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.”

Posted on by Cara Cooper

Bryan Barber started racing late models at Alaska Raceway Park in 2020. That year, he finished second in the division standings.

He finished second in the standings again in 2021 … and again in 2022.

Barber admits it took some time to get used to late models. Learning how to drive wasn’t too hard, but figuring out how to set the car up was much more difficult.

“I wasn’t worried about driving; I can figure that out pretty quickly. It’s just the setup,” Barber said. “It’s a little more sensitive on the setup. Every time I change something it’d go haywire on me. So once I learned that, that’s when the car started getting faster.”

Barber seemed to have it all figured out this season at Alaska Raceway Park, a NASCAR Home Track in Palmer, Alaska. He won four of five features on the way to a commanding win in the track’s late model division.

The No. 88 car won by 20 points over the second-place finisher.

(Photo courtesy of Bryan Barber)

“I learned a lot. I got faster every week,” Barber said. “I was more focused on being more consistent from week to week instead of, like, worried about the win. That way I wasn’t overthinking and putting too much pressure on myself. Because of me just being able to focus on my time and my consistency it allowed me to win all of my main events except for one… I was pretty happy about that.”

The championship was Barber’s fourth since he started racing when he was 15. He won three titles racing Legends cars on dirt.

Barber began racing in 2006, and he raced Legends on dirt for eight years before moving to ARP in 2017. He spent three years in the track’s Legends class until he was presented with the chance to buy a late model.

He made the switch because he was ready for a new challenge.

“Don’t get me wrong, some of the Legends cars drivers are really good, but I needed something a little more challenging, something completely new that I had never done before,” he said.

Barber does all the setup and work in the shop himself with his grandfather, Dave Petrie, serving as his crew chief. His grandmother, Linda Petrie, and his girlfriend also go to the track with him every week and provide help in the pits.

His grandparents were the people who got Barber racing from the start. The Petries have long been race supporters and fans, and Dave Petrie raced snow machines until Barber was a young kid.

Barber was also headed toward racing on snow, but said, “My grandma felt it was safer to put me in a roll cage, so they bought me my first race car, and the three of us have been doing it ever since.”

Getting to work with his grandparents each week is a big part of what keeps Barber racing.

“I’d have to say, honestly, it’s probably the adrenaline that really keeps me in it. I really enjoy that thrill of going really fast and being able to pass cars,” he said. “But, ultimately, I think the thing that keeps me in it is me and my grandparents are, like, this team. They support me as much as they do, so it keeps me motivated to want to keep pursuing it and get better.

“All my wins are for them, so that’s what I do. I just kind of focus on doing it because it’s a team effort, and I don’t want to change that. I don’t know what I’d do if we stopped racing or were without them.”

(Photo courtesy of Bryan Barber)

Barber had this year’s title basically locked up before the final race of the season. All he needed to do was start and finish the final race. That made championship night much easier than any he’d ever had before.

“I used to be really bad on always overthinking points, and when I had confidence in my abilities I stopped doing that,” he said. “The last three years… I put a lot of pressure on myself in the last race of the year trying to get enough points to win the championship. That’s when my mistakes would happen on the last few laps to where I wouldn’t get that championship.

“This year I felt confident… It doesn’t matter if I win, get second, third, fifth. As long as I finish I get the championship. That’s what made my night was just the fact that I knew I had that locked down.”

Getting to celebrate a championship made all those second-place finishes worth it.

“It absolutely does,” he said. “I put everything I had into learning the late model class, how to drive it, how to set it up. To finally pull it off, I think the day that I won it I was more calm. I didn’t believe it fully yet… Then the next day I was, like, in shock that I won, and I was just like, ‘OK, now I’ve got to get myself together and focus on next year.'”

Barber has already begun trying to get parts together to prepare his car for next season. He said he wanted to get preparations done early, and he’s a little excited to defend his title.

There’s one thing he’ll take into 2024 that he gained this summer – confidence.

