(Will Belamy / Racing America photo)
Drivers like to race at places they know, but the 2023 ASA Southern Super Series has been anything but that for the would-be championship hopefuls. A slew of races in the middle of the schedule come as the series makes visits to three new tracks in North Carolina in consecutive races.
It does have driver Jett Noland on the edge of the roof with his day job at Noland Roofing where he can see the world from the top of his many projects. As he’s inspecting roofs during the day he wants to be on top of the world in the racing game too and there have been a lot of positives coming from the new venues.
“Our qualifying runs have not been the best because I haven’t been to the tracks that we have raced the last few times out. With short practice days and weather we have really been behind a bit compared to the guys that have raced there. The tracks have come to us after a few laps because we have a good car and we end up posting some solid finishes.”
Noland has been busy making progress on the track and he was awarded the hard charger award at Hickory for improving the most positions during the race. He was 11 to the good to post his second top 10 of the season.
“We have a good team,” explained Noland. “Jesse Dutilly and all the guys work so hard to keep us going. The last time out we only had a handful of days to get the same car ready for Hickory after North Wilkesboro. It was tough, but we finished all the laps in both races and had some decent runs.”
He improved 19 spots at North Wilkesboro, but even that couldn’t get him in the top 10. He would have to settle for 13th, but against the NASCAR ringers it was a solid effort. Statistically, the numbers are not as strong as 2022, but the outcomes have some better results against better fields. Had they finished at Five Flags they could be seeking their fourth top 10 run in five races at the next race.
Southern National and Carteret County will be new stops for Noland as driver and for many of the Southern Super Series regulars.
“I have never been to these tracks either, but I like racing in North Carolina,” added Noland. “We get a chance to run two very different race tracks and with the races being back-to-back we like our chances for some solid finishes. If we can qualify in the top 10 then we have a better chance of having a really good run.”
The northern swing continues for the ASA Southern Super Series in the Tar Heel State with a doubleheader at Southern National Motorsport Park on Thursday, June 22nd and then at Carteret County Speedway on Saturday, June 24th. Both races will be paying $10,000 to win. There is also a $5,000 bonus if a driver can win both races.
For more information on the ASA Southern Super Series visit the series website www.southernsuperseries.com and visit the ASA STARS Tour site https://starsnationaltour.com
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