JTG Daugherty Racing announced Wednesday that veteran Mike Kelley has been named crew chief for the No. 47 Chevrolet and driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the NASCAR Cup Series next year.
Kelley served as competition director at JTG Daugherty last season, and he and Stenhouse have been with the organization since 2020. Kelley and Stenhouse combined for two Xfinity Series championships (2011, 2012) and scored eight victories together for car owner Jack Roush.
“It’s been a little bit, but those championships with Ricky mean the world to me,” Kelley said in a team release. “It proves that a team can dream, work hard, and execute to reach the top. When you believe, it’s amazing what you can accomplish.”
Kelley replaces Brian Pattie, who was announced earlier Wednesday afternoon as crew chief for the No. 51 Chevrolet for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2023. Pattie and Stenhouse had been paired together for the last six Cup Series seasons — three with Roush and three with JTG Daugherty.
“Brian and I accomplished a lot together and won two Cup races and that’s not easy in this sport,” said Stenhouse Jr. “I’m grateful for our friendship and wish him well in his endeavors. Mike and I and the team will continue our preparations this offseason and be ready for the new year with our Kroger Racing partners.”
Kelley was last atop a Cup Series pit box in 2019, working 20 races as a crew chief with Front Row Motorsports for then-driver Matt Tifft. His Cup tenure includes a crew chief stint with Stenhouse in 2014, and also a car chief role earlier in his career.
Stenhouse finished 26th in Cup Series standings this season, with a best finish of second place in May at Dover Motor Speedway. That final rank was hampered by nine DNFs (did not finish).
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR, FOX Sports, and NBC Sports jointly announced 2023 race start times and networks for the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Twenty-one NASCAR Cup Series races will air on FOX or NBC broadcast networks in 2023, the highest number of broadcast races since 2009. The 2023 schedule marks the second consecutive year of growth on network television with one more race airing on broadcast than in 2022.
Eleven races will air on FOX, including the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum (Sunday, Feb. 5, 8 p.m. ET), the Daytona 500 (Sunday, Feb. 19, 2:30 p.m. ET), and the next five points races to start the season. The Bristol Dirt Race returns to FOX in primetime on Easter night (Sunday, April 9, 7 p.m. ET), while Talladega Superspeedway (Sunday, April 23, 3 p.m. ET), the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (Sunday, May 28, 6 p.m. ET) and Sonoma Raceway (Sunday, June 11, 3:30 p.m. ET) are the final NASCAR Cup Series races on broadcast in FOX Sports’ portion of the season. FS1 will present eight NASCAR Cup Series races, beginning with the Duel at Daytona (Thursday, Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m. ET) and Richmond Raceway (Sunday, April 2, 3:30 p.m. ET).
In 2022, the NASCAR Cup Series experienced its highest viewership and share during the FOX segment of the schedule since 2017.
Ten broadcast races will air on NBC, one more than in 2022, including the kickoff of the NBC Sports portion of the season at Nashville Superspeedway in primetime (Sunday, June 25, 7 p.m. ET) and the NASCAR Cup Series’ first-ever Chicago Street Race (Sunday, July 2, 5:30 p.m. ET). The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course (Sunday, Aug. 13, 2:30 p.m. ET) and regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway (Saturday, Aug. 26, 7 p.m. ET) will be the other regular season races airing on the network. Once again, the final six playoff races will air on NBC beginning with Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, Oct. 1, at 2 p.m. ET and culminating with the championship race at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, Nov. 5, at 3 p.m. ET.
“Over the last few years, we’ve worked closely with our broadcast partners, tracks, teams, drivers, and industry stakeholders to deliver some of the most bold and innovative schedules in NASCAR’s history — 2023 is no exception,” said Brian Herbst, NASCAR senior vice president of media and productions. “We will always look for opportunities to expand the distribution of our world-class racing product to NASCAR’s loyal fanbase — by adding more broadcast and primetime races in 2023, our media partners are continuing their commitment to reach as many viewers as possible through their network platforms. This commitment was on full display in 2022, with a 4% year-over-year viewership increase for the NASCAR Cup Series and we look forward to continuing the momentum in 2023.”
Overall, 10 NASCAR Cup Series races will air in primetime during the 2023 season. The Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum, the Bristol Dirt Race, NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway (Sunday, May 21, at 8 p.m. ET, FS1), Nashville Superspeedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway (Sunday, July 9, at 7 p.m. ET, USA Network), Daytona International Speedway, and Bristol Motor Speedway (Saturday, Sept. 16, at 7:30 p.m. ET, USA Network) highlight racing under the lights next year.