“I had a lot more confidence going into this year,” Barber said. “I’m just now to the point to where I understand the car. I have confidence in my driving ability, knowing that I can compete and win races. Me being confident in myself, in my crew, I just don’t put that pressure on myself and I just go out there and do what I do best, and that’s just go out there and perform and put on a good race, and walk away with wins.”

Posted on by Staff Report

Voting for the 2023 National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Most Popular Driver Award presented by Hooters opened Tuesday at noon ET and will run until Wednesday, Nov. 29.

Fans can vote for a single driver once daily at on NASCAR.com or on the mobile app.

In order to be eligible for consideration, drivers must have declared NASCAR Cup Series points and be eligible for championship contention during the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Don’t forget to also vote for Most Popular Driver of the Xfinity Series and Most Popular Driver of the Craftsman Truck Series.

RELATED: Cup Series standings | List of 2023 Cup Series drivers

The 2023 NMPA Most Popular Driver will be announced during the NASCAR Awards banquet on Thursday, Nov. 30.

Curtis Turner was the first driver honored with the award back in 1949, and the prize has been presented annually since the 1983 season. The Most Popular Driver award remains the only major NASCAR award that is determined solely by fans.

Twenty drivers have received the award since the program began. The 1988 Cup Series champion Bill Elliott holds the record for Most Popular Driver Award wins with 16 — 1984-88, 1991-2000 and 2002. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the award for 15 consecutive seasons (2003-2017).

Currently, Chase Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports is building a winning streak being voted NASCAR’s most popular driver in each of the last five seasons (2018-22).

RELATED: Every NMPA MPD Award winner

Formed in 1965, the National Motorsports Press Association consists of qualified members of the media who report on the sport of auto racing through affiliations with print, radio, television and/or Internet news-gathering organizations. In addition to the NMPA Most Popular Driver Award, the NMPA presents an array of significant honors in auto racing, including the Richard Petty Driver of the Year Award, the Myers Brothers Award, the NMPA Pocono Spirit Award and the Wood Brothers Award of Excellence.

Additional information about the NMPA can be found at nmpaonline.com.

Posted on by Brandon White

As Ryan Blaney rounded the final turn at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday to clinch his first NASCAR Cup Series championship, nobody was cheering harder than the Deery family.

Situated on the C-Posts of Blaney’s No. 12 Menards Ford Mustang during the title race was the name of the late Jody Deery, the family matriarch who operated Illinois’ Rockford Speedway for more than five decades until she retired in 2020 at age 95.

Chuck Deery, who followed in his mother’s footsteps as a track manager himself at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway for 36 years, messaged his seven siblings before the race to discuss the significance of Jody’s name being on Blaney’s car for such a pivotal moment in his career.

There were plenty of emotions permeating from the Deery children as they all contacted each other after the race.

“My cheeks hurt because I was smiling so much,” Chuck said. “For what my mom contributed to the sport, it’s hard to put into words what [Sunday] meant, but we’re definitely on cloud nine. Having a horse in the race was also good, so it was just fun.”

Ryan Blaney
(Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Jody’s name was on Blaney’s C-Posts as part of the Home Track Heroes program spearheaded by Advance Auto Parts. Throughout the 2023 Cup Series Playoffs, Home Track Heroes, nominated by their peers for contributions made to the track and community, appeared on Blaney’s cars.

Jody more than embodied the characteristics of a Home Track Hero during her prolonged tenure overseeing the day-to-day operations at Rockford.

After assuming ownership of the facility in 1966, Jody and her late husband Hugh worked tirelessly to transform Rockford into a premier short track hub in the Midwest. Even after Hugh’s passing in 1984, Jody remained stalwart in their mission, as Rockford boasted a vibrant weekly racing culture that persisted up until the track’s final race weekend on Oct. 28-29.

Rockford’s National Short Track Championships, which were introduced the same year Jody and Hugh took over the facility, regularly attracted many of the best drivers around the country. Mark Martin, Dick Trickle, Jim Sauter and Ramo Stott were among those to emerge victorious in the prestigious event.

