When the racing world shifts their eyes to North Wilkesboro Speedway for the NASCAR All-Star Race week on May 16-21, Sammy Smith will have claim to something only a couple other drivers throughout all the divisions set to be in action can say they also have – a win at the historic oval.
Super Late Model racing returned to North Wilkesboro Speedway last August for the first time since 2011 with a 75-lap race co-sanctioned by Champion Racing Association and the Southern Super Series. The Iowa driver led every lap on his way to a dominating with that night.
The two-time ARCA Menards Series East champion is one of just four drivers in any of the divisions racing during the weekend currently planned to enter with a win at North Wilkesboro in the past, joining Carson Kvapil (2022 CARS LMSC), Chase Elliott (2010 PASS South), and Ryan Newman (2022 SMART Modified Tour).
“It was very cool to win and go up the elevator. It was the first or second race back,” said Smith of the win. “It was cool to be able to do that and hopefully we can go back-to-back here in a couple weeks.”
Nine months after that big win, Smith returns to North Wilkesboro looking to double up on Super Late Model wins at the facility when the ASA STARS National Tour takes the green flag for the ECMD 150 on Tuesday, May 16. His rookie year in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Joe Gibbs Racing has been a strong one so far, picking up his first-career win at Phoenix Raceway and scoring another two top-five finishes.
With the busy Xfinity Series schedule comes less opportunity to get behind the wheel of a Super Late Model, however. The ECMD 150 will be his first start since last December’s Snowball Derby, when he finished second to Derek Thorn.
“It’s been a while, been since the Snowball Derby that I was last in a Super. I’m really excited to get back in one and do it at a track we were really fast at last year. It’s a one-day show so we don’t get practice before. I feel like that plays in our favor just because of knowing what it takes to be fast there.”
With Smith’s return to Super Late Model racing comes a continued partnership with Donnie Wilson. Since joining the Wilson Motorsports team in 2021, he’s garnered wins in the Winchester 400, Redbud 400, Florida Governor’s Cup, and a World Series of Asphalt Super Late Model championship.
Smith only has four Super Late Model races currently scheduled in 2023, one of them being with the ASA STARS National Tour at Wisconsin International Raceway. He looks to make the most of each start, starting with North Wilkesboro.
“I love working with Donnie and Bond (Suss, Crew Chief) and all the guys. Now being with Toyota, I’m excited to get back. I wish I could run more races than I do but I think I only have four with how my schedule is. For North Wilkesboro to be one of them, I’m excited to get back there and try to win for a second time.”
Single-day general admission tickets for the May 16 ASA Stars ECMD 150 are $30 and available at www.northwilkesborospeedway.com. Children six and under are admitted free. Advance parking is also available for purchase online. Fans can connect with North Wilkesboro Speedway and get the latest news regarding NASCAR All-Star week and North Wilkesboro Speedway by following on Twitter and Instagram or becoming a Facebook fan.
The ASA STARS National Tour opened the ten race, six-state schedule at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL on March 11. Georgia racer Casey Roderick won the Sunshine State 200.
For the full ASA STARS National Tour schedule, plus Super Late Model rules and other information, please visit the series website at starsnationaltour.com, or be sure to follow the series on social media (Facebook: STARS National Series | Twitter: @racewithstars | IG: @starsnational).
ASA STARS National Tour
The ASA STARS National Tour debuted in March of 2023 for Super Late Model racing in America. Announced last October, many of the best drivers in America will compete in the ten-race national tour with a minimum $100,000 point fund. The championship team will be guaranteed $25,000.
The ASA STARS National Tour is made up of three races from each of the regional pavement Super Late Model Series under the Track Enterprises banner; the ASA CRA Super Series, the ASA Midwest Tour and the ASA Southern Super Series.
The Team Construction Winner’s Circle program has been announced as a part of the ASA STARS National Tour for licensed drivers/teams with perfect attendance. The program provides additional financial incentives to those teams who support the Series, thanks to Team Construction.
Track Enterprises, a Racing Promotions Company based in Illinois, will operate the ASA STARS National Tour. It announced the acquisition of the CRA sanctioning body in January and followed that up with the purchase of the Midwest Tour in July. In October, Track Enterprises President, Bob Sargent announced a partnership with the Southern Super Series which set the table for the formation of the ASA STARS National Tour.