Additionally, five NASCAR Xfinity Series races will air live on broadcast in 2023. FOX will be home to the classic NASCAR action from Darlington Raceway (Saturday, May 13, 1:30 p.m. ET), while NBC will carry the Xfinity Series four times, including from Road America (Saturday, July 29, 3 p.m. ET), Michigan International Speedway (Saturday, Aug. 5, 3:30 p.m. ET), Kansas Speedway (Saturday, Sept. 9, 3 p.m. ET) and Homestead-Miami Speedway (Saturday, Oct. 21, 3 p.m. ET).
USA Network enters its second season as NBC Sports’ cable home for NASCAR and will present 25 NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series races in 2023. NASCAR Xfinity Series racing will begin from Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday, June 24, at 3:30 p.m. ET, while USA’s coverage of the Cup Series premieres at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 9, at 7 p.m. ET. This season, six Cup Series races on USA Network delivered year-over-year viewership gains versus NBCSN races in 2021 and USA Network was also the most-watched cable network on television for seven races.
Craftsman will make its triumphant return to the Trucks Series in 2023 with 22 races scheduled on FS1. The return to North Wilkesboro (Saturday, May 20, 1:30 p.m. ET) will air on FOX. Thirteen NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races will run in primetime, highlighted by the playoffs opener at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis on Friday, Aug. 11, at 9 p.m. ET and the championship at Phoenix Raceway on Friday, Nov. 3, at 10 p.m. ET.
Complete times and network schedules for all three national series are below. All times eastern and subject to change. Playoffs races are in bold.
Some of the best Modified drivers in the Northeast will converge on New York’s Riverhead Raceway this Saturday afternoon for the sixth edition of the Islip 300.
Honoring the history of the now-defunct Islip Speedway in nearby Islip, New York, the 300-lap event for Modifieds requires determination and patience for those hoping to collect the $7,000 first-place prize.
While only in its sixth running, the Islip 300 has quickly become a marquee event for Modified competitors, and it annually draws one of the strongest entry fields of the season for the popular track located on Long Island that features NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series racing during the summer months.
In addition to the headlining Modified class, Crate Modifieds and Legend Cars will also be on the docket Saturday afternoon, with more than 100 cars in total expected to take part in the event. The event also serves as the finale of the track’s Crown Jewel Series, which will award the Ted Christopher Cup at the conclusion of Saturday’s Modified main event.
Below is everything you need to know about the 2022 Islip 300 at Riverhead Raceway.
An overall view of practice during the Buzz Chew Chevrolet Cadillac 200 for the Whelen Modified Tour at Riverhead Raceway on June 25, 2022 in Riverhead, New York. (Kostas Lymperopoulos/NASCAR)
What TV channel is the Islip 300 at Riverhead Raceway on?
All of the on-track action for the Islip 300 at Riverhead Raceway can be viewed live on FloRacing, the official streaming home for all NASCAR Roots properties.
The racing action will not be shown on a television network.
Below is the complete schedule for FloRacing’s coverage of the Islip 300.
This year’s Islip 300 is scheduled to take place Saturday, Nov. 12.
Four divisions of race cars will take part in Saturday’s event at Riverhead, including Modifieds, Crate Modifieds and Legend Cars. The event will be headlined by a 300-lap event for the Modified class.
Below is the complete race-day schedule at Riverhead Raceway.
Time
Event
7:30 a.m.
Pit Gates Open/Tire Draw Opens
9 a.m.
Modified Drivers Meeting
10 a.m.
General Admission Opens
9:45 – 10:15 a.m.
Legend Car Practice
10:15 – 11 a.m.
Modified Practice
11 – 11:30 a.m.
Crate Modified Practice
11:30 a.m.
Vintage All Stars Expo
Noon
Modified Qualifying
Followed by…
Crate Modified & Legend Car Heat Races
Followed by…
Consolation Races (All Divisions If Applicable)
Followed by…
Opening Ceremonies/National Anthem
Followed by…
Legend Car Feature (40 Laps)
Followed by…
Crate Modified Feature (50 Laps)
Followed by…
Islip 300 for Modifieds (300 Laps)
Official format for the Islip 300
The starting field for the Islip 300 will be set by a combination of qualifying and, potentially, a consolation race depending upon how many Modifieds are entered. The top 23 drivers in qualifying will lock into the 25-car field, with one driver locking into the race via the consolation race.
The final starting position will be awarded to the highest driver in Riverhead Raceway weekly points who is not yet qualified for the race.
