JACKSONVILLE, NC – Defending New River All American Speedway champion Paul Williamson will try his hands against the best Late Model Stock Car racers in the country in Saturday’s National Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram 250 at the Jacksonville track.
Williamson, 27, from Kenansville, North Carolina, scored the championship in the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Late Model division, the first of his career. The championship came in dramatic fashion as his main championship rivals were sidelined in the 2023 season while Williamson went on to win the race and the title.
“I don’t think it’s settled in completely yet,” Williamson said. “That will all come to an end once the season starts. We’re coming off a high from last season. The last race was definitely an exciting one. We hope to keep the momentum going forward. To climb back in the car Monday, things were looking good and going good. To be introduced as the track champion from 2023 is an honor in itself and hopefully, we can keep the reputation going this year. We’d like to go back-to-back if we can, but the end goal is to stay humble in all this.”
Williamson tested his Late Model Stock Car at New River on Monday before making the decision to go ahead and enter to compete in Saturday’s zMAX CARS Tour presented by Soundgear headliner. He is hoping for a strong performance but keeping expectations in check.
“Our expectations would definitely be to maybe come home with a top-10,” Williamson stated. “The car was strong on Monday but I haven’t been in the car since last year so I still have some rust to knock off. I’d like to think I could still find more speed. I would like to come home with a top-10 and have a clean car. Wendell Davis definitely set that car up though, that’s for sure. That thing was a rocket ship on Monday.”
For Williamson, Saturday’s race will be a dream come true.
Along with the CARS Tour regulars, Williamson will also get to race against two-time Daytona 500 champion and NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
“It’s exciting because you’re racing with some of the best short track racers around,” Williamson explained. “To run against Dale Jr. is icing on the cake. I’ve always wanted to say I raced with an Earnhardt, and, after Saturday, I’ll get to say that. I’ve watched him at Florence (S.C.) and he did pretty decent there so maybe I can race side-by-side with him.”
Paul Williamson began his racing career at New River, then called Coastal Plains Raceway. He scored his first career Late Model Stock Car win at Southern National Motorsports Park in Lucama, North Carolina in April 2018. He has since won twice in a Late Model at New River.
However, things have never looked like they will on Saturday night – and Williamson is excited about the most anticipated event in speedway history.
“I’ve had a lot of people ask me this week about Dale Jr. and I’ve got a lot of people who are coming to watch,” Williamson remarked. “There’s a big buzz around here.”
Williamson is one of 26 drivers who will contest the 125-lap CARS Late Model Stock Tour portion of the National Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram 250. The Grand National Super Series, INEX Legends, and INEX Bandoleros will also be in action. More information, including times, tickets, and more can be found at newriverspeedway.com/carstour.
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 and/or follow @newriverswy on X (formerly known as Twitter).
