Inside Circle Track

NASCAR moving Truck Series from Eldora to Knoxville

In 2013 the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series held its initial race at Eldora Speedway making it the first time one of the sanctioning body’s top-three divisions competed on a dirt surface in decades. Since then, that series had continued to make yearly stops at the Tony Stewart-owned facility located in Rossburg, OH until the coronavirus pandemic of 2020 forced the race intended for this summer to be cancelled. And now, it looks as if the time in which the trucks will race on one of the country’s most historic dirt tracks has come to an end, at least for…

Casey Roderick enjoying success while doing it his own way

This is the first of a two-part story from our interview with Casey Roderick. The second story will be posted prior to the Snowball Derby. On November 2nd of this year, Casey Roderick scored one of the biggest wins of his racing career when he steered his Super Late Model machine under the checkered flag in the All-American 400 at the historic Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. But it was more than just another win for the Lawrenceville, GA driver. The emotional victory served as proof that the 28-year-old racer could not only succeed at short track racing’s highest level, something that…

Bubba Pollard captures Florida Governors Cup 200 at New Smyrna

Super Late Model machines hit the pavement on Sunday afternoon at New Smyrna Speedway for the 55th annual Halifax Health Race to Stop Suicide Florida Governor’s Cup 200. At the end of the day, it was Bubba Pollard who would accept the accolades for his victory in a race broadcast by NBC Sports Gold Track Pass. It was the first Governor’s Cup triumph for the veteran racer from Senoia, GA. Veteran campaigner and New Smyrna regular Brad May set the fast time in qualifying with a lap of 17.820 seconds around the half-mile paved oval to top Jesse Dutilly, Daniel…

Corey Heim takes big steps up the racing ladder in 2020

Every young and aspiring race car driver hopes to have a moment of achievement that will propel him/her forward and open the door for greater opportunities in the future. This past October at Kansas Speedway, 18-year-old Corey Heim experienced one of those moments when he won the ARCA Menards Series race held at that 1.5-mile facility. Suddenly many who may not follow short track racing very closely knew the name of this Marietta, GA native. For those who do follow Late Model short track racing, Heim’s success on the bigger stage did not necessarily come as a major surprise. He…

Harvick exclusion shows folly of the system … or the greatness

I’m old enough that I have clear memories of every championship-determining system that NASCAR has used during its modern era from the season-long compilation of points to the current NASCAR Playoffs. Each has had its merits and each has had its drawbacks. And depending on your point of view, this year’s NASCAR Cup Series finale in Phoenix clearly shows that the current system has drawbacks … or merits. Keven Harvick has, to this point, had a very impressive 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver has to date scored nine wins along with 20 top-five and 26 top-ten…

Bubba Pollard voices views on the state of short track racing

This is the first of a two-part story from our interview with Bubba Pollard. The second story will be posted prior to the Snowball Derby. When the topic of short track racing comes up, the name of Senoia, GA driver Bubba Pollard is almost certain to be mentioned early in the conversation. The highly successful driver has piled up scores of victories throughout a career that has spanned more than two decades. Much like top dirt racers such as Scott Bloomquist, Jimmy Owens, or Billy Moyer, this star is immediately recognizable among fans and competitors as soon as his car…

Stephen Nasse captures Pro Late Model victory at the Fairgrounds

Stephen Nasse entered Sunday afternoon at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway hoping to score wins in both the Pro Late Model and the All-American 400 event for Super Late Model cars. In the day’s opener, the Pinellas Park, FL driver accomplished half of that mission by earning a coveted guitar trophy and the $5,000 paycheck for winning the Pro Late Model feature. Dylan Fetcho earned the pole for the Pro Late Model race by touring the .596-mile track in 18.891 seconds. Michael House, Stephen Nasse, Austin Wilson, Hunter Wright, Daniel Bolden, Kyle Ivey, Benny Hamlet, Davey Coble and Cole Williams will…

Casey Roderick vindicated with All-American 400 triumph

There were some who criticized Casey Roderick following last year’s All-American 400. The Lawrenceville, GA driver had raced the leaders hard all the way to the finish despite having been lapped earlier in the day. He contended after that race that he believed he had been wrongfully scored as a lap down and wanted to gain positions in hopes that a scoring might be found after the race. That never happened and the driver was ultimately credited with a seventh place finish in that race with scoring showing him two laps in arrears. On Sunday evening, the 28-year-old driver found…

Kodie Conner claims All-American 400 pole

The field is now set for one of pavement short track racing’s crown jewel events. The All-American 400 will take the green flag on Sunday afternoon at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway and it will be Kannapolis, NC driver Kodie Conner who will lead the charge to the starting line to get the 300-lap main event underway. The All-American 400 is an event that combines Super late Models with Pro Late Models into a one-day double-header. The Pro Late Model feature, which will be the first to run on Sunday, will go to a length of 100 laps. Conner set…

Domination becoming the norm at Martinsville

The final cut leading into the NASCAR Cup Series championship finale will be held this weekend(hopefully) at the Martinsville Speedway. When the checkered flag waves over the field on Sunday, the four drivers who will compete for the series title at Phoenix Raceway will be known. Since it was announced last year that this paper clip-shaped half-mile track would serve as the venue for the final cutoff, the anticipation has been building. Many believe that this race on this track will provide twists and turns along with a dose of intensity that will make it the perfect site for the…