The Islip 300 will not feature stage breaks, but instead the caution flag will wave anytime 75 consecutive green flag laps are completed. Caution laps will count until Lap 275, with the final 25 laps to be run under green flag conditions only.
Islip 300 entry list
The entry list for Saturday’s Islip 300 features some of the top Modified stars from the Northeast.
Headlining the list of pre-entries is J.B. Fortin, the defending winner of the Islip 300. He’s one of three Islip 300 winners on the entry list, with 2018 race winner and 2022 Riverhead Modified champion Kyle Soper and inaugural event winner Dillon Steuer also entered.
Tommy Baldwin Racing, the team that recently claimed the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour owners’ championship, will be in the field with Jimmy Blewett scheduled to pilot the team’s No. 7 entry.
Keith Rocco, who won the 2010 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series national championship, will join the field for the Islip 300 alongside Mike Christopher Jr., who won his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event earlier this year at Jennerstown Speedway.
Other notable entries include Matt Hirschman, Craig Lutz, Chuck Hossfeld, Anthony Nocella, Kyle Bonsignore, Timmy Solomito and Dave Sapienza.
Car No.
Driver
01
Artie Pedersen III
02
Allan Pedersen
07
Kyle Bonsignore
2
Joseph Bertuccio
5
John Beatty
7
Jimmy Blewett
10
Dylan Slepian
11
Dillon Steuer
12
Matt Hirschman
14
Cory Osland
15
Kyle Soper
21
Chuck Hossfeld
24
Justin Brown
24
Andrew Krause
34
J.B. Fortin
36
Dave Sapienza
45
Jack Handley Jr.
45
Brett Meservey
46
Jeffrey Goodale
50
Anthony Bello
57
Keith Rocco
66
Timmy Solomito
69
Jason Agugliaro
70
Mike Christopher Jr.
73
Paul Hartwig Jr.
78
Walter Sutcliffe Jr.
78
Ken Heagy
80
Michael Rutkoski
81
Christopher Turbush
82
Craig Lutz
88
Roger Turbush
92
Anthony Nocella
96
Matthew Brode
Cars drive past the Riverhead Raceway frontstretch wall during the Eddie Partridge 256 for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Riverhead Raceway on September 17, 2022. (Photo: Mike Lawrence/NASCAR)
Islip 300 history, winners
Created by late Riverhead Raceway owner Eddie Partridge in 2007, the Islip 300 has quickly become a signature Modified event for competitors in the Northeast.
The race also shares the name of a NASCAR Cup Series event that took place at New York’s Islip Speedway in the 1960s and early 1970s. The event honors the history of Islip Speedway, which closed in 1984, with race winners typically posing with an Islip Speedway Feature Winner board in Victory Lane.
The inaugural event produced a surprise winner, with then 15-year-old Dillon Steuer scoring a shocking victory in the 300-lap event.
Ryan Preece, a winner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, is the lone multi-time winner of the Islip 300. He won the 2018 running of the event and collected his second Islip 300 win in 2020.
Kyle Soper, who recently claimed his fourth Modified track championship at Riverhead in the last five years, won the Islip 300 in 2019 and J.B. Fortin bagged the top prize in 2021.
Below is the complete list of winners of the Islip 300.
NASCAR officials penalized the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing team on Tuesday for an unsecured lug nut after Saturday’s championship race in the Xfinity Series at Phoenix Raceway.
Ty Gibbs drove the No. 54 Toyota to his seventh win of the season and the Xfinity Series championship, the first series title for the 20-year-old driver. His car was found with a single unsecured lug nut in a post-race check by officials, a violation detailed in Section 8.8.10.4a in the NASCAR Rule Book.
Drivers must have declared NASCAR Cup Series points and be eligible for championship contention during the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series racing season to qualify. Voting closes at noon ET on Nov. 30.
The award was first presented to Curtis Turner in 1949 after NASCAR’s inaugural season. The NMPA has presented the award annually since 1983 and the award remains the only major NASCAR award determined solely by fan vote.
Twenty drivers have received the award since the program began. The 1988 Cup Series champion Bill Elliott holds the record for Most Popular Driver Award wins with 16 — 1984-88, 1991-2000 and 2002. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the award for 15 consecutive seasons (2003-2017).
Chase Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports has won the NMPA Most Popular Driver Award for four consecutive seasons (2018-21).
