a strong finish could lead to another event with the team. Some of the best drivers in Late Model Stock history such as McCarty, Connor Hall and Timothy Peters have driven a Nelson Motorsports car, so Music understands how significant this chance is.
Warren never got to run the Hampton Heat as a driver, the event was established in 2008 just as his driving career was winding down. Music still remembers seeing the jubilation on Warren’s face up close when he won the Hampton Heat with Queen back in 2020.
Winning a Late Model Stock crown jewel as a driver is something Music has always wanted. The best opportunity to do that awaits him Saturday as he climbs aboard Nelson Motorsports’ No. 22 Toyota for his home track’s biggest race.
“I’ve been to Victory Lane in the Hampton Heat as a crew member, but it would boost my career a whole lot if we could end up in Victory Lane as a driver,” Music said. “All the praise would go to Mr. Nelson for even giving me an opportunity to go to Victory Lane.”
Warren set an impeccable benchmark for success at Langley through his accolades as a driver and crew chief. It will take time before Music even gets close to those records should he choose to remain a part of Langley’s local racing scene.
Music could very well write his own distinct verse in Langley’s history this weekend by joining the notable list of previous Hampton Heat winners.