Donovan Strauss has joined Tom Usry Racing, starting at the South Carolina 400 at Florence Motor Speedway.
Strauss just finished his first full-time season in the CARS Late Model Stock Tour. He competed with Hettinger racing, scoring five top ten finishes and ending the season ninth in points. His first race with Usry was at Florence for the South Carolina 400 on November 22.
“Kenneth [Packer] has given me a unique opportunity to drive his car next year,” Strauss said. “I know he’s very specific on who he wants in his racecars. I’m unbelievably privileged to know that he trusts me to go out and win races and compete at a high level. I can’t thank him, Sandy Packer and Kaden Honeycutt enough.
“Kaden helped me a lot in this deal. It’s a unique opportunity with a really great family and I’m ready to get to it.”
Strauss’ rookie year in Late Models was at Florence in 2024, where he picked up his first career win. He also competed in the South Carolina 400 last year, so he is feeling good about his chances in the crown jewel.
“I’ve won at Florence, I’ve ran a lot of races at Florence and I’ve been up front a lot,” Strauss said. “I’m going in there trying to win the race and I believe that is definitely possible. I feel like if you’re [looking for] ones to watch, you should watch the [No.] 17 team. Josh Berry ran up front last year in that car and I know I’ve got a lot of good people around me, so it’s up to me to be able to fulfill that. I believe in myself and I know the people around me believe in me as well.”
Strauss will also be with the team in 2026, running a variety of Late Model Stock races, including at least some of the CARS Tour Season and the Virginia Triple Crown, as well as potentially more starts in 2025.
“I’m not leaving anything off the table for the rest of 2025,” Strauss said. “We’ve had those conversations. Our plan is to do select CARS Tour races and the entire Triple Crown; a bunch of crown jewel races, so a little bit of everything. You’ll see us involved in a little bit of everything.
“Kaden, I’m sure, will drive a couple more races. It’s good to have him behind me because I know he’s going to push me to be my best in that group. It’s a great opportunity, and I can’t thank Fayetteville Heating & Air Conditioning [enough] as well. They’ve been a big part in this. And Wynn Site Development. It’s going to be a good deal. I’m in the mindset of putting my head down and going out and working hard to try to win races.”
