Posted on by Staff Report

U.S. Army engineers and NASCAR’s Research & Development team share a common motto and ethos: “Let Us Try.”

“Whether it’s military aircraft or the Next Gen Car, it’s all about moving people and things, so there is a lot of carryover,” said CJ Tobin, Senior Engineer for Vehicle Systems at NASCAR and retired U.S. Army Officer. “But for me, the biggest overlap between NASCAR and the Army is that sense of family.”

Tobin came to NASCAR’s Research & Development Center in Concord, North Carolina, in 2022 following a distinguished career in uniform, which saw him graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point, rise through the ranks of the Army Aviation community and eventually become a Company Commander.

When Tobin prepared for the transition into civilian life, he thought about how he could combine the advanced engineering skills he learned in the Army together with his passion for racing.

Thankfully, the Department of Defense had launched SkillBridge, a hands-on externship program that placed Tobin, then still an active-duty officer, in a working role within the NASCAR organization. With his skills and experience, Tobin immediately began to add value to the NASCAR team and upon completion of the program, he was hired in a full-time role as Vehicle Systems Engineer.

While Tobin was NASCAR’s first SkillBridge participant, he will certainly not be the last – as the company continues to engage transitioning service members through the DoD program. Michael Patterson, a project manager and former jet engine mechanic in the U.S. Air Force, is currently supporting NASCAR’s Sourcing and Procurement team at company headquarters in Daytona Beach.

The involvement with SkillBridge represents a continuation of NASCAR’s longstanding support for the U.S. Armed Forces and veterans, a commitment celebrated through NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola and other ongoing military programs, including NASCAR Troops to the Track.

Through the recently launched NASCAR IMPACT platform, NASCAR is strengthening its support for veterans with a focus on transition services. This week, in the spirit of Veterans Day, NASCAR launched partnerships with organizations dedicated to easing the challenges of transitioning from active duty to civilian life.

On Nov. 9, NASCAR announced a new endeavor with Texas-based nonprofit Sound Off, founded to help reduce the staggering rate of veteran suicide in the U.S. through an anonymous platform for veterans and active-duty service members to access mental health services.

“We recognize that 47% of veterans won’t seek the mental health services they need, in large part because there is a huge difference between ‘confidential’ and truly ‘anonymous’ support,” said Sound Off Founder and CEO William Negley. “From day one, NASCAR was willing to really lean in and say ‘how can we activate our fanbase to become direct supporters of other veterans and service members’ in a way that not all organizations are willing to.”

Sound Off specifically targets military veterans to join its platform, participate in mentorship training, and serve as mentors for other veterans and service members in need of mental health support. Beginning in 2024, NASCAR will bring Sound Off to its fan base and encourage those who are veterans to become peer supporters through the digital platform.

NASCAR Vice President of Racing Operations Tom Bryant, who served 21 years as an officer in the U.S. Army, announced the partnership on Thursday at Sound Off’s annual Veterans Day event in San Antonio.

“For veterans and service members, talking about issues like anxiety and depression is not easy, but having that conversation with other veterans who share similar backgrounds and lived experiences makes it less difficult,” said Bryant. “We believe in the critically important work Sound Off is doing and know that our sport can have a substantive impact on its mission.”

With a similar focus on mentorship, NASCAR is also partnering with American Corporate Partners (ACP), a leading nonprofit dedicated to providing one-on-one career mentoring to transitioning service members. Through the partnership, NASCAR will enlist employees through its volunteer platform to serve as peer mentors for veterans that have joined the civilian workforce, lending their on-the-job expertise in the areas of career counseling, communications and marketing, and financial skills.

“ACP aims to ease the transition from the military to the civilian workforce by partnering with organizations like NASCAR to provide real, hands-on career support,” said Sid Goodfried, American Corporate Partners Chairman and Founder. “In NASCAR, we have found a partner who is truly committed to putting in the work to this critical shared mission.”

The work with Sound Off and ACP will commence in early 2024, a year that will also mark the 10th anniversary of NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola, a national celebration of the service and sacrifice of U.S. military members and their families through various at-track integrations, original content features and fan engagement opportunities.

But for veterans like Tobin, NASCAR’s commitment to America’s veterans is a lived commitment that endures 365 days a year.

“We as veterans don’t necessarily need a day when we’re paraded in front of a larger group to say, ‘what a great American,’ ” said Tobin. “It’s not about recognition, it’s about recognizing them as humans and providing them with the real resources they may need.”

Posted on by Staff Report

Voting continues for the 13th annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award, organized by The NASCAR Foundation.

The award, which honors the foundation’s late founder and chairwoman, Betty Jane France, is a recognition of NASCAR fans who volunteer for children’s causes in their local communities. Each finalist receives a $25,000 donation for their organization; the overall winner will receive a $100,000 donation from The NASCAR Foundation to further their efforts.

RELATED: Vote for your favorite finalist

The winner of the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award will be announced during NASCAR Champion’s Week on Thursday, Nov. 30, in Nashville, Tenn.

Meet the four finalists below:

Darla Crown

Darla is a volunteer with Youth & Family Services, a non-profit organization that supports children and families to become capable, caring, and contributing members of the community. Darla is also a 41-year veteran of the South Dakota National Guard.

Watch the video | Vote

Jennifer Gage

Jennifer is the founder of GiGi’s Playhouse Phoenix, a non-profit organization that serves children and adults with Down Syndrome by helping them find support and network with other families navigating their diagnosis.

Watch the video | Vote

Molly Moran

Molly, a camp counselor and mentor for nine years, volunteers with Comfort Zone Camp. The camp is a non-profit organization that operates camps across the nation with the goal of empowering children experiencing grief to fully realize their capacity to heal, grow, and live more fulfilling lives.

Watch the video | Vote

Sandy Stanley

Sandy is a volunteer with the City of Refuge Dalton, a non-profit organization that provides opportunities for family and community advancement. Sandy serves as a part of the hot meal feeding program, where she packs and delivers food boxes to the area’s most vulnerable children.

Watch the video | Vote

The winner of the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award will be determined by an online vote, which is still open. Fans can visit NASCARfoundation.org/Award to vote once a day, every day though Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. ET.

Posted on by Zack Albert

Ross Chastain’s victory in last weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series finale came in the most Ross Chastain of ways – bucking convention, adding a dash of aggressive driving and achieving the unprecedented. In some ways, his Phoenix Raceway flourish stands as a significant footnote to Ryan Blaney’s first championship triumph. Still, the performance is a potential turning point in Trackhouse Racing’s growth.

