JACKSONVILLE, NC – 19 drivers will be heading into Saturday night’s All-American Showdown with pressure increasing to make the playoffs before September.
New River All-American Speedway’s largest NASCAR-sanctioned divisions, the Swansboro Liquidations Bomber division and Champ Kart class, will each be in action twice alongside the USAC Eastern Midgets and Southern Ground Pounders Vintage Racing Club. In these two divisions, a combined nine playoff spots remain open with 19 drivers vying for them.
Kevin Wrenn leads the playoff standings in the Bomber division with four wins, while Hunter Brown has three wins and Nathan Hall and Eddie Humphrey each have two wins. With those four drivers locked in, there are only four open positions and eight drivers trying to clinch one.
“I just keep digging, trying to get a win,” Bomber driver Michael Withrow, who is on the outside of the playoff bubble, said. “Being in a must-win situation is stressful, but I know my time will come.”
Withrow joins fellow Jacksonville driver Johnny Floyd as well as Richlands competitors Justin Brooks and Dominic Baez as the drivers on the outside looking in. While either Floyd or Withrow could slip in on points, they know the most realistic path to the playoffs is to win a race. Baez and Brooks, meanwhile, must win to advance.
Robert Drum, Richard Smith, Haley Brown, and Chad Cunningham make up the four drivers who currently find themselves in the playoffs, but on the bubble.
Drum, who has scored one five top-five finishes this season, is going in with the mindset of winning a race and clinching a playoff spot despite having an 82-point gap over Johnny Floyd.
“It’s got to be basically a must-win situation, especially with the issues of getting wrecked a couple of weeks ago and having to use the backup car,” Drum explained. “I got the Celica fixed, I think, so we’ll see this win. I want to be locked in so we don’t have to worry about it, if I have another issue between now and the playoffs, I’m already locked in and can take time to get the car right and make sure it’s fine for the playoffs.”
Aaron Layden leads the playoff standings in the Champ Kart division, being solidly locked in with four wins on the season. With his playoff ticket punched, Layden is one of three drivers in the division who can compete without the burden of having to win races.
“Having four wins, with three in a row, is helping me carry momentum into the playoffs,” Layden stated. “Over the next couple of races, I can relax and try to help others find speed. We have a good field of racers, so I’ll slack a little over the next six races, but then it’s time to go when the playoffs start.”
Josh Eubanks and Corey Lucas are also locked into the playoffs in September with two wins a piece. Jacob Tingen and Keith Webb, who each have one win on the season, are not yet locked into the playoffs with six races remaining until the semifinal round on Saturday, September 16, 2023. Joining Tingen and Webb on the bubble are Herbert Keaton, Martin Grasso, and Miles Rochelle, while Ashley Keaton, Tripp Dail, Jonah Lind, Hunter Gonia, Carlton Sullivan, and Jimmie Whitehurst all presently find themselves on the outside but in the hunt.
The semifinal races for the Bomber and Champ Kart divisions will take place on Saturday, September 16, 2023. The four highest finishers of the eight semifinalists will transfer into the championship final on Sunday, September 17, 2023 – with the highest finishing finalist winning the division title and forever being able to call themselves a NASCAR champion.
Due to the extreme heat this summer, New River All-American Speedway recently announced that the next three races (July 29, August 5, and August 12) will all start at 8:00pm. Tickets are available online through MyRacePass through Friday or at the gate (cash only) on race day for $10, with kids five (5) and under admitted free.
New River All-American Speedway is Jacksonville’s Action Attraction featuring racing and other events. For more information about New River All-American Speedway, check out the speedway’s website, like/follow “New River Speedway” on Facebook, follow @newriverswy on Twitter, or follow the track on Instagram.
