As a pioneering woman driver in NASCAR and inaugural participant in the Busch Light Accelerate Her program, Melissa Fifield is changing the motorsports industry one race at a time.
Growing up frequently around race tracks, Fifield fell in love with cars and the excitement of motorsports. Now, she is pursuing her dream and competing in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and has been recognized with the “Most Popular Driver” award for the last three years it has been bestowed.
Fifield calls fellow Busch Light Accelerate Her participant and record-breaking driver Jennifer Jo Cobb one of her biggest inspirations. Much like Cobb, Fifield owns her team and has managed numerous successful ventures in the business world, including her own auto dealership, Pine Knoll Auto Sales. Guided by a passion for driver safety, she’s also a proud spokesperson for New Hampshire Highway Safety.
Fifield believes that being a part of the Busch Light Accelerate Her Program has helped her gain recognition for her hard work on and off the track.
“I’ve never given up even when things have gotten hard, so having the support of a brand that truly sees the value in women drivers and wants to uplift us means everything,” Fifield said. “This opportunity has pushed my team and my performance level even further.”
ABOUT THE BUSCH LIGHT ACCELERATE HER PROGRAM
The Busch Light Accelerate Her Program is a three-year commitment that takes aim at the inequity of resources available to women drivers by investing directly in every 21+ woman driver in NASCAR, providing brand-building opportunities to increase fan visibility of drivers and the sport. The Busch Light Accelerate Her program is the next step in a proud, 40-year partnership between Busch Light and NASCAR that has propelled the sport forward, bringing fans closer to the action and expanding NASCAR throughout the U.S. Busch Light asks that fans show their support by heading to Busch.com/accelerateher where they can learn more about the inaugural drivers, including Melissa, that are receiving this opportunity.
Last weekend was a perfect encapsulation of the season-long title fight between Peyton Sellers and Layne Riggs.
Separated by just four points in the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series national championship standings, Riggs and Sellers each took a victory in Dominion Raceway’s twin-60 lap Late Model Stock features, with Riggs adding another win in a 16-car field at Wake County Speedway on Friday evening to help cushion his small advantage.
Dominion on Saturday will serve as the final chapter of the intense-but-respectful duel between the two competitors as Sellers looks to claim his third Weekly Series national title. Riggs is in his first season competing for national points.
Even though Sellers has 11 victories at Dominion this year compared to the three claimed by Riggs thus far, the defending champion expects a significant challenge from the young Bahama, North Carolina, native on Saturday. Sellers plans to ensure his No. 26 Clarence’s Steakhouse Toyota is strong enough to bring home two more victories and a national title.
“We had a first and a third at Dominion [last] Saturday,” Sellers said. “We’re in contention every week, and that’s all we can ask for, but Layne and his guys are good. They capitalize every single time we have a fault, so right now we have to get our car the best that we can.”
The backgrounds of Sellers and Riggs carry an equal number of similarities and differences.
Both were inspired to get into racing by their fathers. Sellers spent most of his childhood around his dad Burt as he worked on cars. Layne’s father Scott Riggs had already won five NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events by the time he was born in 2002.
As Scott progressed into the NASCAR Cup Series, Sellers had already developed a reputation as one of the best Late Model Stock competitors along the East Coast. A stellar 2005 campaign that saw Sellers win 14 of his 16 appearances at South Boston Speedway was enough for him to claim the track title and his first Weekly Series national championship.
Over the following years, Sellers would take his talents all over the United States. He won races for Andy Santerre and Bill McAnally in what’s now the ARCA Menards Series East and West, respectively, while also making appearances in the Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Although a full-time career in the Cup Series did not work out for Sellers, he still possesses a tremendous passion for short-track racing in Virginia. He said logging so many laps in different types of cars has prepared him for stressful situations like his impending title bout with Riggs.
“I’ve been fortunate to drive a lot of things,” Sellers said. “I’ve managed to stay safe and healthy doing what I love, but driving so many different cars has given me a lot of experience to rely on, especially for these points moments where you’re trying to do everything right.
“Championships are won over a whole year, and I feel like I can handle the pressure.”
Peyton Sellers talks with crew during a Weekly Series race at Dominion Raceway on September 18, 2021. (Parker Michels-Boyce/NASCAR)
Just over a year after Sellers made his final Xfinity Series start to date, Riggs began to develop his reputation as an emerging talent in Late Model Stock competition.
Despite having just turned 20, Riggs has already put together a stellar resume that includes winning the prestigious Rodney Cook Classic at Ace Speedway and claiming the 2022 South Boston track championship over Sellers just a couple weeks ago.
