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Stephen Nasse: Inside the mind of Super Late Model racing’s most polarizing driver

Matt Weaver | STS

Here we go again.

It’s the start of a new month and we’ve flipped the page on one Stephen Nasse controversy while curiously counting down the days until the next one.

Right, wrong or indifferent, the 23-year-old Super Late Model driver from Pinellas Park, Florida is a news-maker in the world of short track racing. When fans see his name appear on an entry list, they should be compelled to buy a ticket. When media sees his name, they’re inspired to request a credential.

When fellow drivers see his name, they should be prepared for one hell of a race, and the possibility of an off-track throwdown.

“I don’t do these things on purpose,” Nasse told Short Track Scene on Wednesday. “It’s not like I set out to create a buzz. I do believe bad publicity is better than no publicity. And for every one person that has something critical to say, there are equally important people who say they appreciate the things I stand for and my take no crap attitude.

“But this isn’t something I necessarily want to be known for.”

The Beginning: Stephen Nasse intentionally wrecks William Byron under caution after Snowball incident

His reputation took a turn for the worse in the 2016 Snowball Derby at 5 Flags Speedway, when after contact and a spin at the hands of William Byron, Nasse turned around and drove backwards on the track until he found the emerging NASCAR prospect and took him out.

In a Twitter storm that lasted deep into the midnight hours following the race, Nasse said he was standing up for blue collar drivers under siege by rich kids who lacked respect on the track and were just passing through on the way to NASCAR.

It earned him an obvious amount of scorn from the racing industry, but it also provided him varying degrees of appreciation from like-minded competitors and observers.

Donnie Wilson vs. Nasse: Stephen punches Donnie inside his car | The Aftermath

In April, he and fellow Southern Super Series champion Donnie Wilson came to blows in Turn 1 at 5 Flags. Nasse and Wilson made contact, leaving Nasse feeling like he was done wrong, so he climbed out of his car and began punching Wilson — still strapped into his own Super Late Model.

It wasn’t his finest moment.

Nasse later apologized for his behavior, even though he later felt vindicated by on-board camera footage released later in the week.

Then of course, was the Redbud 400, where he sent Josh Brock around and into the Turn 4 wall on the last lap at Anderson Speedway in Indiana. Brock had executed a bump-and-run earlier in the lap and Nasse simply tried to give it right back.

Instead of a bump-and-run, it was a dump-and-run.

Nasse was confronted by Brock crew members, one of them even making death threats against his family. This time, Brock had to apologize, even though he felt like the end result on the track wasn’t justifiable.

“It’s always something with him,” Brock said after the race.

Josh Brock and the Redbud: Nasse’s dump-and-run | Brock apologizes for crewmember threats

While Nasse is the first to admit that he has done and said some things he isn’t proud of over the past two years, he also believes he’s becoming something of a victim of his own reputation — regardless of whether the actions in the moment warrant such an outburst.

“It’s like the Brock deal, man,” Nasse said. “We haven’t raced each other a lot before that. He doesn’t really know me. I think, sometimes, people try hard to ruffle my feathers to see what kind of reaction they’ll get. People like to poke the caged animal.”

In talking to his rivals, people seem to generally like Nasse’s candor and affable nature off the track, but also suggest that he needs to be more proactive than reactive with his emotions in the heat of the moment.

Wilson says he needs to control his anger, especially if others are starting to poke the caged animal.

“I was aggressive when I was a kid but I didn’t take anyone out,” the 47-year-old said. “Here’s the deal: I work on my own stuff. It’s all my stuff. I care because I’m the one that has to fix it. I can’t afford to have people intentionally race me that way.

“I know he’s the same way, so sometimes when you’re under the microscope like he is, you have to race with a little more respect and then you’ll start to get it back. That’s what I would tell him if we’re just being straight.”

Bubba Pollard is the undisputed face of Super Late Model racing right now. He’s the guy that has the loudest voice and even if people don’t like him, they listen when he speaks.

As a result, Pollard can relate to a degree to being in the spotlight.

“Looking back at it, I’ve said some things I shouldn’t have,” Pollard said. “I’ve done some things I wish I hadn’t — especially now that I have a family.

“And that’s the thing you know, I’ve learned that I don’t want to do anything that I would be ashamed to show my daughter. So, you just have to get smarter as you get older with the things you do, especially now, because we always have cameras on us.”

Pollard said he was disappointed in the things that were said at Anderson, adding that the vulgarity and threats of violence isn’t what short track racing is supposed to be about.

“I don’t even think it’s always his fault,” Pollard said of Nasse. “But sometimes, even when you don’t think it’s your fault when something happens, you have to suck it up and move on. I don’t want to be on the internet fighting or cussing because people will judge you based on those 30 seconds.

“And I don’t want my daughter to be one of them.”

Nasse has two nephews who are the light of his world and is often seen with them at the track. It’s the softer side of the driver that would offset his reputation to a point, if only they saw more of that, rather than the fighting.

Nasse agreed that he needs to be more reserved for their sake.

“My nephew makes me realize there’s more to life than racing,” Nasse said. “I’ve taken more time off this year. I’ve moved back home to work with my dad (at All-American Concrete, the family business). But I also want to spend more time with them.”

But at the same time, the extra time away has made him hungrier for wins. He feels like he gave up possible wins this season at New Smyrna, despite winning the World Series of Asphalt championship, Orange County and the Redbud.

He feels like getting back to Victory Lane with greater frequency would do just as much for how the racing world views him.

“I feel like if I won more, with this attitude, people would come around,” Nasse said. “It’s a lot like Kyle Busch. I’m not saying I’m him, but he’s found a way to take that chip on his shoulder and he’s made it lighthearted. He has fun with the fans, even those who hate him.

“Either way, I just need to win more. I need to make that the story instead of everything else that’s happened lately.”

Read more Short Track Scene:

Matt Weaver is the owner and founder of Short Track Scene. Weaver grew up in the sport, having raced himself before becoming a reporter in college at the University of South Alabama. He also has extensive experience covering NASCAR, IndyCar and Dirt Sprint Cars.

4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. David tron

    December 3, 2018 at 12:29 pm

    Nasse has fire, it is pretty great. But he also is an impetuous young dude, he can’t do any if those antics on a antional stage, not these days, he needs to temper himself and take 10 seconds incar before doing anything. Load it back up and tweet all the hate but don’t put people in harm’s way. Kyle bucsh and Tony stewart all learned to ease it off even Harvick.

  2. Dave Osbun

    December 3, 2018 at 9:39 pm

    Pretty strange trust some are saying hat his crew put him in danger by accidentally leaving lugs loose, yet it is ok to throw a helmet, as well alas punched, as unsuspecting crew members? If a someone was seriously hurt due to his violent actions, I am sure the eventual lawsuit could lead to big, big problems for the sanctioning body that allows him to partake in their events, due to his past history.

  3. Dennis Webb

    October 7, 2019 at 1:11 pm

    Nasse was getting beat at a $10,000 to win race in citrus county speedway by local racer Mike Bresnahan. On a restart with 20 laps to go, Nasse ran down in turn three and turned Bresnahan knowing he could not beat Bresnahan. Citrus County has a rule, all involved go to the rear. He cost a local racer that win and money! When Nasse was booed and yelled at, he told everyone over the mic to come see him in the pits! No class!. Someday he will wreck the wrong one! It’s just a matter of time.

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