Away from the track, Jody was known for her generosity and desire to help others in need. As part of her will, 16 different organizations received $20,000 from Jody, which included the Catholic Women’s League of Rockford, American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association.

Susan Deery, who served as Rockford’s president in the track’s final years, said her mother’s charitable work was the catalyst behind her and Chuck nominating Jody for the Home Track Heroes program. Jody was always Susan’s hero from childhood into her adult years and was thrilled when she found out Jody’s name would be on the No. 12 for Phoenix.

The notoriety Jody obtained from Blaney’s championship showed Susan just how beloved her mother was not only in Rockford, but also the broader motorsports community.

“[Jody] is a legend,” Susan said. “Sometimes when you’re in the middle of everything, you don’t realize the significance a person can have. People who don’t even watch racing were messaging me to say how excited they were. The amount of conversation she generated [on Sunday] a year and a half after she passed proves she is a hometown hero.”

Although Susan never communicated directly with Blaney during the process, she expressed her gratitude toward the Cup Series champion and Advance Auto Parts for everything they have done this year to ensure people in the short track industry like Jody get the recognition they deserve on the national level.

For Tom Deery, whose experience in motorsports includes executive roles with NASCAR and the World of Outlaws, Sunday’s Cup Series finale carried additional emotional weight outside of his mother Jody due to his previous connections with Blaney’s father Dave and his uncle Dale.

Knowing how talented the elder Blaneys were, Tom felt that Jody would be in good hands when it came time to settle the Cup Series championship.

“I’ve known Ryan for years being on the World of Outlaws side,” Tom said. “Dave, Dale and I have talked about family and their operation of Sharon Speedway, so we had a lot of things in common. Ryan comes from a great legacy that is so involved with short track racing, so for him to make this happen is frosting on the cake.”

Blaney’s triumph on Sunday capped off a year filled with mixed emotions for the entire Deery family, all of whom have had to come to terms with Rockford’s closure after a successful legacy that is older than NASCAR itself.

Despite this, Susan found some solace in how everything turned out Sunday. While Blaney fought off Kyle Larson and William Byron for the championship, she was busy overseeing the final event at Rockford, a car show and a swap meet.

The ending may have been unorthodox, but Susan considered it fitting that one of Rockford’s final moments was having its beloved long-time operator Jody be present in spirit while a key member of NASCAR’s newest generation celebrated a pivotal career milestone.

“We had this happening while NASCAR wrapped up its 75th season with Jody taking [Blaney] to his championship,” Susan said. “It was just a perfect day and a perfect evening, which is something I think everyone will remember. You couldn’t have written it any better.”

As Rockford faces imminent redevelopment, every member of the Deery family is doing their part to ensure the legacy of the track and Jody are remembered for generations to come.

Chuck said Jody was a trailblazer in many regards when it comes to building a cherished short track atmosphere as an owner and operator. As more women take on similar roles at short tracks around the country, Chuck has no concerns about what kind of impact Jody has left behind.

“A woman in the business can make it work successfully,” Chuck said. “Jody gave women in motorsports inspiration to show that it’s not just a man’s world out there. For the entire racing community, she showed how to operate a short track successfully through hard work.

“Jody led by example as a woman leader in this industry.”

Posted on by Zach Sturniolo

AVONDALE, Ariz. – Ryan Blaney is no stranger to screen time, with cameos across hit movies to television series.

But never has he stood on a stage as grand as he did Sunday night at Phoenix Raceway, hoisting the Bill France Cup as the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Champion.

The 29-year-old offered the best performance of his career in the Arizona desert when the moment mattered most. Vocal frustration about his competitors rang through his radio waves. Physical gestures – with both hand and car – shared the sentiment. But the climax of Sunday’s made-for-Hollywood movie was set through a phenomenal battle with Kyle Larson, one of motorsports’ best, going door-to-door and trading positions lap after lap with stock-car glory at their fingertips.