Holding his own at South Boston against Sellers, who has five championships at the track, is something Riggs knows would not have been possible without six years of touring experience that helped him perfect his race craft.
“Going to all these different tracks and racing against the best of the best every weekend has translated over to the weekly stuff,” Riggs said. “Josh Berry, Lee Pulliam, Deac McCaskill, Bobby McCarty and many more have taught me so much over the years. I drove over my head at times as a rookie, but I’ve matured by being more patient and staying confident behind the wheel.”
All of Riggs’ success in Late Model Stocks has come while driving for his small, family-owned operation that primarily relies on volunteer help.
Now that Riggs is attending classes at UNC Charlotte again, Scott is back to solely overseeing the preparation of the cars that he will be racing this weekend. Riggs described the logistics as frustrating and mentally draining, but he expressed his gratitude toward Scott and everyone that has helped him stay competitive every weekend.
Without the countless hours of hard work in the shop, Riggs said he would be nowhere close to chasing a Weekly Series title, adding that traveling around has required him to quickly adapt to each track’s rules and its group of Late Model Stock competitors.
“It’s been a learning curve for sure racing weekly stuff as opposed to touring with the same people,” Riggs said. “You have to learn each track individually, and that’s something Peyton has successfully figured out. We’ve come in with hardly any weekly racing experience, yet we’ve proven that we’re a dominant team.”
Throughout his debut Weekly Series campaign, Riggs has gained a tremendous amount of respect for Sellers and his ability to perfectly execute at South Boston and Dominion, which is why he knows he can not pull any punches if he wants to bring home a national title.
As he did during the previous weekend, Riggs intends to get a race in on Friday before making the trip to Dominion on the following day. He said this decision is a difficult one financially but stressed that he needs to be as far out front of Sellers as feasibly possible by the time the first green flag at Dominion flies.
Riggs plans to come away from the 2022 season with plenty of positive memories regardless of how the title fight with Sellers turns out, but he believes a Weekly Series championship could be the boost that he needs to progress through the NASCAR developmental ladder.
“I believe I’ll be the youngest national champion so far if I pull this off,” Riggs said. “This would be perfect for my resume, but it also proves that I’ve perfected myself at the Late Model level. Having those two good Truck Series runs at IRP and Richmond also proves that I’m a seasoned veteran, and I certainly deserve the opportunity to hopefully run full-time in a truck next year.”
Layne Riggs (right) discusses adjustments to his car with his father Scott Riggs (left) during a break in practice at a NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series event in 2022 at South Boston Speedway. (Joe Chandler/South Boston Speedway)
Sellers’ respect for the Riggs family dates back to when he and Scott would occasionally cross paths on track in their careers. He has been pleased with the way the younger Riggs has raced him all season long and hopes the status quo remains in place at Dominion on Saturday.
The high speeds of Dominion have always suited Sellers’ driving style, but he said the track has started to lose grip as the pavement ages, which in turn is motivating Sellers to place heavy emphasis on making sure his car turns well and has solid drive.
Even if Sellers comes up short of another Weekly Series title, he does not plan to linger on the defeat long. He is proud of the effort he, his family and crew have put in all year and knows there will still be plenty of opportunities to win in 2022 after the checkered flag on Saturday.
“We’ve had a good year,” Sellers said. “Anytime you can win 15 races, it’s been an amazing year. Win, lose or draw on Saturday night, I’m going to wake up Sunday, give all the credit to the good Lord and enjoy everything for what it is. I’m going to fight tooth and nails to try and win this thing, but we’ll take the outcome in stride and keep moving.”
Even though they are nearly 20 years apart in age, both Sellers and Riggs have utilized their respective experience to separate themselves from all other weekly competitors and build their own cases for the national title.
The two races at Dominion on Saturday present one last chance for Sellers and Riggs to capitalize on their stellar seasons and cement themselves as the best short track competitor in the United States.
Brandon Jones revealed on social media that he will drive the No. 9 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series next season. Noah Gragson is vacating that ride when he makes the jump to the Cup Series next season with Petty GMS Motorsports.
Jones currently drives the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, where he has been since the 2018 season. Before that, he was with Richard Childress Racing for two-plus seasons.
“Brandon’s been a tough competitor over the years, and he’s a talented addition to JR Motorsports,” said Kelley Earnhardt Miller, JRM co-owner and general manager in a team release. “He’s a series veteran that brings a lot of experience, and we’re going to see big things from Brandon and the 9 team in 2023.”