Formed in 1965, the National Motorsports Press Association consists of qualified members of the media who report on the sport of auto racing through affiliations with print, radio, television and/or Internet news-gathering organizations. In addition to the NMPA Most Popular Driver Award, the NMPA presents an array of significant honors in auto racing, including the Richard Petty Driver of the Year Award, the Myers Brothers Award, the NMPA Pocono Spirit Award and the Wood Brothers Award of Excellence.
Additional information about the NMPA can be found at nmpaonline.com.
Race weekends are about more than just racing for Dylan Zampa.
Before every event, the 18-year-old participates in various fundraisers and charity events, whether it’s going to visit and drop off snacks for patients at the Ronald McDonald House near his home track of All American Speedway or helping raise money for food banks, Zampa uses his racing for more than just wins on the track.
Zampa got into the charity work while competing this summer in the Kulwicki Driver Development Program, which was established by the family of late NASCAR champion Alan Kulwicki to “help worthy drivers along the way in reaching their dream.”
“They want the drivers to go out there and change someone’s life, and that’s kind of what I’ve been doing the last couple years,” Zampa said of the charity work.
“That’s actually one of the best parts about race weekends. You get to hear before the races who won the fundraiser or go the Ronald McDonald house where I get to go in and drop off all the snacks, and all the kids see the snacks and go crazy.
“That’s always probably my favorite part of the race weekends is seeing people’s faces light up.”
Went down to my local food bank today and helped them with putting food boxes together for the elder homes here in Napa. Always love coming to my neighborhood food bank to give where I can.#KDDP | #Racing4Alanpic.twitter.com/rXSedehi2s
The charity work has come a bit easier for Zampa since he gained such a big following at All American, a third-mile NASCAR-sanctioned paved oval in Roseville, California. In the track’s late model division this season, Zampa won 11 of 13 races, had six fast times and broke a track record for victories.
His success has given him even more of a following, which has helped with his charitable fundraising efforts.
“Ever since I started using Facebook and Twitter and Instagram and all that stuff, I feel like my follower count has definitely gone up, obviously, and that makes it more known when I go to tracks and I do fundraisers,” Zampa said. “It’s like, ‘Oh I follow him. He does something every weekend, we need to donate.’ So definitely having fans that go to every single race makes a big difference also. They’re always buying tickets and trying to win the big money, so it makes it a lot easier having really big fans and supporters every single weekend.”
This season was Zampa’s first championship at All American, coming in his first full season racing at the track.
Last year he was only able to get in about seven races at All American, but he still came away with a handful of wins and finished fifth in points.
“It’s just something about that track with me. And what my dad can do with the setup is just crazy,” Zampa said. “Even though the competition is really stout, we seemed to have it figured out every weekend, which made it a lot nicer for me.
“There was some pretty good competition this year… it was a good season all around. The team worked very hard all season, and we never gave up.”
Zampa credited his success to his team and their work all summer. The entire Zampa family is involved with the race team. His dad, Joey, is Zampa’s crew chief, and his mom is there with the team every week. They also have family friends who work on the car.
“It wouldn’t be possible without my mom or my dad,” he said. “They worked their tails off every day, even Saturday and Sunday when were mostly racing every week. I just couldn’t do it without my parents and everyone that’s on my crew. Our crew members are family friends. No one gets paid; they all just do it out of love, so that makes it a lot better at the race track.”
Improving on the racetrack has been a life-long effort for Zampa, who first started practicing in the car when he was 4. His great grandfather tried racing but didn’t like being behind the wheel himself. He instead built cars and was a crew chief, which eventually got Joey into the sport.
Joey raced quarter-midgets, legends and super late models until his two sons were old enough to start driving.
“He gave up his racing career to let us do what we want to do,” Dylan Zampa said of his dad.
(Dylan Zampa/Facebook)
Zampa’s older brother raced for a time but has now stepped out of the car to pursue playing rugby in college.
“I’m kind of the only one racing right now, so it kind of feels good to keep the racing legacy going,” Zampa said. “I’ll probably keep it going forever.”
Working as a team on the car is the biggest racing lesson Zampa learned from his dad.
“It takes a team effort. It’s not just about one driver,” he said. “One driver isn’t going to make you win. It’s about teamwork, how you execute the weekend, how the driver executes in the race. It’s just everything that makes a race team; that’s what makes a race-winning team.
“When you’re racing 20-something races, sometimes one of them can get on your nerves… But most of the time it’s great because they know exactly what you need. If it’s really hot out, someone already knows if I need a water or if my dad needs help. Everyone knows exactly what to do. When we go to the racetrack, my dad doesn’t need to give orders or that type of stuff. Everyone knows exactly what to do. That makes it’s a lot nicer that we’re not running around looking like maniacs. We look like a nice race team, and we have our stuff together, so that makes it 10 times easier having people you know.”
