HICKORY, N.C. – Kade Brown accomplished a lot of firsts this season at Hickory Motor Speedway.
He won his first track championship at the 0.363-mile oval, he won the Bobby Isaac Memorial for the first time and on Saturday night, he won the 200-lap Fall Brawl season finale for the first time.
Racing against a strong field that included rising NASCAR Cup Series driver and former track champion Josh Berry, defending Fall Brawl winner Coleman Pressley and 2023 ARCA Menards Series race winner Connor Mosack, Brown more than held his own.
He started on the outside of the front row alongside Berry, who was making his debut in Kevin Harvick’s No. 62 Late Model with Rodney Childers serving as crew chief.
Brown assumed command of the event as soon as the green flag waved, taking the lead from Berry on the outside. Brown would go on to dominate the event, leading all 200 laps on his way to a statement victory to close out his 2023 Hickory Motor Speedway campaign.
“Last year we came to this race and I think we qualified like third to last and then we ended up sixth, just staying alive,” Brown said. “To qualify on the front row and especially beat some of these guys like Berry, it means so much. I feel like we had a really good car all day and we were able to finish it off.”
Connor Zilisch finished second behind Brown, with Berry crossing the finish line third. Ryan Millington and Taylor Satterfield completed the top-five.
Brown’s focus now shifts to the next major Late Model Stock Car event in the Carolinas, the South Carolina 400 at Florence Motor Speedway. The event takes place next Saturday, Nov. 18 and will be available live exclusively on FloRacing.
Half of Hendrick Motorsports advanced to the Championship 4 to contend for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series title.
The other half was left to maximize what was left and salvage a season as the playoffs rolled on without a chance at the drivers’ championship on the line.
While Kyle Larson and William Byron finished third and fourth in pursuit of championship glory at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 5, Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman also finished nose to tail — for 16th and 17th places, respectively.
Injuries sidelined both Elliott and Bowman for periods of the 2023 campaign, making for an unusual set of circumstances for two perennial playoff contenders. Elliott missed six races due to a broken leg suffered in a snowboarding accident in March and missed a seventh race in June after a NASCAR-issued suspension. Bowman was out for four weeks after fracturing a vertebra in a sprint car crash in April. Neither driver had missed the postseason since joining Hendrick Motorsports — 2016 for Elliott; 2018 for Bowman — but those streaks came to an end in 2023.
With the help of relief drivers Josh Berry and Corey LaJoie, Elliott’s No. 9 team kept itself in contention for the owners’ championship and ultimately advanced to the Round of 8. The 2020 Cup champion turned in plenty of competitive performances but ended the season with four straight finishes of 15th or worse.
“Been some times of being decent, but you know, for the most part, been certainly not what I expect of myself and what we expect of our team,” Elliott said ahead of the season finale. “So yeah, a lot of room for improvement, and we intend to do a lot of that going into next year. … It all needs to be better.”
Elliott ends the 2023 campaign without a victory, his first winless season since 2017 and snapping a streak of five consecutive multi-win campaigns. Lack of visits to Victory Lane are not the only signal to learn, grow and improve — Elliott stressed those steps are taken whether he and his team are celebrating a championship or not. But there was plenty of reflection evident at Phoenix.
“You’re always wanting to be better,” Elliott said. “I think we’ve learned a lot about ourselves and the things that I need to do better. For me, I’ve learned a lot about myself and just areas that I want to improve in and trying to tackle a lot of that this weekend, you know, and get a good head start on things we want to improve upon for next year.
“Lots of lessons and a lot about the car and what I want to feel and what I think I need to feel in the vehicle each week.”
Meg Oliphant | Getty Images
The five-time defending winner of the Most Popular Driver Award also emphasized the significance of having crew chief Alan Gustafson, a veteran of the sport who’s worked with numerous Hall of Famers, at the helm of the No. 9 team to guide through the most adverse season Elliott has experienced at the Cup level.