The Cup Series team and burgeoning entertainment start-up founded by Justin Marks first set foot on the track in 2021 as a single-car outfit with Daniel Suárez as its driver, promising big plans and rapid expansion. In Year 3 of operations, Trackhouse kept imagining and mostly fulfilling those plans, continuing its mission as a challenger and widening its reach.

By some measures, 2023 was a step forward with the smashing victory of New Zealand import Shane van Gisbergen in the Chicago Street Race debut for Trackhouse’s Project 91 initiative, the signing of highly rated prospect Zane Smith from the Truck Series ranks, and the equaling of the organization’s three wins from last year. In other measures, the team regressed – Chastain was ousted in the Cup Series Playoffs’ Round of 12 after making the Championship 4 a year ago, and Suárez missed the postseason grid altogether.

RELATED: Power Rankings: Trends for 2024

If there was frustration along the way, some of the hurt melted off with Chastain’s precedent-breaking Phoenix finish – marking the first time in 10 editions of the elimination-style playoff format that the eventual champ was not the race winner. Chastain also balked at the prevailing thought of deferential treatment for the four title contenders, racing Blaney especially tough down the stretch.

But Chastain also lauded what Sunday’s victory could do as a “ripple effect” for the team’s esprit de corps as it prepares for Year 4.

“We sustained that level of competition,” said Chastain, who also guided his No. 1 Chevrolet to victory at Nashville Superspeedway in June. “We’ve had our fair share of eighth-place days, 18th-place days, sometimes 22nd-place days, straight up. Yeah, it’s just a continuation, and we’re staying here. We’re not going away. Like, we’re disruptive on track usually by my driving, but it goes with the disruptiveness of Justin and (co-owner) Pitbull and our leadership team doing things different, having a real presence in Nashville, keeping a presence there on Broadway for something outside of Charlotte and Concord and the Lake Norman area. Our shop’s in Concord and all of our employees are there except for Justin and the brain trust of the marketing side.

“Yeah, I just love that we’re staying here and we’re continuing to be fast. Our processes are working. We trust ’em and we continue to see it through.”

Trackhouse will continue as a two-car Cup Series effort with Chastain and Suárez, but with its tentacles sunk into a pair of additional drivers it signed in September. Van Gisbergen, 34, will compete in a curated 2024 schedule that spans all three NASCAR national series. The 24-year-old Smith will move to a full-time Cup Series ride next year through an alliance with Spire Motorsports before a transition to what’s intended to be a three-car Trackhouse attack in 2025.

Those splashy moves for the future diverted some of the attention from a slight downturn in performance for Trackhouse’s established pair. Chastain ended up ninth in the final Cup Series standings after running second a season ago, and Suárez dropped from 10th to 19th, year over year. Both drivers also slipped in other statistical categories, notably in top fives, top 10s, average finish and laps led.

Marks said he still counted the 2023 campaign as a success, but suggested that other teams had made competitive gains in the second year of the Next Gen stock car.

“I’m every bit as proud of this season as last season,” Marks said at Phoenix. “The series has gotten tougher. These teams are bigger than us, have a lot of resources to figure out these cars. Now everybody understands the cars more and more, and what it takes to make them go fast, the drivers understand how to drive them. The level of competition has gotten much more difficult this year. Look, I mean, we won two races. Three in the organization. I think it’s a wonderful success. I think the playoffs are just very, very difficult. One race can make a difference.”

Daniel Suárez in pre-race ceremonies at Phoenix Raceway
James Gilbert | Getty Images

Any offseason momentum created by Chastain’s victory would be welcome to the No. 99 Chevy team and Suárez, who summed up his 2023 campaign on the eve of last Sunday’s finale with an eye toward improvement next year. Suárez broke through for his first Cup Series win a year and a half ago at Sonoma Raceway, but had fewer contending moments this season. His six DNFs also matched a career-high set in his rookie season (2017).

“We want to be a championship-contender kind of team. We have more to do,” Suárez said. “We can win a race once in a while the way we’re operating, but that’s not my goal. I don’t work my butt off to win a race once in a while. I want to win a bunch of races and contend for a championship, so we have work to do, and this is not a secret. We know that. We have to get to work.”

When Trackhouse signed Smith, Marks said that the organization was positioned for growth, but cautioned that “expansion is not something to be taken lightly.” Suárez echoed that sentiment in his Saturday remarks, adding that he planned to curtail his offseason vacation time to bear down for 2024.

“Honestly, I even ask those questions as well to many people inside the team. It’s great that Trackhouse is growing. I love that, you know. I want Trackhouse to be a powerhouse,” Suárez said. “With that being said, right now the 99 team requires some attention, and we have to work on that. We have to clean up some things and be better. Obviously, there is a lot of other things going on within Trackhouse — Project 91, the third-car alliance and things of that nature. But I think that the team is capable of doing everything at the same time, we have to be smart and real about it, too. We can’t be in the position where we’re just hoping things to get better, because hope will only get us so far. So we have to get to work and be real about the issues that we have.”

MORE: 2024 Cup Series championship odds

Marks addressed those concerns after Chastain’s season-capping win, saying that the success of both drivers – collectively, individually – was shared through the organization.

“They struggled a little bit this year,” Marks said. “They’ve been fast at times, and they’ve had some really, really great races. We owe it to Daniel and to the organization this winter to take a real hard look at that 99 program and make sure we are surrounding him in 2024 with all the tools and things that he needs to be successful. I mean, I think in any multi-car organization, there’s one or two that are behind the others for several different reasons, whether it’s data or information or process or culture, whatever.

“We just have to take a hard look at that and make sure that we re-rack the deck in 2024 with a tremendous opportunity for him to go out and be successful because we’ve got the people and partners and tools to have both these cars in the playoffs and fighting in every round. Like I said, we owe it to him. He’s a tremendous human being. He’s a tremendously talented race car driver who wants it as much as anybody else out here. We’re going to try to make sure the next season replicates 2022.”

Posted on by Brandon White

A proud Modified tradition in the northeast lives on through Riverhead Raceway’s prestigious Islip 300.

The event’s foundation can be traced back to the 1960s, when the NASCAR Cup Series regularly visited the 0.2-mile Islip Speedway, the smallest facility to host an event for the sanctioning body’s top division. Once the Cup Series left, the Modifieds regularly participated in 300-lap slugfests around the bullring between 1974-79.

No one dominated the 300-lap races at Islip like Modified legend Richie Evans, who won all but one of those events during its existence. Evans and other Modified standouts like Charlie Jarzombek, Wayne Anderson and Tom Baldwin kept adding to their win totals in smaller races at Islip until the track’s closure in 1984.

