Not many people would have expected Trevor Ward, one of the sport’s throwback independent drivers, to come away with the victory in the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 in 2023, but that is exactly what happened.
One year later, the 26-year-old, third-generation driver from North Carolina is back at the ‘paperclip’ to defend his crown in Late Model Stock Car racing’s richest and most prestigious event.
“I feel like we’ve got to keep pushing to be better,” Ward told Short Track Scene. “This year, we’re coming out of the box with a brand new car and trying to get a little better so we can duplicate what we did last year. I felt a lot better when it was all fresh and over with. As the time started ticking and it’s getting closer to defend this thing, I would love to. Chances are slim as far as the luck that goes into it and the rae pace you have to have patience for, but I’m super pumped to go into this deal knowing we got that check off the box.”
Much like last year, Ward’s seat time has been limited in 2024. However, he has found success, scoring a runner-up finish in the Thunder Road Harley Davidson 200 at South Boston Speedway back in June. With hopes of defending his Virginia Triple Crown title, Ward went to Langley Speedway in July but was forced out of the race 101 laps in with alternator problems.
“It’s like, if you look at it, we haven’t run a lot this year but the ones we have, we had a lot of success in,” Ward explained. “Going into Martinsville last year, I ran seven or eight times. This year, I ran four or five. If you look at the 200, going into it at South Boston, last year we finished fifth and came out with a third after some disqualifications. This year, we came in with better speed. Connor [Hall] got by us and we came out of that with a second. We led some laps and built some confidence at South Boston.”
Ward, who is the son of veteran racer Dean Ward, has raced in Late Model Stock Cars for over a decade. Heading into the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 last year, Ward was already considered one of the more talented and hardest working drivers in the series. That profile grew with his triumph in the fall classic.
However, sponsorship did not.
“I’ve raced Late Model Stock Cars for 10 years and it’s been a long road to get me where I’m at,” Ward remarked. “As far as going into races, I wish I would’ve got more out of it as far as sponsorship and stuff like that. Owning your own team, crew chiefing yourself, and driving yourself is a lot of work. That’s three jobs on me. I wish more sponsorship would have come out of it. But I feel pretty good the people around us know we’ve got it and know we’ll be in contention when we show up.”
For Ward, the job is not finished.
“I’m trying to build an elite team this year with better cars and a two-car team,” Ward continued. “We took off some races just to be able to build those and come out the following year with a little more equipment and better equipment and to race a little bit more.”
After the ValleyStar Credit Union 300, Ward will turn his attention to the zMAX CARS Tour finale at North Wilkesboro Speedway, the Rodney Cook Classic at Ace Speedway, and a handful of other races still up in the air.