RELATED: Blaney gets hot at right time to win title | Race results

And when the checkered flag fell, no star was shining quite as brightly as Blaney.

“I think his limits are the sky, to be honest with you,” team owner Roger Penske said. “He gets in that class with (former IndyCar driver Rick) Mears. He’s a soft-spoken guy, really, but when he gets behind the wheel, like Joey (Logano), when he puts his hat on, don’t get in his way. I think he showed that today.”

“He’s only getting better and better. He’s got the confidence. He’s a leader. He’s a winner and a champion. Once you have that — it’s so hard to get there. I don’t think any of us realize him personally in the last 20 or 30 laps when he had to pass a couple of guys to get the championship; that shows his true mettle. He’s got a long way to go, a long way.”

The spotlight is not new for Blaney, who has appeared in guest roles in silver-screen hits like “Logan Lucky” and “Cars 3” in addition to television shows like “Taken,” “Magnum P.I.” and Netflix sitcom “The Crew.”

That stems from a continuation of decisions he has made previously to grow his brand while also growing NASCAR. A championship may provide more potential to do more of both.

“I’m excited to have those opportunities. I really look forward to facing them head-on,” Blaney said. “I feel like if you get the privilege to be a champion of your sport, it is part of your job to promote your sport and do the best you can to be the best champion that you can.”

“I’ll be honest with you; that’s a responsibility I really haven’t thought about yet. I think that’s going to kind of dawn on me in the following days. I think it’s part of your job to kind of, hey, embrace it, push the sport. You have this awesome platform now to where you’ve done something incredible; use that, promote the sport.”

“I’m excited to see what happens this offseason, see what comes up, to where you’re not only growing yourself, you are growing the sport of NASCAR as well. Someone asked me earlier (about) the Netflix deal that’s happening right now. I’ve worked with them a lot through the playoffs. They’ve got a lot of inside stuff. I think that’s another big thing of promoting the sport in a positive way to a certain audience or a brand-new audience.”

MORE: Blaney bumps Chastain in pursuit of lead | Blaney: ‘(Expletive) right, I hit him on purpose’

Blaney and a number of his contemporaries – Larson, William Byron, Chase Elliott, Bubba Wallace and Chris Buescher, among others – were part of the sport’s concentrated push to bring younger faces to the forefront some five years ago, with superstars like Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and other legends who retired in the span of a couple of years.

It was early in each driver’s Cup career, unproven yet at the sport’s highest levels despite varying levels of high-powered success in prior racing ventures.

“Some guys got a little hurt about that,” Blaney reflected Sunday.

Circumstances have proven those premonitions correct. Blaney, Larson and Elliott have combined to win three of the last four NASCAR Cup Series championships, dating back to Elliott’s triumph in 2020. Byron joined Blaney, Larson and 28-year-old Christopher Bell in the Championship 4. Buescher and Wallace both fought into the playoffs this season, with Buescher advancing to the Round of 8 and Wallace to the Round of 12.

In five years’ time, their potential is being realized under the brightest of lights, highlighted now by Blaney’s championship.

“It’s nice that these younger drivers, the newer guys, are succeeding in their own way and being able to have championships and wins,” Blaney said. “For a fan base to grow up with that driver in their mid- or late-20s, it’s something I think people can latch onto.”

“Obviously, now it’s easy for me to look back at that marketing campaign; they knew what they were doing (smiling). But you never know how it’s going to work.”

Turns out it’s working quite well.

The oldest of the last three champions is Logano, Blaney’s 33-year-old Team Penske teammate who claimed his second Cup title a season ago. Blaney is 29, Larson 31 and Elliott 27.

What’s next is to see whether Blaney can transcend the NASCAR space as few others before him have, like Earnhardt Jr. and Gordon. Elliott is the five-time defending Most Popular Driver, but can Blaney’s hot hand translate to more screen time? Only time can tell — but optimism is high after Championship No. 1.

