The fans did not seem to be concerned. The drivers were there and ready to go. The weather offered some concern but cooperated for the best part of it. Granted, it could have been a few degrees warmer but for November you get what nature has in the bag.

The fans made it work with jackets, blankets or the comfort of their own cars overlooking the view of Natural Bridge Speedway. Competitors made it work with parking and pit sets on the hill off the back stretch. The track staff made it work with concessions ready to go, the track surface treated and ready to race and the schedule set for two days of racing.

This was the finale weekend for the American All Star Series (presented by PPM racing Products). This series races on tracks and draws competitors from Kentucky to Alabama and, yes, Virginia. The season turned laps on 18 tracks starting back in April at Bristol Motor Speedway (one week before the NASCAR Bristol Dirt Race). Points added up to champions being crowned at Natural Bridge.

The schedule was set for Friday & Saturday November 10 and 11. The weather earlier in the week was sunny and comfortably warm. However, that turned to Friday morning rain, a drop in temperatures and lingering clouds. The clouds faded overnight with sun overhead for Saturday but afternoon temps dropped to the 40s as the racing turned laps into the evening.

*Friday was not an option as I already had obligations in motion. There was a short schedule with Street Stock, Rookie and Late Model and open practice for Saturday Crates. Jesse Murray won Street Stock, Dakota Johnson won the Rookie and the Top Three in Late Model was Joey Leavell, Tyler Bare and Jon Dietz.

The impression continues to grow for NBS. The folks in charge continue to push this place forward focusing first and foremost on the fans who support it. The parking and staging areas were having some upgrades done, a VIP fan focused “suite” was open, lit and occupied and most notable there was a new and working scoreboard up in position over turns one and two. (No… I have no idea how long the old board had been dark and dormant.)

NBS also has a “reserved” parking system in place in which fans buy spaces so they can watch the race from their cars. As those temperatures dropped that seemed to be a “hot” option!

The track went hot a bit later than scheduled with qualifying and heat races for the main 60 lap Crate event. Once the laps started turning the afternoon and evening began to hum right along. The crown did not seem to mind that things were a bit off the clock and cheered from two crowded hillsides as the racing went on.

The Saturday races featured “Mini” Wedge Karts, Sportsman, Pure Stock and the Crates. The Crates were the main Saturday show with the four heat races, the 60 lap highlight, a “Dash for Cash” and the shorter “B” Main. The date was also Veterans Day and in tribute there was a “four wide” main event parade lap for the branches of the United States Military. For the fans, it was a great showing of talent from a wide region. For Natural Bridge Speedway, it was another crowd event for racers and fans to close the season with a rush.

The next year is certainly wide open. There seems to be a real foundation of care for this place that is shared among the organizers, promoters, racers and fans. It will be a pleasure to see what 2024 brings to Natural Bridge Speedway.

Racing Results Saturday November 11 2023 – American All Stars – Natural Bridge Speedway

Mini Wedge Top Three: Aty Evans, Brady Lilly, Emma Simmons
Sportsman Top Three: Bobby Thompson, Bryce Smith, Mike Ayers
ATC Bolts “B” Main Top Three: Greg Roberson, David Watts. Samuel Bryant
Pure Stock Top Three: Sam Hamilton, James Newton, Jacob McCormick
Pro Crate Main 60 Top Five: Logan Roberson, Will Roland, Cory Hedgecock, Russell Erwin, Joe Leavell
Powder Puff Winner: Britney Ayers

Despite Logan Roberson winning the feature, the “Dash” and the pole start, it was the crown of the AAS Touring Champion going to Jesse Lowe as the Weekly Champion title went to AJ Hicks. The Mini Wedge Title went to Brady Lilly.

Full Photo Gallery – November 11, 2023 – American All Stars – Natural Bridge Speedway

Strategy and determination ruled the track at Martinsville Speedway for the Round of Eight final elimination Xfinity 500. Unlike the bang and bump Xfinity series the day before where cars crossed the line backwards and on fire, the NASCAR Cup race of the same title series name was run closer to calculated endurance.

The final third of the race ran green as a run for the lead brought Ryan Blaney up to and around Aric Almirola with 22 laps to go. Blaney kept the #12 Discount Tire Ford out front for the win. This was the third 2023 win for Blaney, who came up originally from High Point, NC which is just a bit south of the speedway.

It was, however, a disappointing day for Joe Gibbs team mates Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex, Jr. The race started with Truex on the pole but a speeding penalty half way in put him back in traffic that he could not push through. Hamlin had a good run with a stage win and top five performance but could not clinch at the end. Mechanical issues the week before at Homestead had him at Martinsville with too many points down and in a “must win” to advance.

