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South Carolina Drivers Hoping to Defend Home Turf in CARS Tour Old North State Nationals

Kristy Smith-Palmer photo

Next weekend’s Heritage Risk Management Old North State Nationals presented by GXS Wraps, which will take place at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in neighboring South Carolina, will see some of the biggest names in the Solid Rock Carriers CARS Tour take on some of South Carolina’s hottest drivers in a border war in the Carolinas.

The $30,000-to-win race, the richest Late Model Stock Car race of 2020, was originally slated to take place at Orange County Speedway in April, but was pushed back and then moved to Greenville due to restrictions in place in North Carolina to combat the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The move to Greenville-Pickens Speedway has excited many of the competitors from the half-mile track because it will bring some of the sport’s heavy-hitters to their backyard.

“I’m very excited,” 2018 Greenville-Pickens Speedway champion Trey Gibson said. “I’ve always wanted a big race to come to Greenville.”

Gibson is one of four track champions entered in next Sunday’s Old-North State Nationals. If he makes the field, it will be his first start in the Solid Rock Carriers CARS Tour.

“Greenville is not an easy track to get around,” Gibson stated. “It can be a struggle for some that have never been here. It does make it a little easier with the new pavement, but it can still be difficult.”

Janson Marchbanks is a relative newcomer to Late Model Stock Car racing after running in the INEX Legends circuit – where he picked up wins at several different tracks and championships. Marchbanks scored a Limited Late Model win at Greenville earlier this year and is excited about the opportunity to race with the CARS Tour brethren.

“It’s an honor to go race with some of the best drivers in the country,” Marchbanks said. “It teaches you a lot about how to race up front with these guys and how tight they run you. I can’t wait to learn from some of those guys and hopefully better myself in Late Model Stocks.”

Riley Gentry is another Greenville-Pickens Speedway regular who is excited about the opportunity to run in a marquee race in his backyard.

“I was really excited when I saw the announcement,” Gentry said. “I’m very glad the CARS Tour is coming here because not only is it a chance for me, but for everyone who’s run here to step out and contend for the win against guys like Josh Berry.”

For Marchbanks, who is 16-years-old and hopes to climb up the racing ladder, a win would be huge but he knows even finishing in the top-10 against the CARS Tour field would be a “huge accomplishment.”

Gibson, however, hopes home track advantage will propel him to victory lane.

“I feel like my advantage would be all the laps I have around the track,” Gibson remarked. “I have raced there since 2010, since that is one of my home tracks. We want to win the $30,000.”

The Old North State Nationals at Greenville-Pickens Speedway will be the second visit to the famed old track by the Solid Rock Carriers CARS Tour. The CARS Late Model Stock Tour last visited the track in 2016, with Tommy Lemons, Jr. scoring the victory over Chad McCumbee, eventual track champion Dylan Hall, Josh Berry and Chase Purdy.

Tickets for the Old North State Nationals are on sale now only at www.carsracingtour.com, and reflect heavy savings for those purchasing in advance. Fans can view the complete pre entry list as of 10/16 on the site as well.

General admission tickets to Saturday’s qualifying race day and concert are $15.00 in advance and $22.00 the day of the event for adults thirteen years of age and older. Kids twelve and under are free with a paid adult. Trackside parking spots are $13 in advance and $20 the day of the event.

Sunday afternoon’s 200 lap main event, general admission ticket will be $23 in advance and $30 the day of the event for adults thirteen years of age and older. Kids twelve and under are free with a paid adult. Trackside parking spots are $13 in advance and $20 the day of the event.

Camping for the event weekend is free and heavily encouraged by both CARS and Greenville-Pickens Speedway.

For additional information on the CARS Late Model Stock Tour and the CARS Super Late Model Tour visit www.carsracingtour.com. Be sure to stay active and social with the tour by liking “CARS Tour” on Facebook, following @CARSTour on Twitter, and scrolling through photos on Instagram cars_tour. Additional series information can be obtained by calling the CARS Tour series office, located in Mooresville, NC, at 704.662.9212.

Marquis comes from St. Charles, Maryland and has a widespread background in journalism, having covered politics in Washington and Maryland as well as nearly every form of auto racing, including NASCAR, IndyCar, AMA Motocross and IHRA Drag Racing. Now living near Emerald Isle, North Carolina, Marquis covers Late Model Stock Cars and Super Late Models in the Carolinas and Virginia.

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