Posted on by Adam Fenwick

The 2023 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season featured incredible moments, culminating in Ron Silk’s second series championship 12 years after his first. The triumph also marked Haydt Yannone Racing’s first title in just their second full-time season.

With 2023 now in the rearview, it’s time to take a look back at some of the telling statistics from the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season.

0.045 – Margin of victory, in seconds, for Justin Bonsignore over Doug Coby to win in the Mohegan Sun 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in dramatic fashion.

1 – First time winners in 2023: Austin Beers scored his first victory in the second race of the season at Richmond Raceway. He proceeded to win again at Lancaster Motorplex in August.

1 – Number of drivers (Jamie Tomaino) who competed in the inaugural NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season (1985) to start at least one event in 2023. He has competed in at least one event every season with the exception of 2020, when he withdrew from the lone race he entered.

2 – Best finish by Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award winner Jake Johnson, which came at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.

2 – Number of drivers (Ron Silk and Tyler Rypkema) running at the finish of every NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event in 2023.

2 – Consecutive seasons the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour finale at Martinsville Speedway has been won by a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver — Corey LaJoie last year and Ryan Preece in 2023.

3 – Number of NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races that rank in the top 10 of most viewed events on FloRacing in 2023.

3 – Victories Justin Bonsignore is from moving into third on the all-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour win list following his five-win season in 2023.

Justin Bonsignore, driver of the No. 51 Phoenix Communications Inc. Modified, celebrates after winning the Eddie Partridge 256 for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Riverhead Raceway on September 16, 2023 in Riverhead, New York. (Photo: Kostas Lymperopoulos/NASCAR)

3.2 – Average starting position of Austin Beers during the 2023 season.

3.3 – Average finish by NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Ron Silk in 2023.

4.94 – Average number of lead changes during NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events in 2023.

5 – Number of laps led by Kyle Bonsignore during his victory at Langley Speedway, the fewest of any winner in 2023.

5 – Drivers (Ron Silk, Justin Bonsignore, Matt Hirschman, Austin Beers, Doug Coby) to lead at least 400 laps during the 2023 season.

6 – Best finish by NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Labonte (Richmond) in three NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour starts in 2023.

7 – Different drivers (Ron Silk, Justin Bonsignore, Matt Hirschman, Austin Beers, Kyle Bonsignore, Doug Coby, Ryan Preece) to win NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events in 2023.

9 – Finish by Woody Pitkat in the World Series 150 at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, which doubled as the first top-10 finish for team owner Stan Mertz in his final race as a team owner.

13 – Combined number of Mayhew Tools Dominator Pole Awards won by Justin Bonsignore (7) and Austin Beers (6).

15 – Top-five finishes by Ron Silk and Justin Bonsignore during the 2023 season.

16 – Drivers to make their NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour debuts in 2023.

17 – Top-10 finishes by NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Ron Silk in 2023, more than anyone else.

18 – Drivers to lead at least one lap during the 2023 season.

21 – Years between NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour starts for Tim Connolly, who returned to the series this year for the first time since 2002.

22 – Career victories for Ron Silk following his five-win season in 2023, which ranks him 10th on the all-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour win list.

Ron Silk, driver of the No. 16 Blue Mountain Machine and Future Modified, during the Thompson 150 for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park on August 16, 2023 in Thompson, Connecticut. (Photo: Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)

25 – Drivers to earn top-five finishes during the 2023 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season.

25.05 – Average field size during the 2023 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season.

38 – Drivers to compete in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event at North Wilkesboro Speedway, the biggest field of the 2023 season.

44 – With the addition of North Wilkesboro Speedway, the number of tracks to have hosted the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.

77 – With Austin Beers’ win at Richmond, the number of drivers to win a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race

82 – Drivers to enter at least one NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race in 2023.

129.9 – Speed, in mph, of the fastest qualifying lap of the season, set by Justin Bonsignore for the race at New Hampshire.

150 – Laps led by Matt Hirschman and Justin Bonsignore in their victories at Seekonk Speedway and Monadnock Speedway, respectively. They were the only two drivers to lead every lap of a race during the 2023 season.

152 – NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races held at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, more than any other track. Justin Bonsignore and Ron Silk won the pair of Thompson races on the 2023 schedule.

312 – NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events held in the state of Connecticut.

403 – Laps led by Matt Hirschman during his three NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victories in 2023.

521 – Laps run under the caution flag in 2023, 28.94 per race, down 3.3 percent from 2022.

644 – Laps led by NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Ron Silk in 2023, more than anyone else.

724 – With the completion of the 2023 season, the number of events held in the history of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.

1,791 – Days between Kyle Bonsignore’s first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory in 2018 and his second at Langley Speedway this year.

3,048 – Laps completed by NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Ron Silk in 2023, more than anyone else.

Posted on by Adam Fenwick

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.

Posted on by Zach Sturniolo

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.

MORE: Phoenix results | Final 2023 standings

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.”

Chase Elliott and Alan Gustafson talk in the Nashville garage ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series race in 2023
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.

VOTE NOW: Cast your ballot for the 2023 Most Popular Driver

“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.”

Alex Bowman practices in the sunset at Phoenix Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series race
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.”

MORE: 2024 Cup Series schedule

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.”

Posted on by Staff Report

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted on by Staff Report

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

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

RELATED: Vote for your favorite finalist

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

Meet the four finalists below:

Darla Crown

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

Watch the video | Vote

Jennifer Gage

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

Watch the video | Vote

Molly Moran

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

Watch the video | Vote

Sandy Stanley

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

Watch the video | Vote

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

Posted on by Zack Albert

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

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

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

RELATED: Power Rankings: Trends for 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MORE: 2024 Cup Series championship odds

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

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

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

Posted on by Brandon White

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

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

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

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

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

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

TV channel, live stream for Islip 300 at Riverhead Raceway

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

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

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

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

2023 race schedule

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

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

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

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

(All times ET)

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

Islip 300 entry list

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Previous winners

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hickory Fall Brawl 2023 TV channel, live stream

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

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

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

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

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

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

Schedule for the 2023 Fall Brawl at Hickory

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

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

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

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

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

Entry list

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

That includes last year’s winner.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Race format

Below are the race format notes from Hickory Motor Speedway:

  • Qualifying

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

  • Race procedure

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

Posted on by Adam Fenwick

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted on by Staff Report

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

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

MORE: 2024 Craftsman Truck Series schedule

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

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

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

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

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