Ryan Blaney won the race but it may have been William Byron who won the day. Despite six wins, the late season points math had him below the cut coming into Martinsville. He fought with the #24 Chevy all day as his team kept him focused. He managed to bring it in leading the one lap back bunch which was just enough to clinch a spot for Phoenix.

Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell had Round of Eight wins for the advance and were “safe” at Martinsville. Larson and Bell finished 6th and 7th. Almirola hung on for 2nd, Hamlin was 3rd as Chase Briscoe and Joey Logano filled the top five.

The Championship is settled at Phoenix. Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell and William Byron are in the mix for the Cup. Any of the others can grab a final win of the season. Will it be an upset…? Or will one of the Championship Four take the final checkered flag?

Photo Gallery – NASCAR Cup Xfinity 500 – October 29, 2023 – Martinsville Speedway

Saturday racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series certainly turned the heat on at Martinsville Speedeay. There were cautions. There were stops. There was a chase for a championship on the line and the tensions were running hot from a full season of racing. Nothing set that stage more than the final restart in overtime.

Austin Hill and Sheldon Creed shared the front row on the restart as the team mates hit it forward. Creed gave Hill a bump in close quarters and had to check in the turn catching Hill’s bumper hard. The crowded turn three and four invited John Hunter Nemechek into the mix and cars started losing grip and going off . It was a crash-fest has Creed and Justin Allgaier came out of the turn. Allgaier and Creed came up the stretch wheel to quarters but it was Allgaier at the checkers.

Creed is on a different tack in 2024 leaving RCR for Joe Gibbs. Hill is making no secret he won’t miss Creed. We’ll have to wait to see if racing between the two next season has moments of heat.
For this season, both are out of the championship run.

The RCR team friction also benefited Cole Custer as he was points behind Hill but even though Custer crossed the line backwards and on fire he was now in front of Hill to make the round.

Allgaier came from spots behind to get the win at Martinsville and make the cut. He came into the weekend just a notch behind Hill and below the points line.

The “must win” setting of the race at Martinsville also set up friction between Joe Gibbs Racing team mates Sammy Smith and John Hunter Nemechek. Smith started on the pole and finished third but felt slighted by Nemechek after, as Smith saw it, Nemechek blocked a run and cost him enough to not make the championship advance.

The four drivers in the championship hunt are: Sam Mayer, Justin Allgaier, John H Nemechek, Cole Custer

There were a lot of damaged cars being hauled out of Martinsville but the final race at Phoenix will see four drivers in new cars racing against each other for the NASCAR Xfinity championship. Will one of the four make “must win” moves or will one of the other drivers on the track steal the glory of the last win of the season?

Photo Gallery – NASCAR Xfinity Dead On Tools 250 – Martinsville Speedway – October 28, 2023

It was eighth or better, for the most part. The finale race of the Whelen Modified Tour at Martinsville Speedway was focused for Ron Silk as his points coming in gave him a bit of a cushion. He managed to avoid catastrophe with a contact and spin about a third of the way through. His sixth pace run at the checkers kept his season points lead and the championship. It was his second (first in 2011) Whelen Modified championship.

Ryan Preece started on the front row beside pole winner Tyler Rypkema and kept his car either in front or in reach of it for the better part of the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200. A total of ten cautions including three red flags shook the field up some but Preece managed his pace and his car well and drove it in for the win. Preece is no stranger to the modifieds but his Cup season with Stewart-Haas kept him busy so this was his first start in the Whelens for the year.

Photo Gallery – Thursday, October 26, 2023
Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 – NASCAR Whelen Modfied Tour – Martinsville Speedway

Winners. Racing, like any sport, places emphasis on winning. Club racing and enthusiast track events, however, showcase more than Victory Lane. The focus on these events is sharing the experience of driving and improving the road skills to advance that experience. The phrase “everyone is a winner” is almost tailored to club races and gatherings. Yes, winning is fun and all that but experiencing your car and skill in that setting is also quite exhilarating. For many, winning is not the reason or the goal. Having a performance based automobile and being able to experience the car for what it was designed for is the focus. Putting amateur and professional drivers and their vehicles in the same space creates a dynamic display of design, color and speed.

For a cool October weekend, SpeedTour set the stage for these shared automotive experiences. This event is a vintage car show within a varied range of racing. The “winners” here are not only the owners and drivers but the fans that are there to see these fabulous cars in action.

Virginia International Raceway has hosted this event (and the Heacock Classic before) for several seasons. The setting is as much of a vintage beauty as the classic cars that are in the show. For racing fans, the Trans AM series offers a pure spectacle of American muscle and speed. The F4, FR America and the International GT are right there for speed but also throw world class variety in the mix. Let’s be real… F1 at COTA is a bit pricey and IndyCar doesn’t get that close to us here in Virginia but the SpeedTour gives us a very close view with the F4 and FR America! It is an authentic open wheel race experience in a beautiful setting.