Riverhead Raceway revived the Islip 300 concept during the 2017 season, and it quickly became a favorite event amongst the track’s passionate fans and drivers. The seventh running of the Islip 300 features a talented group of competitors who are seeking to add their names to the growing legacy of the race.

Below is everything you need to know about the 2023 edition of the Islip 300 at Riverhead Raceway.

Islip 300 at Riverhead Raceway
The seventh edition of the revitalized Islip 300 at Riverhead Raceway takes place this weekend. (Photo: Mike Lawrence/NASCAR)

TV channel, live stream for Islip 300 at Riverhead Raceway

Saturday’s Islip 300 at Riverhead Raceway will be shown exclusively on FloRacing, the official streaming home for all NASCAR Roots properties.

The event will not be shown on a traditional TV channel.

Below is how to watch the 2023 Islip 300 on Saturday, Nov. 11.

Date Race Streaming Start Time How to Watch
Saturday, Nov. 11 Islip 300 12 p.m. ET FloRacing

2023 race schedule

Joining the Modifieds for this year’s Islip 300 will be three other divisions: the Eddie Partridge All Starts, Legends and Crate Modifieds.

Each division gets one round of practice prior to qualifying at noon. The Modified practice will last 45 minutes; Legends, Crate Modifieds and All Stars each get 30 minutes to shake down their cars.

The starting field for the Islip 300 will be set by a two-lap, single-car qualifying session. The Crate Modifieds and Legends will have 10 laps on track to determine where drivers will line up in their respective features. There will also be consolation races for the Modifieds, Crate Modifieds and Legends if needed.

Below is the complete race-day schedule for Riverhead on Saturday.

(All times ET)

Time Event
7:30 a.m. Pit Gates Open
9 a.m. Modified Driver’s Meeting
9:45-10:15 a.m. Legends Practice
10:15-11 a.m. Modified Practice
11-11:30 a.m. Crate Modified Practice
11:30 a.m. Eddie Partridge All Stars Practice/Qualifying
12 p.m. Qualifying Begins (Modifieds: 2 laps/single car … Legends: 10 laps … Crate Modifieds: 15 laps … Modifieds Consi: 15 laps … Legends Consi: 12 laps … Crate Modifieds Consi … 12 laps)
To follow… Opening Ceremonies/National Anthem
To follow… Feature Races Begin (Eddie Partridge All Stars: 15 laps … Legends: 40 laps … Crate Modifieds: 50 laps … Modifieds: 300 laps)
Islip 300 at Riverhead Raceway
A full docket of racing is ahead at Riverhead Raceway for Saturday’s Islip 300. (Photo: Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)

Islip 300 entry list

Of the notable races Matt Hirschman has won during the prestigious career, he has yet to take home a checkered flag in the Islip 300.

Fresh off an eventful year in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour that saw him claim three victories, Hirschman made his formal debut in the Islip 300 last year, when he scored a solid third-place finish behind winner Anthony Nocella.

Joining Hirshcman on the entry list is 2023 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour runner-up Justin Bonsignore. The resume Bonsignore has built in a Modified includes 13 Tour victories at Riverhead Raceway, but he only has one top five in three Islip 300 appearances, which occurred back in 2020.

The only previous winner on this year’s Islip 300 entry list is J.B. Fortin, who earned that distinction back in 2021 over Kyle Bonsignore and Patrick Emerling. Fortin has competed in every Islip 300 at Riverhead except for the 2019 race, only finishing outside the top 10 once.

Other Islip 300 entries include defending Riverhead track champion John Beatty Jr., along with Andy Jankowiak, Craig Lutz, Timmy Solomito, Dave Sapienza and Andrew Krause.

The complete entry list for the Islip 300 can be found below:

Car No. Name
0 Tom Rogers Jr.
02 Allan Peterson
2 J.R. Bertuccio
4 Kyle Ellwood
5 John Beatty Jr.
10 Dylan Slepian
24 Justin Brown
24NJ Andrew Krause
34 J.B. Fortin
36 Dave Sapienza
45 Jack Handley Jr.
46 Craig Lutz
49 Chris Young
51 Justin Bonsignore
55 Chase Brennan
59 Andy Jankowiak
60 Matt Hirschman
66 Timmy Solomito
70 Owen Brennan
73 Paulie Hartwig III
78CT Walter Sutcliffe Jr.
81 Mark Stewart
85 Zane Zeiner
88 Lou Strohl
88 Roger Turbush
96 Matthew Brode
Islip 300 at Riverhead Raceway
There will be plenty of talented competitors looking to add their names to the growing list of Islip 300 winners. (Photo: Mike Lawrence/NASCAR)

Previous winners

Year Winner
2017 Dillon Steuer
2018 Ryan Preece
2019 Kyle Soper
2020 Ryan Preece
2021 J.B. Fortin
2022 Anthony Nocella
Posted on by Tadd Haislop

The 2023 Fall Brawl at North Carolina’s Hickory Motor Speedway is guaranteed to deliver action. As one of the biggest annual Late Model Stock Car races in the Southeast, it always does.

The Fall Brawl at Hickory Motor Speedway this year once again falls in the first half of November. The 26th edition of the 200-lap race on the legendary. 0.363-mile asphalt oval will feature big names on the entry list looking for the $4,000 prize for first place as part of $17,000 in posted awards.

This year’s Fall Brawl at Hickory Motor Speedway, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 11, will include a complete day of on-track action culminating in the feature racing starting around 4:15 p.m. ET.

Per usual for Hickory Motor Speedway, a live stream of the 2023 Fall Brawl action will be available on FloRacing, the official streaming home of NASCAR Roots.

Below is everything to know about this year’s running of the Fall Brawl at Hickory.

PHOTOS: Behind the scenes from last year’s Fall Brawl

Fall Brawl at Hickory Motor Speedway
NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano (left) joins Coleman Pressley in Victory Lane after Pressley won the Fall Brawl at Hickory Motor Speedway on Nov. 12, 2022. (Photo: Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)

Hickory Fall Brawl 2023 TV channel, live stream

As is the case for all NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series racing action at Hickory, Saturday’s Fall Brawl will be shown exclusively on FloRacing, the official streaming home of NASCAR Roots.

The race will not be shown on a traditional TV channel; the live stream on FloRacing is the only viewing option.

FloRacing’s coverage is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET.

Below is another look at how to watch Hickory’s 2023 Fall Brawl on Saturday, Nov. 11.