Posted on by Staff Report

The all-time list of NASCAR Cup Series champions starts with Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson, all of whom have seven career championships. It is an exclusive club of just 36 total drivers who have won a championship at NASCAR’s top level.

Below is the list of all-time champions in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Last update: Following 2023 season

YearChampionManufacturerWinsMargin of Victory
2023Ryan BlaneyFord31
2022Joey Logano (2)Ford45
2021Kyle LarsonChevrolet105
2020Chase ElliottChevrolet55
2019Kyle Busch (2)Toyota55
2018Joey LoganoFord35
2017Martin Truex Jr.Toyota85
2016Jimmie Johnson (7)Chevrolet53
2015Kyle BuschToyota51
2014Kevin HarvickChevrolet51
2013Jimmie Johnson (6)Chevrolet619
2012Brad KeselowskiDodge539
2011Tony Stewart (3)Chevrolet50*
2010Jimmie Johnson (5)Chevrolet639
2009Jimmie Johnson (4)Chevrolet7141
2008Jimmie Johnson (3)Chevrolet769
2007Jimmie Johnson (2)Chevrolet1077
2006Jimmie JohnsonChevrolet556
2005Tony Stewart (2)Chevrolet535
2004Kurt BuschFord38
2003Matt KensethFord190
2002Tony StewartPontiac338
2001Jeff Gordon (4)Chevrolet6349
2000Bobby LabontePontiac4265
1999Dale JarrettFord4201
1998Jeff Gordon (3)Chevrolet13364
1997Jeff Gordon (2)Chevrolet1014
1996Terry Labonte (2)Chevrolet237
1995Jeff GordonChevrolet734
1994Dale Earnhardt (7)Chevrolet4444
1993Dale Earnhardt (6)Chevrolet680
1992Alan KulwickiFord210
1991Dale Earnhardt (5)Chevrolet4195
1990Dale Earnhardt (4)Chevrolet926
1989Rusty WallacePontiac612
1988Bill ElliottFord624
1987Dale Earnhardt (3)Chevrolet11489
1986Dale Earnhardt (2)Chevrolet5288
1985Darrell Waltrip (3)Chevrolet3101
1984Terry LabonteChevrolet265
1983Bobby AllisonBuick647
1982Darrell Waltrip (2)Buick1272
1981Darrell WaltripBuick1253
1980Dale EarnhardtChevrolet519
1979Richard Petty (7)Chevrolet511
1978Cale Yarborough (3)Oldsmobile10474
1977Cale Yarborough (2)Chevrolet9386
1976Cale YarboroughChevrolet9195
1975Richard Petty (6)Dodge13722
1974Richard Petty (5)Dodge10567.45
1973Benny ParsonsChevrolet167.15
1972Richard Petty (4)Plymouth8127.9
1971Richard Petty (3)Plymouth21364
1970Bobby IsaacDodge1151
1969David Pearson (3)Ford11357
1968David Pearson (2)Ford16126
1967Richard Petty (2)Plymouth276028
1966David PearsonDodge141950
1965Ned Jarrett (2)Ford133034
1964Richard PettyPlymouth95302
1963Joe Weatherly (2)Pontiac32228
1962Joe WeatherlyPontiac92396
1961Ned JarrettChevrolet1830
1960Rex WhiteChevrolet63936
1959Lee Petty (3)Plymouth101830
1958Lee Petty (2)Oldsmobile7644
1957Buck Baker (2)Chevrolet10760
1956Buck BakerChrysler14686
1955Tim Flock (2)Chrysler18508
1954Lee PettyChrysler7283
1953Herb Thomas (2)Hudson11646
1952Tim FlockHudson8106
1951Herb ThomasHudson7146.2
1950Bill RexfordOldsmobile1110.5
1949Red ByronOldsmobile2117.5

* Won the championship based on tiebreaker for wins – five vs. Carl Edwards’ one.