Of course, a big part of the SpeedTour event is the SportsCar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) car show and vintage class racing. Ford GTs on track with an Aston Martin DB6, BMW 2002, split window ‘Vette and any number of MGs, Austin-Healeys and Sprites. Watching a classic Cobra race side by side with a vintage “whale tail” Porsche is almost as cool for the enthusiast fan as it is for the owner driver. As fans we get to enjoy these cars without that heavy maintenance price tag! It is a win-win for everyone!

Racing results can be found at the series websites: SVRA | Trans-Am | International GT | F4 US Champ | FR Americas

SpeedTour is a great showcase of Virginia International Raceway and an even better show of the variety of automotive design and progress. A photo gallery of the weekend is below!

It’s no secret that late season news from Pulaski County Motorsports Park has a future cast in a gray area. That will need a further look as information is available.

The season is winding down for 2023 with more racing to come and track champions still to be crowned. For this race day it was an odd Sunday afternoon start with racing rolling on under the lights. Saturday is the usual standard but other schedules for the feature forced racing to Sunday. The SMART Modified Tour was on, and in Radford for the “Radford 99”. The town name is what it is but the race is in honor of historic winning driver Paul Radford.

There was a bit of confusion over a scheduled “pit party” autograph and meet session that pushed the racing schedule back but they eventually got things moving. The feature SMART race “Radford 99” was flipped to the first race with the scheduled Sportsman opener moved to run just after.

Burt Myers seemed to start with control of the race but it was Samuel Rameau who took over and stayed strong for the finish. There were some yellow flags and a bit of concern with Bobby Labonte coming out of turn two and hitting the wall. The #18 seemed to loose a tire and hit the wall hard enough to shatter the right front suspension. He walked away and was seen later surveying the damage.

The local divisions took the track with the Sportsman running two 35 lap features. These were split by Super Street and visiting Mini Stocks. The Sportsman put hard fought laps on the track as Kyle Dudley qualified on top but it was front row challenger Jason Merriman who took the checkers twice. The Super Street had front row starter Matthew Gusler hit some bad luck and Tristen Barnes driving up for the win. The visiting Virginia Mini Cups also had the top spot qualifier (Noah Matthews) fall back as Zach Sprouse kept the front row hot for the win.


Radford 99 SMART Modified Top Three: Sammy Rameau, Matt Hirschman, Andrew Krause
Sportsman 1: Jason Merriman, Kyle Dudley, Charles Smith
Super Street: Tristen Barnes, Ray Sowers, Brent Bell
Mini Cup: Zach Sprouse, Nathan Thomas Jr, John Hager
Sportsman 2: Jason Merriman, Kyle Dudley, Anthony Barnes

Full Photo Gallery – Radford 99 SMART Modified Night – Pulaski County Motorsports Park

We’ve said it before with an earlier visit this season (2023)… Natural Bridge Speedway has made big moves forward after some deep questions about their future. The season has progressed and the cars, drivers and fans have joined the management with very positive results.

We made it back around for one of the “championship” nights for several divisions. The evening did get off the clock slightly with some of the practice and qualifying but green flag racing put the real show on.

The evening schedule presented seven races with Sportsman, Street Stock, Vintage Doubles, Late Model, Pure Stock, Ctates and the Rookies.

The show was lively but did stop down a few times for some tow truck cautions. Most notably coming out of turn 4 during the Late Model feature as Joe Leavell and Cody Wright got tangled and the cars had to be wrenched and pulled apart.

The Crates also pulled the tow truck out for Cecil Cash and Chris Brown as Brown’s #00 nosed into the rear of the #69 car. These were not the only yellow flag incidents on course but are noted for bringing out the tow and holding action for a bit longer than an average spin.

Fans are getting a show at NBS this season. There is parking and seating on both sides of the track with a good concessions offering and a new “VIP” view suite. The season still has action in store so check the schedule with more divisions going for the final championship plus a mid-October Fall Classic big weekend blow out!

Sportsman Top Three: Roger Rohrbaugh, Mike Ayers, Jonathan Wolfe
Street Stock Top Three: Ben Hamilton, Neil Murray, Jesse Murray
Vintage Sportsman: Andrew Fertig / Vintage Modified: Mike Houghtalin
Late Model Top Three: Derrick, Tyler Bare, Samuel Bryant
Pure Stock Top Three: Jacob McCormick, Sam Hamilton, Troy Fitzgerald
Crates Top Three: Ronnie Martin Jr, Joe Leavell, Ryan Adams
Rookies Top Three: Aiden Meade, Bradick Pruitt, Max Link

Full Photo Gallery – Natural Bridge Speedway – September 30, 2023