RELATED: Josh Berry to race Harvick’s Late Model at Hickory

Date Race Streaming start time How to watch
Saturday, Nov. 11 Hickory Motor Speedway’s Fall Brawl 3:45 p.m. ET FloRacing

Schedule for the 2023 Fall Brawl at Hickory

A loaded schedule for this year’s Fall Brawl at Hickory technically begins Friday before race day.

If drivers are willing to pay for their sessions, the track is offering open practice by the hour. Teams on Friday also will be able to sign in for Saturday’s race during a designated period.

Pit gates for Saturday’s action will open at 8:30 a.m. ET, with early practice (paid) beginning at 9 a.m. ET and running through noon. Official practice begins at 1 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 2:30 p.m. ET and feature racing at 4:15 p.m. ET.

Below is the complete race-day schedule for Saturday at Hickory.

8 a.m. ET Sign in begins
8:30 a.m. ET Pit gates open
9 a.m. – noon Early practice ($100 per car)
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET Inspection open for all Late Model/Limited
12:30 p.m. ET Drivers meeting at pit wall
1 – 2 p.m. ET Practice
2:30 p.m. ET Qualifying
4 p.m. ET Pre-race
4:15 p.m. ET Feature racing
Fall Brawl at Hickory Motor Speedway
Joey Logano (left) greets Coleman Pressley in Victory Lane after Pressley won the Fall Brawl at Hickory Motor Speedway on Nov. 12, 2022. (Photo: Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)

Entry list

Some big names in the NASCAR world have announced their plans to race in Saturday’s 200-lap Late Model Stock Car race at Hickory.

That includes last year’s winner.

Coleman Pressley, who serves as Joey Logano’s spotter in the NASCAR Cup Series, drove to Victory Lane in the Fall Brawl last season with Logano calling the shots from the spotter stand. Prior to that event, he had not raced in seven years.

“I don’t even know how to do restarts anymore or any of that stuff,” an elated Pressley told NASCAR.com after climbing from his car in Victory Lane. “It’s pretty freaking cool.”

Added Logano, who was fresh off his 2022 NASCAR Cup Series championship: “It’s so cool to see how good Coleman is. I know he is a great spotter, but how much he’s watched what we do and the studying what we do together and how it’s transformed him into a better driver even though he hasn’t driven in seven years. It’s pretty cool.”

Pressley last year became just the second driver in Fall Brawl history to win the race more than once. The other is Josh Berry, who has won the Fall Brawl four times.

Berry is another driver who will race in the 2023 edition. He’ll run for Kevin Harvick’s Late Model program.

The complete expected entry lists for this year’s Fall Brawl at Hickory are below.

  • Late Models
Car No. Driver
59 Coleman Pressley
30 Jordan McGregor
23 Kade Brown
2 Gracie Trotter
77 Tyler Gregory
17 Skylar Chaney
6 Clark Houston
29 DJ Canipe
28 Connor Mosack
2 Chrissy Wallace
62 Josh Berry
14 Akinori Ogata
57 Connor Zilisch
05 Mason Bailey
16 Clint Fields
88 Doug Barnes Jr.
1 Trent Barnes
00 Lucas Ransome
15 Ryan Milington
  • Limited Late Models
Car No. Driver
94 Jeffrey Wood
24 Bryson Ruff
30 Jordan McGregor
00 Kyle Barnes
57 Hunter Destautelle
23 Reilly Doyle
13 Mark Johnson
99 Billy Snoggrass
7 Tristan McKee
5 Trey Canipe
28 Bub Haney
1 DJ Kantz
98 Tyler Ashley
6 Ricky Dennie
24 Chase Ratliff
12 Glenn Hoyle
81 Zack Clifton
97 Billy Jack Lester
98 Chase Pollard
6 Neal Dulin
TBD Rob Westgard
  • Carolina Pro Late Models
Car No. Driver
23 Beckham Malone
10 EJ Tamayo
11 Tony Cosentino
94 Holden Allen
71 Katie Hettinger
77 Jeremy Sorel
7 Tristan McKee
24 Austin Jones
6 George Phillips
5 Max Price
33 Jacob Courage
55 Hayden Mowery
57 Max Reaves
74 Jonny Kay
9 Ashton Higgins
Fall Brawl at Hickory Motor Speedway
The green flag waves during the Fall Brawl at Hickory Motor Speedway on Nov. 12, 2022. (Photo: Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)

Race format

Below are the race format notes from Hickory Motor Speedway:

  • Qualifying

Qualifying will be determined by the better of two timed qualifying laps. If for any reason qualifying cannot be completed, starting lineup will be determined by practice times in the first round of practice on race day. In the event practice and qualifying is not completed, starting lineup will be determined by date entries are received with the earliest being the pole.

  • Race procedure

This race will be run in two segments of 100 laps each with a 10 minute break when competitors will be allowed to change two tires from the impound area at the halfway point. Caution laps will be counted. Last 20 laps will be under green. Lucky Dog rule will be in effect for this event. Any car involved in the caution will not be eligible for the Lucky Dog award.

Posted on by Adam Fenwick

One year ago, Coleman Pressley did something he didn’t think was possible.

Pressley, who works as Joey Logano’s spotter in the NASCAR Cup Series, returned to the driver’s seat of a Late Model Stock Car for the first time in seven years and won the Fall Brawl at Hickory Motor Speedway.

One year later, Pressley is returning to Hickory for the 26th running of the Fall Brawl with lofty expectations.

“Honestly, it all came together because of the success we had last year,” said Pressley, who will drive for friend Travis Byrd again as he chases his second straight and third overall Fall Brawl victory. “At this point last year going into the race there was zero expectation. We weren’t telling anyone we were coming because, quite frankly, I wasn’t sure how I would be able to do.

“After we got the win last year, in Victory Lane, Travis was like, ‘Hey, let’s do it again next year.’ That’s kind of how it all started.”

RELATED: Watch Saturday’s Fall Brawl at Hickory live on FloRacing

Fall Brawl at Hickory Motor Speedway
Joey Logano (left) greets Coleman Pressley in Victory Lane after Pressley won the Fall Brawl at Hickory Motor Speedway on Nov. 12, 2022. (Photo: Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)

For those unfamiliar with Pressley: Long before he became a championship-winning spotter in the Cup Series with Logano, he was a Late Model Stock Car racer. He competed at tracks across the Southeast, winning multiple races and earning a few opportunities in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2009 and 2010 with teams like JTG Daugherty Racing and JR Motorsports.

However, opportunities ultimately dried up, and Pressley transitioned to working as a spotter. He previously worked with Brad Keselowski before becoming Logano’s spotter, which worked out perfectly since Pressley and Logano are the best of friends.

