The South Carolina 400 at Florence Motor Speedway is over two months away but the pole winner of the prestigious Late Model Stock portion will be decided on Friday night.
It’s an important prize because 53 cars entered the spiritual successor to the Myrtle Beach 400 last year so the opportunity to bypass time trials and know 80 days in advance that you will lead the field to green is a huge advantage.
With that in mind, 28 would be competitors for the South Carolina 400 have entered the Locked In 150 and it contains some of the biggest names in short track racing in addition to some from the NASCAR world at large too.
Following his Late Model Stock Car debut in May in the CARS Tour race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Chase Briscoe will once again compete for Chad Bryant Racing on Friday in the Low Country. Also making a surprise appearance is Super Late Model standout Stephen Nasse, making his first appearance in a Late Model Stock in two years, with his sights set on winning the 400 in November.
Truck Series regular Rajah Caruth is also entered.
A good number of top Late Model Stock Car regulars will be in attendance too in the form of CARS Tour contenders Carson Kvapil of JR Motorsports and Brenden Queen of Lee Pulliam Performance, the latter of which whom won the South Carolina 400 last year.
The winner of February’s Icebreaker, Doug Barnes Jr., is also entered into the event alongside fellow NASCAR Weekly Series championship finalist, and points leader, Connor Hall. This race will count for national points so a Barnes victory could go a long way towards making up ground in the final weeks of the season.
Then there’s Florence Speedway regulars like Bryant Barnhill, Lanie Buice, Matt Cox, Cody Kelley, Justin Milliken and Sam Yarbrough.
The race will be run in two segments. The first segment will come to an end after 97 laps, which is in tribute to the late Marty Ward, who passed away in August following a heart attack. One of his most famous numbers was the No. 97.
Cars will return to their pit stalls and will be allowed to make changes while the local 15-lap Bandolero feature is contested. Immediately afterwards, the Late Model Stocks will return to the track to run the final 53 laps.
The winner of the race will earn the pole for November’s South Carolina 400.
The race will air live on FloRacing for those unable to attend.
- Doug Barnes Jr.
- Trent Barnes
- Bryant Barnhill
- Chase Briscoe
- Lanie Buice
- Justin Campbell
- Rajah Caruth
- Matt Cox
- Ryan Glenski
- Connor Hall
- JJ June
- Casey Kelley
- Cody Kelley
- Matt Linker
- Jeremy McDowell
- Justin Milliken
- Zack Miracle
- Stephen Nasse
- Brandon Pierce
- Brenden Queen
- Jaiden Reyna
- David Roberts
- Paige Rogers
- Jonathan Shafer
- Travis Truett
- Sam Yarbrough
- Connor Zilisch