“I think it’s really important,” Elliott said. “AG has always been right down the middle of the road. He’s no different when we struggle as he is when we won the championship. So it’s nice to have that, and I think that it sets a good example, and it’s taught me a lot of valuable lessons too because, you know, it’s easy when things are going good to get up too high, you know? And it can make the next time things don’t go well hurt more. I do think it’s important to just ride the wave as middle ground as you can. And I just think in the long haul, you’re better served.”
At the No. 48 team, Bowman and new crew chief Blake Harris came out of the gates strong, maintaining a top-five points position through each of the first six weeks of 2023 — including a three-week span as the series’ points leader.
That came to a halt after a 100-point penalty was dealt to both driver and owner following the April race at Richmond Raceway. Just three weeks later, Bowman experienced his sprint car crash, sidelining him through the NASCAR All-Star Race before a Memorial Day Weekend return for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The program never regained its early-season momentum, garnering one top five and three additional top 10s in the final 23 weeks of the season.
“We’ve had a lot of highlights, at least throughout the years,” said Bowman, who was victorious in each of the four prior years. “And this year, there haven’t been many of those other than leading the points at the beginning of the year. So it’s definitely been tough, but I feel like we’ve got a really good group. And I’ve learned a lot as a person on kind of how to handle some of those things, and yeah, definitely grown from it, for sure.”
In those final 23 races of 2023, Bowman finished inside the top 20 a total of 13 times, an obvious downturn after collecting nine such finishes in the year’s opening 10 events. He admitted there is “definitely a little bit of pain still” following his mid-spring injuries but said discomfort only truly arises at tracks that require heavy braking. But as his overall results dipped and the weight of personal disappointment increased, he realized a change in mindset and approach was necessary.
“I think the biggest thing for me is, like previous years, I would have a bad weekend and hold on to that for the whole week and make myself miserable the whole week and really kind of tear myself apart over like little mistakes,” Bowman said. “I think this year, there’s been so many bad weeks that I’ve really had to learn how to deal with them in a better way and be more positive about things and be able to positively look forward to the next weekend and just kind of be better at those things. So it wasn’t fun to figure out how to do, but definitely, I guess, a requirement of a 2023 season like this.”
Bowman lauded the support system he has around himself but largely worked independently to better his mental approach.
“I think for me, that was something I had to figure out on my own,” Bowman said. “Because I have had a lot of really positive people around me that have — I mean, I was teammates with Jimmie Johnson for a long time, and he could give you all the advice. But until you figure out what works for you, it’s difficult. So yeah, I just had to figure out what worked for me, and you know, bad days suck, but definitely have figured out how to be more positive throughout the week for sure.”
Christian Petersen | Getty Images
With the offseason comes an opportunity to set back from the week-to-week cycle and evaluate whatever issues have ailed the No. 48 team. The hope is to rekindle the consistency the group had to begin the 2023 campaign.
“I think some of it is being able to just push the reset button, right, and just kind of start over,” Bowman said. “But at the same time, you know, I think we have a good group on the 48 team and Blake and I are working well together. Like, Vegas, we were really fast, and I just crashed the car. So mistakes that I don’t typically see from myself. So that’s been frustrating. But you know, at the same time, there’s been a lot of weeks that we’ve just been way off. So just maybe hitting the reset button might help, but I think it’s important to try to end the season on a high note.”
Harris’ inaugural season as a crew chief at Hendrick Motorsports clearly didn’t go to plan, but Bowman remains optimistic the duo will find their stride in the months to come.
“I feel like Blake and I have a really good relationship,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll be around each other a lot to the offseason, like even when we’re away from the race track and Chili Bowl and stuff like that. So yeah, I mean, I don’t know that him and I need a reset between each other. I feel like we communicate well, but the season’s been tough. I mean, we’ve kind of been kicked in the teeth every week for the last six months. So just kind of getting away from that and being able to recharge a little bit will be nice for sure.”
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.
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.
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)
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
There will be plenty of talented competitors looking to add their names to the growing list of Islip 300 winners. (Photo: Mike Lawrence/NASCAR)
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
“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.”
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 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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