They’re such good friends that Logano, fresh off his 2022 NASCAR Cup Series championship one weekend prior, joined Pressley at Hickory last year and spotted for him in his return to competition.

“It was super special. Really, all of it in a week period, the biggest highlights of my life,” Pressley recalled. “Winning the Cup championship and doing so with Joey, who is my best friend, that was really special. Then to back it up the very next week going to Hickory and winning the race in front of my kids and to have my kids in Victory Lane.

“That honestly, to me, topped the Cup championship. It was honestly cool to see how excited Joey was. He’d just experienced one of the biggest nights of his life the week before the Fall Brawl last year, and in Victory Lane he was every bit as excited about that victory as he was the Cup championship. It’s cool to share those special moments with each other and share them alongside our family, as well.”

Coleman Pressley
Coleman Pressley pictured during the Fall Brawl at Hickory Motor Speedway on Nov. 12, 2022. (Photo: Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)

Last year at the Fall Brawl, luck was on Pressley’s side. Much of the race was dominated by Doug Barnes Jr. and Connor Hall, two drivers who went on to battle for the 2023 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Division I national championship.

However, when Barnes and Hall made contact and crashed battling for the lead, Pressley found himself battling regional competitor Charlie Watson for the top spot.

Pressley ultimately prevailed to earn his second Fall Brawl win, which made him just the second driver alongside Josh Berry to win the event multiple times.

Pressley this year returns to Hickory knowing expectations are higher for the defending winner. A strong field is once again expected for the final race of the year at Hickory. That includes Berry, who is scheduled to make his debut in Kevin Harvick’s No. 62.

“There is more pressure to perform this year,” Pressley said. “By no means were we the best car last year. We were the ones that were able to win the race. I feel I know a little bit more of what to expect getting back into the car. A little bit more of the feel I need to feel. We went and tested a couple weeks ago and kind of got reacclimated to the seat and tried to make ourselves be better for this year.

“In racing, everyone improves year-round, and if you’re not taking a step ahead, you’re falling behind.”

Pressley will be back in the same ride he had last year, so he knows exactly what the car can do. He also hopes Logano will once again join him at Hickory to serve as spotter as he chases a third victory in one of Hickory’s most prestigious events.

“I’m trying to convince him,” Pressley said. “It’s the first weekend of the offseason, and especially after not winning the championship, maybe the last place you want to be is the race track. But that’s the plan in place right now.

“I guess we’ll find out Saturday night if he’ll be able to make it.”

Posted on by Staff Report

NASCAR officials issued behavioral penalties Wednesday to Craftsman Truck Series driver Corey Heim for his actions in last weekend’s season-ending race at Phoenix Raceway.

Heim was fined $12,500 and docked 25 points in the Truck Series driver standings. The penalty falls under the heading of NASCAR Rule Book Sections 4.4.B & D, which refers to the NASCAR Member Code of Conduct.

MORE: 2024 Craftsman Truck Series schedule

Heim was involved in a pair of incidents during Friday night’s season finale, the first of which sent Heim’s No. 11 Tricon Garage Toyota spinning after a Lap 120 bump from the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet of fellow Championship 4 contender Carson Hocevar. Just 27 laps later, Heim’s truck made contact with Hocevar’s as the pair exited Turn 2.

Heim explained in post-race interviews that he had lost control of his damaged truck as Hocevar attempted to pass him. But NASCAR officials determined Wednesday that a review of the No. 11 team’s radio transmissions indicated that Heim had violated the member guidelines, specifically in three areas of the rule book:

  • Attempting to manipulate the outcome of the race or championship.
  • Wrecking or spinning another vehicle, whether or not that vehicle is removed from Competition as a result.
  • Any actions deemed to compromise the safety of an Event or otherwise pose a dangerous risk to the safety of Competitors, Officials, spectators, or others. 

Hocevar was sidelined by their second altercation and finished 29th in the 36-truck field. Heim, the pole-starter, continued and finished on the lead lap in 18th place.

Those results placed Heim third among the four title-eligible drivers, behind champion Ben Rhodes and 11 points clear of Hocevar. The points penalty, however, knocks Heim to fourth in the final Craftsman Truck Series standings behind Hocevar.

Posted on by Adam Fenwick

The 2023 Governor’s Cup at New Smyrna Speedway will wrap up a busy season of racing at the Florida oval that started in January. The event is annually one of the biggest Super Late Model events in the state of Florida each season.

The 58th running of the Governor’s Cup will once again be a two-day show headlined on Sunday, Nov. 12 by a 200-lap feature for Super Late Models. Other divisions in action throughout the weekend include Pro Late Models, Modifieds, Sportsman, Super Stocks, Trucks, 602 Modifieds and more. The winner of the Governor’s Cup 200 will take home a cool $15,000.

This year’s Governor’s Cup at New Smyrna Speedway begins Saturday, Nov. 11 and concludes on Sunday, Nov. 12. Feature racing on Saturday begins at 7:30 p.m. ET, and action will begin Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.

A live stream of the 2023 Governor’s Cup action will be available on FloRacing, the official streaming home of NASCAR Roots.

Below is everything to know about this year’s running of the Governor’s Cup at New Smyrna Speedway.

Governor's Cup at New Smyrna Speedway
Action during Night 7 of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing event at New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna, Florida on Feb. 17, 2023. (Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)

New Smyrna Governor’s Cup 2023 TV channel, live stream

Saturday’s Governor’s Cup at New Smryna Speedway will be shown exclusively on FloRacing, the official streaming home of NASCAR Roots.

The race will not be shown on a traditional TV channel; the live stream on FloRacing is the only viewing option.

FloRacing’s coverage is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday and 2 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Below is another look at how to watch New Smyrna’s 2023 Governor’s Cup on Saturday, Nov. 11 and Sunday, Nov. 12.

Date Race Streaming start time How to watch
Saturday, Nov. 11 New Smryna Speedway’s Governor’s Cup 7:30 p.m. ET FloRacing
Sunday, Nov. 12 New Smyrna Speedway’s Governor’s Cup 2 p.m. ET FloRacing

Schedule for the 2023 Governor’s Cup at New Smyrna Speedway

The loaded schedule for the 2023 Governor’s Cup at New Smyrna Speedway begins on Friday with an open practice and rolls right into Saturday and Sunday.

Teams interested can take part in an open practice Friday from 3-8 p.m. ET, followed by a driver welcome party at the New Smyrna Speedway Grandstand Bar.