“ANNOUNCEMENT TIME”
IT’S OFFICIAL…..I will be going super late model racing next year. I will be piloting this brand new CRF for Randy Hedrick with Sierra Speed Technology. Stay tuned for more updates as we close out 2022 and prep for 2023!🏁#KDDP | #Racin4Alanpic.twitter.com/ujpwHWRG0y
Next season, Zampa will race full-time on the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series in the Pro-Late Model division, where he’ll race all up and down the West Coast. He’ll join a team as their first full-time driver, making 2023 even more exciting.
As he continues the family legacy of racing, it’s a sport Zampa said he wants to be involved in “forever.”
“I don’t really know what it is, but it’s just something that feels right to me,” Zampa said of racing. “If I don’t race, I kind of feel like all those years that I spent practicing and perfecting what I do kind of went to waste. I feel like just being in a race car is kind of what defines me.
“That’s how I introduce myself to people: ‘I’m Dylan Zampa, and I race race cars.’ If I said all that without racing race cars, I feel like I wouldn’t be who I am.”
CHICAGO, Ill. —NASCAR announced today that tickets for the first-ever street race in the NASCAR Cup Series, the Chicago Street Race, will go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. (CT) on Thursday, Nov. 10. In addition, fans who have subscribed to receive exclusive Chicago Street Race emails or have already made a deposit will have the opportunity to begin purchasing tickets today.
The unprecedented 12-turn, 2.2-mile street race will take the Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series past and through many of Chicago’s most renowned downtown landmarks during Fourth of July Weekend, July 1-2, 2023. To be a part of this unforgettable weekend, fans can log onto NASCARChicago.com or call 1-888-629-7223. Two-day reserved tickets start at $465 and the street race offers an array of opportunities that include reserved seating and a wide variety of premium experiences. Two-day general admission tickets starting at $269 will go on sale at a later date. All tickets provide two-day access to both races and concerts. Ticket prices listed above include taxes and fees.
“Chicago is one of the most iconic cities in the world, and the first-ever NASCAR Cup Series street race in the heart of downtown will be one of the can’t-miss sporting events in 2023,” said Chicago Street Race President Julie Giese. “The best part is, we will have options available for everyone ranging from all-inclusive packages with driver meet-and-greets to a free experience in Butler Field. We truly want anyone interested in experiencing a one-of-a-kind sports and entertainment festival to join us in Chicago over the Fourth of July weekend.”
Some notable options for fans to take in the first-ever NASCAR Chicago Street Race Weekend include:
The President’s Club offers the most luxurious experience at the Chicago Street Race. Elevated above the tree line, the President’s Club is situated above Pit Road, giving patrons a direct view into the pit boxes and a panoramic view of nearly the entire course. The President’s Club includes full weekend access to both races and concerts, as well as premium food and beverage, pre-race and driver introductions, and access to exclusive premium club spaces.
The Fountain Club provides fans the comfort of a reserved seat at the start/finish line with unique sightlines directly in front of Buckingham Fountain, with access to a premium club space situated behind the seating area.
In addition to the Fountain Club, the Chicago Street Course will feature the Balbo Club that includes reserved seats located at street level as well as access to an exclusive club behind their seating area.
The Congress Suites offer panoramic views overlooking the start/finish line and Pit Road that place guests at the center of the action with a private suite and shaded second level seating deck that can accommodate up to 22 guests. A fixed premium menu is included to ensure a turn-key race-day experience.
The Garden Suites place guests at ground level and close to the action across from Pit Road along the front stretch. These suites, which accommodate up to 22 guests, have unobstructed views of Pit Road and the front straightway as they competitors head into Turn 1 or come around the final turn to the race finish.
For a complete listing of ticketing options, fans can visit NASCARChicago.com.
Fans can also visit QuintEvents, the Official Travel and Experience Package Provider of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race, at NASCARChicagoExperiences.com for multiple options for tickets, hospitality and travel experiences.
A full list of all available ticket options on sale now can be accessed by visiting NASCARChicago.com.
Fans can follow @NASCARChicago onTwitterandFacebookand download theNASCAR Tracks Appfor the latest real-time updates on all aspects of the event.
It’s about a month later than originally planned, but Hickory Motor Speedway will wrap up the 2022 racing season with the 25th annual running of the Fall Brawl this Saturday, Nov. 12.