Jones, who reunites once again with Chevrolet, has a win, five top fives and nine top 10s this season as he battles for a playoff spot.
“To watch how competitive JRM has been over the years is really impressive,” Jones said in the release. “They’re a threat to win every week, and one of the premier teams in our series. I’m so thankful to Dale (Earnhardt Jr.), Kelley and Mr. Hendrick for allowing me to be part of it.
“Reuniting with Chevrolet again is awesome, too. They were a big part of my career early on, and I’m looking forward to building on those relationships and driving a Camaro in 2023.”
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — There are many chapters one could write for the enigmatic career of Kyle Busch.
Tuesday morning began the closing of one and the beginning of another when Busch announced, “I’ll be taking my talents to Welcome, North Carolina,” inside the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
With those words, years of unsettled differences were officially put aside and relief appeared to overcome the 37-year-old driver as the future of Busch’s racing career was settled after months of uncertainty.
A big revelation from Tuesday’s press conference was that Austin Dillon, driver of the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, was the one to initiate the conversations to bring Busch to RCR. The talks between Dillon and Busch allowed them to quash any tension that could’ve remained from Busch and Childress, or Busch and Chevrolet, to open the door for Busch to join the team.
“I was kinda surprised honestly,” Busch said. “When Austin reached out, I was like ‘OK. Well, we probably need to sit down and discuss something first,’ and it was fine. It was easy. Just to feel wanted and feel that they know who I am, what I am. I mean the accolades speak for themselves in that I can go over there and continue that build to the top. I feel like they are on a good path.”
Over the years, the thought of Busch ever driving for RCR would’ve seemed improbable as Busch and RCR chairman and CEO Richard Childress were involved in a scuffle following a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in 2011 at Kansas Speedway due to rising tensions after on-track incidents with then-RCR drivers Kevin Harvick and Joey Coulter.
In their recent meetings, Childress said they were able to put their differences behind them and work on bringing Busch to the team.
Going through negotiations, Childress drew a comparison between Busch and a Hall of Famer.
“When we talked about winning races and winning championships, I looked in his eye and I’d seen that look in Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s eye, that he’s [Busch] hungry. We’re gonna win,” Childress emphasized.
Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Studios
But Busch’s move means more to him than just the prospects of winning for a historic franchise. The 37-year-old has been open about his family this season and about the hurdles and struggles of having an unknown future. When negotiating with teams, Busch said he wanted to be between “X” and “Y”, and if “Z” was on the table, then Busch said he was ready to go. The “Z” could’ve come in the form of Childress announcing a “future contract option” for Brexton Busch, the 7-year-old son of Kyle and his wife Samantha.
While Busch didn’t speak much on his son’s racing future, he said he knew the move could mean a stable future for his Truck Series team — and he’s previously said he hopes to race in the Truck Series with Brexton someday.
“I think that’s more-so a morph decision for (Kyle Busch Motorsports) right?” Busch said. “And to make sure we can keep KBM going as best as we can into the future. The family decision of all of that was just the way we get along with Austin and his wife, where Samantha and I feel welcomed and relatable.”
That welcomed feeling from RCR was observed well before Busch put ink to paper.
“When all the rumors started and you’d walk through the race shop,” Childress said, “the excitement in people’s voices when they’d ask ‘Is Kyle Busch really coming here to drive for us?’ Today, it’s official and for that group at RCR, I hope they’re up there watching this and I bet they are excited to know that you [Busch] will be the driver of the No. 8 car.”
Despite two championships with Joe Gibbs Racing, there have been struggles with Busch and the team over the last few years. The No. 18 Toyota team has only collected one win this season and the team is on pace for its worst average finish (currently 16.5) since the 2014 season (17.6). Whether it be the sponsorship unknowns or inconsistent performances, there have been “aggravations of mistakes” that Busch admitted to.
“Trust me, I had the most fun of my life in 2015, ’16, ’17, ’18 over at Joe Gibbs Racing, but ’19 on has been a struggle for whatever reason,” Busch said. “Just trying to put all that together over there and not really see the reap of benefits for all the hard work and everything going into it has been very frustrating. It’s not the reason why I’m out or why I’m leaving. It’s just a matter of business.
“I’m hopeful that a fresh start can kinda clean up what’s happened over the last couple of years on my end of things. To think that you are wanted somewhere and you have people that are excited about having you … as Richard mentioned that everyone on the shop floor is all asking questions.”