Pit gates for Saturday’s action will open at 10 a.m. ET, with practice beginning at 1 p.m. ET and running through 4:45 p.m. ET. Qualifying on Saturday begins at 4:50 p.m. ET and feature racing at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Sunday pit gates open at 9 a.m. ET, followed by practice for the headlining Super Late Model division at 10:30 a.m. ET. Super Late Model teams will qualify at 1 p.m. ET, with feature racing scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET.

Below is the complete race-day schedule for Saturday and Sunday at New Smyrna.

  • Saturday, Nov. 11
10 a.m. Pits Open
10:30 a.m. Late Model Tech (By Appointment)
12:15 p.m. Drivers Meeting
1 – 2 p.m. Super Late Model Practice
2:05 – 2:35 p.m. Modified Practice
2:40 – 3:10 p.m. Pro Late Model Practice
3:15 – 3:35 p.m. Modified Practice
3:40 – 4:10 p.m. Pro Late Model Practice
4 p.m. Modified Pre-Qualifying Tech
4:15 – 4:45 p.m. Super Late Model Practice
4:30 p.m. Pro Late Model Tires Released
4:50 – 5:05 p.m. Trucks Practice/Group Qualifying
5 p.m. Pro Late Model Pre-Qualifying Tech
5:10 – 5:25 p.m. Super Stock Practice/Group Qualifying
5:30 – 5:45 p.m. Bomber A Practice/Group Qualifying
5:50 – 6:05 p.m. Bomber B Practice/Group Qualifying
6:10 p.m. Modified Qualifying
6:30 p.m. Pro Late Model Qualifying
7 – 7:10 p.m. Vintage Car Practice
7:20 p.m. Opening Ceremonies
7:30 p.m. Feature Racing Begins
  • Sunday, Nov. 12
9 a.m. Pits Open
9:45 a.m. Drivers Meeting
10:30 – 11 a.m. Super Late Model Practice
11 a.m. Super Late Model Qualifying Tires Released
11:05 – 11:25 a.m. Sportsman Practice/Group Qualifying
11:30 a.m. Super Late Model Qualifying Pre-Tech
11:30 – 11:45 a.m. 602 Modified Practice/Group Qualifying
11:50 a.m. – 12:05 p.m. Mod Mini Practice
12:10 – 12:25 p.m. E-Mod Practice/Group Qualifying
12:30 p.m. Mod Mini Qualifying
1 p.m. Super Late Model Qualifying
1:45 p.m. Opening Ceremonies
2 p.m. Feature Racing Begins
Governor's Cup at New Smyrna Speedway
William Byron in Victory Lane during night 4 of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing event at New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach, Florida on February 13, 2023. (Photo: Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)

Entry list

The official entry list for Sunday’s 200-lap Super Late Model race features one very familiar name: NASCAR Cup Series star William Byron.

Byron is no stranger to New Smyrna Speedway. In fact, dating back to 2022, Byron has won his last four starts at the half-mile asphalt oval in Super Late Model competition. All of those victories came during the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, which is held every February during the lead up to the Daytona 500 at nearby Daytona International Speedway.

He’ll be faced with several stronger challengers looking to keep Byron from winning five straight races at New Smyrna. They include reigning ARCA Menards Series champion Jesse Love, who will be making one of his final starts as a Toyota driver before moving to Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Xfinity Series program in 2024.

Veteran Super Late Model competitor Stephan Nasse will look to claim his first victory in the Governor’s Cup, while Gio Ruggiero, the champion of the ASA Southern Super Series and ASA/CRA Super Series this year, will try to add another feature to his cap.

Car No. Driver Home
8 A.J. Waller Floral City, FL
8 Jonathan Knee Fort Collins, CO
9 Brad May Oviedo, FL
10 George Gorham Winter Haven, FL
10F Ross Francisco Lakeland, FL
13 Wes Burton Chiefland, FL
20 Anthony Sergi Oviedo, FL
20 Jesse Love Mooresville, NC
22 Gio Ruggiero Seekonk, MA
22 Ryan Herbert Gainsville, GA
24 William Byron Charlotte, NC
27 Bobby Good Lake Mary, FL
30 Jesse Dutilly Bradenton, FL
33 Daniel Webster Brooksville, FL
51 Stephen Nasse Pinellas Park, FL
54 Conner Sutton Pensacola, FL
55 Michael Atwell Naples, FL
55 Richard Elkins Auburndale, FL
56 Robert Ford Lake City, FL
58 Michael Goddard Ft. Myers, FL
58 Johnny Aramendia New Braunfels, TX
75 Bryton Horner Tampa, FL
78 John Coffman Live Oak, FL
97 Terry McMahan Chesnee, SC
Governer's Cup at New Smyrna Speedway
Action during night 9 of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing event at New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna, Florida on February 18, 2023. (Photo: Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)

Previous winners

The Florida Governor’s Cup has a long and prestigious history at a variety of tracks in the state of Florida. The event was first held at Golden Gate Speedway in Tampa, Florida, in 1965. Showtime Speedway in Pinellas Park, Florida, hosted the Governor’s Cup several times starting in 1979. Finally, the event was moved to New Smyrna Speedway in 1988 and has been held there ever since.

Some of Florida’s best Super Late Model competitors have won the event, as have some of the disciplines greatest names. They include inaugural winner Wayne Reutimann, Dick Trickle, Gary Balough, Ed Howe, Butch Miller, Bobby Gill, Pete Orr and David Rogers.

Current NASCAR stars like Erik Jones, Ty Majeski and Sammy Smith are among the drivers to grace Victory Lane during the event in recent years.

The 2022 edition was canceled due to Hurricane Ian. Smith is the most recent winner of the event in 2021.