Since opening in 1951 as a half-mile dirt track, Hickory Motor Speedway has served as a hub of short track racing in North Carolina. Some of racing’s greatest stars have competed at the track, which is now a 0.363-mile asphalt oval. They include legendary names like Junior Johnson, Jack Ingram, Harry Gant, Tommy Houston and Ralph Earnhardt, all of whom have won track championships at Hickory.
While times have changed, the popularity and short track culture at Hickory Motor Speedway have not. Now run by promoter Kevin Piercy, the track known as “the Birthplace of NASCAR Stars” continues to host NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series events from March through October.
The Fall Brawl is typically held in October and serves as the non-point season finale for the headlining Late Model Stock Car division. The 2022 edition, which will be the 25th running of the race, was postponed to Nov. 12 to guarantee tire availability.
Below is everything you need to know about the 2022 Fall Brawl at Hickory Motor Speedway.
Scenes from the Jack Ingram Memorial at North Carolina’s Hickory Motor Speedway on June 11, 2022. (Photo: Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)
What TV channel is the Fall Brawl at Hickory Motor Speedway on?
All of the on-track action for the Fall Brawl at Hickory Motor Speedway can be viewed live on FloRacing, the official streaming home for all NASCAR Roots properties.
The racing action will not be shown on a television network.
Below is the complete schedule for FloRacing’s coverage of the Fall Brawl.
This year’s Fall Brawl is scheduled to take place Saturday, Nov. 12.
Four divisions of race cars will take part in Saturday’s event at Hickory, including the Late Model Stock Car, Pro Late Model, Limited Late Model and Street Stock divisions. The event will be headlined by the 200-lap Late Model Stock Car main event.
Below is the complete race-day schedule at Hickory Motor Speedway.
Time
Event
8 a.m.
Pit Gate Sign-In Opens
8:30 a.m.
Pit Gate Opens
12:30 p.m.
Drivers Meeting (Frontstretch Wall)
1 – 1:10 p.m.
Street Stock Practice
1:10 – 1:25 p.m.
Limited Late Model Practice
1:25 – 1:45 p.m.
Late Model Stock Car Practice
1:45 – 2 p.m.
Pro Late Model Practice
2 p.m.
Grandstands Open
2:30 p.m.
Qualifying (All Divisions)
After Qualifying
Autograph Session (Time Permitting)
3:45 p.m.
Chapel Service
4 p.m.
Pre-Race Ceremonies
4:15 p.m.
Street Stock Feature (30 laps)
Followed by…
Limited Late Model Feature (100 laps)
Followed by…
Late Model Stock Car Feature (200 laps)
Followed by…
Pro Late Model Feature (100 laps)
Fall Brawl 2022 entry list
A full field of 31 cars are entered for the 25th running of the Fall Brawl, with two previous event winners among those entered.
They include defending race winner Mason Diaz, who is returning to defend his Fall Brawl crown. Also entered is Coleman Pressley, the spotter for 2022 NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano, who won the Fall Brawl in 2009 and hasn’t raced a Late Model Stock Car in several years.
Other notable entries include Annabeth Barnes Crum, Katie Hettinger and Isabella Robusto, a trio of female competitors that all visited Victory Lane at Hickory this year in Late Model Stock Car competition.
Ryan Millington, a two-time track champion at Hickory, is entered in pursuit of his first Fall Brawl triumph. Gracie Trotter and Gus Dean, winners on the ARCA platform, are also entered for Saturday’s event.
Additional entries come from Florence Motor Speedway champion Kade Brown and 2022 Hickory race winners Connor Zilisch, Connor Hall, Mitch Walker, Matthew Gould and Charlie Watson.
Car No.
Driver
1
Trey Mills
2
Gracie Trotter
4
Dylon Wilson
5
Jaiden Reyna
6
Charlie Watson
6
Clark Houston
07
Chase Dixon
09
Derrick Coomer
12
Annabeth Barnes Crum
14
Mike Darne
15
Mitch Walker
15
Ryan Millington
16
Kade Brown
21
J.P. Dyar
24
Mason Diaz
27
Matthew Gould
40
C.E. Falk III
40
Taylor Satterfield
41
Joey Braun
54
Gus Dean
55
Isabella Robusto
57
Connor Zilisch
59
Coleman Pressley
71
Katie Hettinger
77
Connor Hall
77
Tyler Gregory
81
Zack Clifton
88
Doug Barnes Jr.
88
Trent Barnes
97
Hunter Deshautelle
99
Colby Higgins
Official format for the Fall Brawl
Saturday’s 200-lap Fall Brawl Late Model Stock Car main event will be divided into two 100-lap stages.