Eight weeks still remain in the 2022 Cup season, but regardless of how results turn out in the postseason for Busch and Childress’ Nos. 3 and 8 teams, Busch knows he has a home for years to come. And Childress knows he has his guy.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that we will make a great team together for the long haul,” Childress said.
The No. 15 Ford driven by Tanner Gray and the No. 61 Toyota of Chase Purdy were each found with one lug nut loose following the series’ event on Sept. 9 at Kansas Speedway.
Mike Hillman Jr., crew chief for the No. 15 David Gilliland Racing outfit, and Matt Lucas, crew chief for Hattori Racing Enterprise’s No. 61 entry, were each fined $2,500 as the unsecured lug nuts violate Sections 8.8.10.4a of the NASCAR Rule Book. The rule states all tires and wheels must be properly secured.
The series returns to action on Thursday at Bristol Motor Speedway (9 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) as the Round of 8 in the Truck Series Playoffs gets underway.
Jeremy Clements Racing won its appeal of an L2-level penalty levied by NASCAR officials following the No. 51 Chevrolet’s victory last month at Daytona International Speedway, the National Motorsports Appeals Panel decided Tuesday.
Clements wheeled the vehicle to victory in the Xfinity Series race, but the win was soon determined ineligible to count for the Xfinity Series Playoffs. The No. 51 was found in violation of Sections 14.6.12K&U of the NASCAR Rule Book, which pertains to the intake manifold. Additionally, crew chief Mark Setzer was initially fined $60,000 and the team was assessed the loss of 75 owner points, 75 driver points and 10 playoff points should it still qualify for the postseason.
Those penalties are now wiped clean and Clements’ win will count toward qualifying for the postseason.
The Appeals Panel members for this hearing were Tom DeLoach, Richard Gore and Dixon Johnston.
The Xfinity Series regular season concludes Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway with the Food City 300 (7:30 p.m. ET, USA Network, NBC Sports App, PRN, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio).
With Kyle Busch’s impending move to Richard Childress Racing in 2023 comes fresh opportunity for the two-time Cup Series champion — in NASCAR and beyond.
The potential of competing in the Indianapolis 500 is one that has always intrigued Busch, and had previously been forbidden by his future former employer in Joe Gibbs Racing. While not a priority during his contract negotiations with the several teams he met with, the prospect was one that Rowdy ensured was included in the final paperwork before signing a multi-year deal with RCR starting in 2023.
“I made sure it was in the deal,” Busch said Tuesday after his announcement at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “I can go run it if I want to run it. So by all means, any IndyCar teams that are Chevrolet, call me up … I can do it. It wasn’t important. No, none of the teams that I spoke to that was not on the priority list. The priority list was me, myself. Can I win races? Can I win championships and then what does KBM look like? Indy 500 wasn’t on that paper.”
The 37-year-old Busch is arguably NASCAR’s top all-around talent, always looking to prove himself behind the wheel of a variety of vehicles across disciplines. The thought of running one of the nation’s premier motorsports events for the first time has always been on the native Nevadan’s checklist, but perhaps more so after seeing brother Kurt perform the Indy 500/Coca-Cola 600 crossover double on Memorial Day Weekend in 2014.
The only hurdle remaining for Busch to enter the legendary event at The Brickyard is finding a suitable ride — even wife Samantha has apparently given a soft blessing.
“Yeah, (Samantha’s OK with it.) I mean, yeah, she hasn’t said no,” he said.
“The last person that said no was my former boss.”
An emotional weekend is ahead for everyone involved in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour as the series heads to Riverhead Raceway for the third time this year.
Former Riverhead and long-time team owner Eddie Partridge is being honored with a 256-lap race named after him on Saturday. Normally a 200-lap feature, the race has been extended by NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and Riverhead officials to its new distance to pay tribute to the No. 6 that Partridge fielded in the series for many years.
Having won both a driver and owner’s championship in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour with Ron Silk and Ryan Preece, respectively, Partridge purchased Riverhead in 2015 and was instrumental in maintaining the facility’s vibrant weekly culture that features track champions like Kyle Soper, who picked up his first series victory at the track earlier this year.
Outside of managing Riverhead, Partridge stayed committed to fielding a competitive team in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Partridge picked up his final victory with Preece at Richmond Raceway in 2021 before suddenly passing away hours later.
Partridge’s legacy will carry on Saturday night as the local track heroes and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour regulars remember an individual that meant so much to the historic track and to racing across the northeast.
Below is everything you need to know about the Eddie Partridge 256 at Riverhead Raceway on Saturday evening.