Year Track Winner
1965 Golden Gate Speedway Wayne Reutimann
1966 Golden Gate Speedway Bobby Brack
1967 Golden Gate Speedway Dumont Smith
1968 Golden Gate Speedway Gary Balough
1969 Golden Gate Speedway Robert Hamke
1970 Golden Gate Speedway Don Gregory
1971 Golden Gate Speedway Jack Arnold
1972 Golden Gate Speedway Ed Howe
1973 Golden Gate Speedway Wayne Reutimann
1974 Golden Gate Speedway Ed Howe
1975 Golden Gate Speedway Ed Howe
1976 Golden Gate Speedway Ed Howe
1977 Golden Gate Speedway Robert Hamke
1978 Golden Gate Speedway Dick Trickle
1979 Showtime Speedway Jim Fenton
1980 N/A Not Held
1981 Golden Gate Speedway Mike Eddy
1982 Golden Gate Speedway Jimmy Cope
1983 Golden Gate Speedway Leroy Porter
1984 Showtime Speedway Butch Miller
1985 Showtime Speedway Butch Miller
1986 Showtime Speedway Butch Miller
1987 Showtime Speedway Butch Miller
1988 New Smyrna Speedway Dick Anderson
1989 New Smyrna Speedway Dick Anderson
1990 New Smyrna Speedway Bobby Gill
1991 New Smyrna Speedway Bobby Gill
1992 New Smyrna Speedway Bobby Gill
1993 New Smyrna Speedway Pete Orr
1994 New Smyrna Speedway Pete Orr
1995 New Smyrna Speedway David Russell
1996 New Smyrna Speedway Jack Cook
1997 New Smyrna Speedway David Rogers
1998 New Smyrna Speedway Billy Bigley Jr.
1999 New Smyrna Speedway Wayne Anderson
2000 New Smyrna Speedway Jimmy Cope
2001 New Smyrna Speedway James Powell III
2002 New Smyrna Speedway Mike Fritts
2003 New Smyrna Speedway Wayne Anderson
2004 New Smyrna Speedway Jeff Choquette
2005 New Smyrna Speedway Mike Fritts
2006 New Smyrna Speedway Jeff Scofield
2007 New Smyrna Speedway Jeff Choquette
2008 New Smyrna Speedway Wayne Anderson
2009 New Smyrna Speedway Tim Russell
2010 New Smyrna Speedway David Rogers
2011 New Smyrna Speedway Erik Jones
2012 New Smyrna Speedway Augie Grill
2013 New Smyrna Speedway Augie Grill
2014 New Smyrna Speedway Travis Cope
2015 New Smyrna Speedway Ty Majeski
2016 New Smyrna Speedway Ty Majeski
2017 New Smyrna Speedway Ty Majeski
2018 New Smyrna Speedway Jeff Choquette
2019 New Smyrna Speedway Matt Craig
2020 New Smyrna Speedway Bubba Pollard
2021 New Smyrna Speedway Sammy Smith
2022 N/A Not Held
Posted on by Brandon White

Kaden Honeycutt is willing to do whatever it takes to keep alive his dream of one day racing in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Even if that means traveling across the country to run four races in two days.

In the busiest weekend of his young career to date, Honeycutt competed in both the ARCA Menards Series West and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series finales at Phoenix Raceway on Friday before heading to North Carolina to participate in Pro Late Model and Late Model Stock events at Caraway Speedway the following afternoon.

Honeycutt’s efforts resulted in a West Series owner’s title for Steve McGowan, a career-best finish in the Truck Series, a Pro Late Model victory and a top 10 in the Late Model Stock race after starting at the rear of the field.

Running four races in two days on two coasts finally took a toll on Honeycutt when he climbed out of his Late Model Stock, but he was proud of everything he accomplished across the grueling schedule.

“I was not very good after the Late Model Stock race,” Honeycutt said. “As soon as I was finished, I was definitely tired. Everything hit me all at once, but I went home, went to bed and got right back up at 8 a.m. It was tiring but very well worth it.”

Kaden Honeycutt secured the ARCA Menards Series West title for MMI Racing by winning two of the last four races with the organization. (Photo: Zac BonDurant/ARCA Racing)

The idea of such a marathon weekend never crossed Honeycutt’s mind when he initially planned out a busy 2023 that would include races on both dirt and paved tracks.

Everything was put into motion when Honeycutt was contacted by MMI Racing about finishing out the final four events on the West Series calendar following the departure of Landen Lewis. Having worked with MMI Racing co-owner Bruce Cook in the Truck Series earlier in 2023, Honeycutt expected solid results from the first race.

What followed was an efficient stretch that saw Honeycutt win twice and lead a combined 296 of 300 possible laps in those victories. A ninth-place finish in the West Series finale at Phoenix was all Honeycutt needed to secure MMI Racing the owner’s title over Venturini Motorsports, which he obtained after overcoming a flat tire earlier in the day.

Previous experience on the ARCA platform and paved short tracks made the quick transition into the West Series much smoother for Honeycutt, but he considers himself fortunate just to have the opportunity to help MMI Racing reach a pivotal milestone as an organization.

“In the 17 years Steve McGowan has been racing, that was his first ever championship as an owner,” Honeycutt said. “That was really cool, and I’d love to do some more starts for him next year. We’ll see what the future holds, but we did what we were supposed to do, and we’ll keep moving forward.”

Kaden Honeycutt
Kaden Honeycutt qualifies for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Craftsman 150 at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 03, 2023. (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Honeycutt could only celebrate the West Series owner’s title with McGowan and Cook for so long, as he had to climb into the No. 02 for Young’s Motorsports for the Truck Series finale that same evening.

Through an eventful final 50 laps that saw title contenders get into each other and four overtime attempts, Honeycutt rebounded from falling a lap down early in the first stage to establish himself inside the top five with an opportunity at obtaining an upset victory.

Rather than interfere with the championship battle and risk tearing up his truck, Honeycutt played the final restart of the night safe and was rewarded with an eighth-place finish, eclipsing his career-best Truck Series run of ninth at Phoenix the previous year.

“I thought I was going to be able to win the dang race,” Honeycutt said. “Unfortunately, that didn’t work out. I told my spotter Reed Sorenson that we just had to finish that race off without getting crashed. We gave way to Ben [Rhodes] and a couple others to keep our finish intact, and we capped it off with another top 10 [in 2023] with Young’s Motorsports.”

Once Honeycutt decompressed after a stressful finish to the Truck Series finale, he took a red-eye flight to North Carolina for his two races at Caraway, only getting about three hours of sleep in the process.

With a relatively quick turnaround between racing on two different coasts and adjusting to the time zone changes, the only thing Honeycutt did to prepare for Caraway while on the flight was bolster his physical stamina ahead of 225 more laps of competition.

“You have to get yourself hydrated again and put some food in your body way before the race and let it settle,” Honeycutt said. “There was nothing special I did, but I wanted to make sure I had some energy to burn off during the race.”

Honeycutt arrived at Caraway at 11 a.m. ET on Saturday morning, roughly 10 hours after the Truck Series checkered flag at Phoenix and two hours before the start of the Pro Late Model feature. Although he got in limited practice at Caraway earlier in the week, missing time trials on Friday meant Honeycutt would have to come from the rear in both events.

Whatever fatigue Honeycutt was dealing with did not manifest when the first green flag waved. He climbed from 13th to first in 60 laps to win the Pro Late Model feature before settling for sixth in the Late Model Stock race after starting in 25th.