There will be a 10 minute break between the two 100-lap stages. Competitors will be allowed to change two tires from the impound area during the break. Caution laps will be counted, but the last 20 laps must be run under the green flag.
The lucky dog rule will be in effect for this event. Any car involved in a caution will not be eligible for the lucky dog award.
Street Stocks flash by the grandstands during the Jack Ingram Memorial at North Carolina’s Hickory Motor Speedway on June 11, 2022. (Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)
Fall Brawl history, winners
Hickory Motor Speedway has hosted an annual major event every fall for decades, but the event known as the Fall Brawl wasn’t created until 1998.
The inaugural event was won by a man best known as a NASCAR Cup Series championship winning crew chief, Rodney Childers. However, long before he was a successful crew chief for Stewart-Haas Racing and Kevin Harvick, Childers was a skilled Late Model competitor in the Southeast.
Childers was first of many recognizable names to win the Fall Brawl. Josh Berry, the 2020 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series National champion and five-time NASCAR Xfinity Series race winner, is the only multi-time Fall Brawl winner. He’s won the event a whopping four times.
Joe Gibbs Racing driver and 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin made a name for himself by winning the Fall Brawl in 2003, three years before his first full NASCAR Cup Series season. Ben Rhodes, the 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion, conquered the Fall Brawl in 2013.
Other recognizable names to win the Fall Brawl include Anthony Alfredo, Dennis Setzer, Tyler Ankrum, Taylor Gray, Matt McCall, Pietro Fittipaldi and Coleman Pressley. Mason Diaz is the defending Fall Brawl race winner in the Late Model Stock Car class.
Below is the complete list of winners of the Fall Brawl.
AVONDALE, Ariz. – Something was different about Joey Logano leading into the Championship 4 weekend.
Well, that’s both true and false. It’s the same Logano we’ve always seen on the track: aggressive, confident, decisive, determined. But that differs from the Logano we usually see outside of the cockpit.
The typical Logano is laughing, jovial and lighthearted away from the race car. The chuckles remained throughout championship week at Phoenix Raceway, but his vibe was palpably different this time, charged with a swagger and shear confidence perennially reserved for when he straps his helmet on.
The result: a second NASCAR Cup Series championship, with which Logano becomes only the second active driver to claim multiple titles at the sport’s highest level.
“I told the guys after we put it on the (pole) the other day: We got them down; now we put our foot on them,” Logano said Sunday. “That’s the attitude you’ve got to have. It’s just what it is when it comes to this level. Your feelings are checked at the door, and it’s all about winning and nothing less than that.”
Logano and Co. had the benefit of locking into the Championship 4 way back on Oct. 16, courtesy of a strong showing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway that ended in Victory Lane. That gave the team two full weeks to throw every ounce of manpower into its Phoenix preparation.
To capitalize was one thing. To dominate – win the Busch Light Pole award, light up practice charts, lead 187 of 312 laps, win Stage 1 and the race – was a season-defining performance for the Next Gen era’s first winner and champion.
“When we won in Vegas, we sat down Monday and started coming up with a meeting agenda, a bunch of meeting agendas that we can go over and reviewing film together as a team,” Logano said. “Going through pit stops, reviewing, rolling times on pit road, all these little subcategories that happened and making sure the details are all in the right place.
“That was the difference maker. We knew we would have a fast race car, and we knew we’d make those decisions and we’d be close because we had plenty of time to really go through all that, and we weren’t bad here in the spring.”
The key to efficient preparation, he said, was crew chief Paul Wolfe. Wolfe won the 2012 championship with Brad Keselowski, now a former teammate of Team Penske. Having so much time to prepare for one race can be a blessing or a curse, given the plethora of data teams have to sift through. Wolfe made sure to reap the benefits.
“When you saw how confident I was and my team was, it’s because we were truly ready,” Logano said. “You can’t fake confidence. You can maybe show it a little bit, but truly deep down inside, you have to believe that if you’re going to be ready for this battle ahead of you.
Tyler Strong | NASCAR Studios
“I never felt more ready, and a lot of credit goes to Paul for taking the time and the effort and forcing us to do it together as a team.”
It’s important to note Logano’s experience in the Championship 4 as well. This year marked his fifth visit to the final round, qualifying for title contention in the season finale in five of the last nine years. Having baseline expectations for what a pressure-packed weekend asks of its championship drivers was a critical piece of Logano’s advantage.