Eddie Partridge 256 at Riverhead Raceway
What to watch for:
A unique component to Saturday’s Eddie Partridge 256 will be the inclusion of live pit stops inside Riverhead’s infield.
To accommodate this change, temporary walls have been installed that will separate pit crews and drivers on the frontstretch and backstretch. An additional wall for crew members to stand on will create four rows in total at Riverhead.
Live pit stops are set to create another obstacle in the tight NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship battle. Jon McKennedy currently holds a 10-point championship lead and will look to add a second win on the 2022 season as he searches for his first title.
McKennedy currently has two drivers within striking distance of his lead. The 2011 series champion in Ron Silk has battled McKennedy all season long, but Justin Bonsignore’s third victory of the season during the most recent outing at Oswego Speedway has allowed him to close within 17 points of McKennedy’s advantage.
(Photo by Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)
The championship trio will not only have to fend off the rest of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour stars, but also a healthy contingent of Riverhead regulars led by the most recent winner at the track in Soper, whose accomplishments at Riverhead include three championships and an Islip 300 win back in 2019.
Joining Soper on the entry list is the driver currently trailing him in Riverhead’s weekly standings in Dylan Slepian. In three NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour starts this year, both of Slepian’s top fives have come at Riverhead, including a career-best run of fourth during the first race in May.
Other notable names set to take part in Saturday’s Eddie Partridge 256 include Ed Brunnhoelzl III as well as Timmy Solomito, who led a race-high 114 laps during the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour’s second trip to Riverhead in June before fading late and settling for an eighth-place finish.
The complete entry list for the Eddie Partridge 256 can be viewed here.
Qualifying: Two consecutive qualifying laps. Faster lap determines qualifying position. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on the vehicle after the vehicle has taken the green flag at the start/finish line. NASCAR reserves the right to have more than one vehicle engage in qualifying runs at the same time. Starting field for the Eddie Partridge 256 is limited to 28 starters including Provisional Positions.
Tire allotment: The maximum tire allotment available for this event is nine (9) tires per team. All tires used for qualifying and the race must be purchased at the track and scanned by Hoosier, unless otherwise approved in advance by the Series Director. Four (4) tires must be used for qualifying and to begin the race. All qualifying tires must remain in impound until released by NASCAR Officials. The remaining tire allotment may be used for practice and/or change tires during the event. The tire change rule is two (2) tires, any position.
Busch will conclude his tenure with the manufacturer and team after 15 years together, a fruitful partnership for all parties after two Cup championships, 56 premier-level wins and numerous successes in the Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series.
Joe Gibbs, the team owner who secured Busch ahead of the 2008 season from Hendrick Motorsports, offered his appreciation of the series’ lone active multi-time champion as the pairing comes to an end in November.
“Kyle has been a major part of our history and success here at Joe Gibbs Racing,” Gibbs said in a statement. “We are thankful for all his contributions to our organization over the years. When you look at all that he has accomplished already, it is truly remarkable, and we know someday we will be celebrating his Hall of Fame induction.
“We also know he still has many more achievements in our sport ahead of him including competing for the championship this season. We wish Kyle, Samantha, Brexton, and Lennix the very best.”
David Wilson, president of Toyota Racing Development, praised Busch, who has been a critical part of Toyota’s stock-car success. But he also conceded the hole Busch leaves behind that the manufacturer seeks to fill.
“Toyota and TRD are privileged to have raced with Kyle Busch, one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history,” Wilson said in a statement. “While we certainly wish Kyle the best of luck in the future and congratulate him on his announcement to join Richard Childress Racing, we’re disappointed and saddened that his future won’t continue to be with Team Toyota.”
Busch also serves as team owner of Kyle Busch Motorsports, which fields three full-time entries in the Camping World Truck Series. Busch said Tuesday the team intends to compete in 2023 with backing from Chevrolet, but those plans have yet to be solidified.
“Kyle has been an ambassador for Toyota since joining the program in 2008,” Wilson continued. “He’s gone on to accumulate some of the most prestigious milestones possible for the Toyota brand, including our first Cup Series win for the Camry and first Cup Series championship. He will undoubtedly hold the record for the most wins in a Toyota across all three Championship Series for decades to come.
“But more than that, Kyle has been a friend, part of our family and has played a key role in the development of many of our drivers through his ownership of Kyle Busch Motorsports. We wish nothing but the best for Kyle and his entire family as he moves into the next chapter of his Hall of Fame career. We’re thankful to have been along for the ride.”