Despite being physically and mentally exhausted at the end of his fourth and final race, Honeycutt enjoyed every moment out on track and hopes the consistency he displayed between four different disciplines showcased how versatile he can be behind the wheel.

“Being able to succeed in four different series is definitely a good thing,” Honeycutt said. “You always have to find a way to adapt in any situation you’re in. We had to get up to speed right away because there wasn’t any time to mess around. Thankfully we did that and managed to have a good weekend.”

With his eyes set on the future, Kaden Honeycutt is ready to take any available opportunity to keep his racing dreams alive. (Photo: Nick Oxford/NASCAR)

With everything he accomplished from his coast-to-coast marathon, Honeycutt remains optimistic about landing a full-time ride somewhere in 2024.

As he continues to search for the proper funding to obtain that goal, Honeycutt knows the best way to market himself is to capitalize on all available opportunities, which he said was the point of running four different races in such a short amount of time.

Honeycutt took great pride in what he achieved at both Phoenix and Caraway. The journey may have been demanding, but it only served to reinforce the confidence Honeycutt has always possessed with his driving ability.

“Everything went about as good as it could have gone,” Honeycutt said. “This was such a cool deal, and we really wanted to make something special out of it. It’s very fortunate we were able to make this weekend happen, and it ended up being a cool story.

“Hopefully we can do more stuff like this in the future.”

Honeycutt’s plans for next season are currently uncertain, but he is determined to keep proving himself so he can chart his own sustainable path towards the top levels of NASCAR.

Posted on by Adam Fenwick

The NASCAR national series season may be over, but that doesn’t mean Josh Berry is slowing down.

On the contrary, the 33-year-old’s schedule is about to ramp up.

Berry, who will join Stewart-Haas Racing’s NASCAR Cup Series program in 2024 to pilot the No. 4 Ford Mustang following Kevin Harvick’s retirement, is scheduled to compete in three marquee Late Model Stock Car events over the next three weeks.

He’ll do so aboard the No. 62 Late Model Stock Car owned by Kevin Harvick and built by crew chief Rodney Childers. The car debuted earlier this year at North Wilkesboro Speedway with Harvick behind the wheel; it was later driven by 2022 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series national champion Layne Riggs.

“Early on, the conversations with Kevin and Rodney and the No. 4 car and all that, we kind of always talked about doing this,” Berry said. “We had really, between us three, set out to do some races at the end of the year. Just kind of go racing together was really our plan.

“Kevin is restarting KHI with the Late Model program, and this is a way for me to be a part of that early on and build a relationship.”

RELATED: How to watch Berry race at Hickory this weekend

Josh Berry in Victory Lane after winning the Late Model Stock portion of the Jack Ingram Memorial at North Carolina’s Hickory Motor Speedway on June 11, 2022. (Photo: Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)

Berry’s busy three-week schedule includes trips to Hickory Motor Speedway, Florence Motor Speedway and Southern National Motorsports Park, all venues at which he won during his lengthy tenure with JR Motorsports.

His first stop will be Hickory this Saturday, when he’ll compete in the annual 200-lap Fall Brawl. He’ll then head to Florence to compete in the South Carolina 400 before ending his stretch at Southern National for the Thanksgiving Classic.

Before even agreeing to run these events in Harvick’s Late Model, Berry said he called his former team owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and JR Motorsports executive L.W. Miller to get their blessing.

“Point blank, I called Dale and L.W. and asked for permission to do it and made sure they were OK with it,” Berry said. “The last thing I wanted to do was rub anybody the wrong way. They were good with me going and doing this.

“I think that it’s just fun. I’ve been hanging around the shop some, working on the car some. It’s just fun to do that.”

Of the three tracks on his schedule this month, Hickory is the track with which Berry is most familiar. He won a track championship at Hickory in 2014 and is a four-time winner of the Fall Brawl.

Berry explained that Hickory wasn’t originally on the list of events he and the No. 62 team planned to enter this month, but they found themselves ready to race sooner than expected.

“Really we didn’t set out necessarily to go to Hickory,” Berry explained. “We went and tested, and it went really well. We kind of felt like we were to the point where to learn and to build and kind of continue our progress, we really felt like we were ready to race. That’s why we decided to go there.

“Obviously my experience at Hickory I think is really going to be of value. It’s really cool because Rodney is a past winner of the Fall Brawl, too. We’re excited to go do it.”

RELATED: Watch the South Carolina 400 on FloRacing

The South Carolina 400, scheduled for Nov. 18, presents a unique opportunity for Berry. The event will mark the first time Berry has raced a Late Model against Earnhardt. Previously, anytime Earnhardt would race a Late Model, Berry would step out of his race car to serve as Earnhardt’s crew chief.

Now the two, who have raced against each other a few times in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in recent years, will share the track during a Late Model race for the first time.

Coincidently, the South Carolina 400 is one of the few Late Model Stock Car events that Berry has never won.

Layne Riggs, driver of the No. 62 Kevin Harvick Inc. Late Model, during practice prior to the CARS Tour Autos By Nelson 225 at South Boston Speedway on Oct. 7, 2023 in South Boston, Virginia. (Susan Wong/NASCAR)

“Each time that (Earnhardt) raced, I assumed the responsibility of taking him racing,” Berry said. “When I said I had to ask for permission, I wanted to at least have that conversation with him. He understood where I was at.

“It’s going to be fun. I know (Dale is) excited. Dale and Kevin both, they have a ton of love for Late Model racing and short-track racing and want to support it. I’m excited to get there and do that. That’s actually a race that I haven’t won, so that would be fun to check that off.”

Last on the docket is the Thanksgiving Classic at Southern National, which is scheduled for Nov. 26. Berry returns to the event as the two-time and defending winner after capturing the checkered flag in the last two editions of the race in 2021 and ’22.

Strangely enough, because of his success the last two years at Southern National, this is the race that brings Berry is the most nerves.

“With my time at JRM, we’ve won the last two Thanksgiving Classics, and we had phenomenal cars going there,” Berry said. “I know I’ve got my work cut out for me to match the success we had there.”

Berry hopes to put together three competitive runs aboard the No. 62 for Harvick and Childers as the group looks to rebuild Kevin Harvick Inc. from the ground up. However, the primary goal for the next three weeks is for Berry to return to his roots, go short-track racing and, most importantly, have fun.

Anything beyond that would be a wonderful bonus.

“Our expectations are to go enjoy it and get better each week,” said Berry, who added he hopes to run as many as six races in Harvick’s Late Model in 2024. “We’re going to Late Model race together a long time, I feel like, so I don’t necessarily feel like all three of these have to be home runs.”