“I truly believe that attitudes are contagious, good or bad,” he said. “And when you’re able to bring that attitude to your race team in a moment like this, as a driver there, that just carries through it. I believe confident people win. If you don’t believe in yourself, who else is ever going to believe in you? How are you ever going to win?
“But I also think you can’t fake that. I think of my first Championship 4 appearance, was I confident? No, I was a nervous wreck. Are the nerves still there? Yeah, the nerves are still there. You don’t want to screw it up because you got this far. But I truly felt ready as a driver, and I felt like, as a race team, we went through everything we can possibly go through.
“At that point, the confidence is real. We’ve been here before. We knew how to do things. We knew how to prepare. We went out and just did our job. We put it on the pin, and then we won the race. Like that was the job at hand, and we nailed it.”
That swagger is bound to stick for some time. What may take Logano some getting used to is being referred to as a multi-time champion in the NASCAR Cup Series. But don’t be mistaken – at 32 years old, Logano wants much more than his current stock.
“I guess the greed in me feels like I should have four or five at the moment, so I guess the feeling is it’s about time,” Logano said. “But that’s just how I am and how I work, I guess.”
If 2022 was any inkling, Logano’s competitors should be on watch for years to come.
AVONDALE, Ariz. – Christopher Bell’s first Championship 4 appearance hinged on a pair of late-race pit stops, one that put him within reach of eventual champion Joey Logano and another soon after that hampered his championship ambitions. But Bell’s first title shot came with a deep sense of perspective after the death of team co-owner Coy Gibbs overnight before Sunday’s season finale.
Bell finished 10th in the last race of the NASCAR Cup Series season, placing third among the title contenders – behind eventual champion and race winner Joey Logano, third-place Ross Chastain, but ahead of Chase Elliott (28th) – at Phoenix Raceway.
“Good work, everybody. It wasn’t meant to be,” crew chief Adam Stevens said over the No. 20 radio on the cool-down lap. “We fought our guts out, as expected.”
But the race aside, Bell had much more weighing on him.
“About the same as what it was through the whole playoff, the last handful of weeks. You wake up first thing this morning and super excited and thrilled with life and where you’re at and the opportunity given to you. To receive news like that a couple hours before you get in the car is extremely tough,” Bell said. “Just really kind of puts it in perspective that what we’re doing here is not the big picture for sure. Yeah, just thinking of Joe. I just can’t imagine what Joe is going through and the entire Gibbs family. That’s the important piece.”
Bell started 17th – also third among the final four – and made gradual progress early on. He recovered from a Stage 2 bobble off Turn 4, a jammed-up restart, and then kept forging ahead in the top 10 during the final stage after what he perceived as a loss of power – what he called a “weird sensation” that soon righted itself.
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Stevens called Bell in for a green-flag pit stop on Lap 249 of 312, two laps earlier than Logano. The ground he made up on fresher tires put him in close range of Logano’s No. 22 Team Penske Ford.
But a stop just during the final caution period – for Alex Bowman’s Lap 267 crash with Michael McDowell — proved pivotal. Jack man Caleb Dirks caught his finger between the wheel nut and the spindle during the four-tire change, costing the No. 20 over-the-wall crew precious time and lining Bell up 15th for the final restart. He made up five positions in the 33-lap dash to the checkered flag.
“It just wasn’t our day, you know. Honestly, it really wasn’t our weekend,” Stevens told NASCAR.com. “We didn’t unload that great, and that’s on me, on us and struggled to make it much better. Through practice, I think we made a dent in it for qualifying and the race, we just kind of overdid it for qualifying and tried to come back a little bit, and we seem to have decent long-run speed, and short-run speed suffered a little, but long runs seemed like we were as good as anyone. …
“Battled back and then only to have that pit stop get away from us there when we finally caught up to the 22. I think our strength was the long run if that could stay green, but that pit stop just got away from us there.”
The outcome marked a bittersweet end to Bell’s highest points finish yet in the Cup Series, capping a deep playoff run marked by clutch moments when he and the team staved off elimination twice.
A bid for another encore came up just short at Phoenix.
“Yeah, I think the season was successful. To get to the final four is what every driver in NASCAR’s goals are. I’m very proud of that effort,” Bell said. “With 40 or 50 to go, the last green-flag pit stop, we put ourselves in position to race for it. You can’t ask for much more than that. Looking towards next year, I think we have potential to be stronger yet, and certainly, we have room to improve at Phoenix. Yeah, I’m very content with where we ended the season and proud of the effort on this 20 car. I’m excited about the future with Joe Gibbs Racing.”
