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Winchester 400 winner Stephen Nasse takes aim at All-American triumph

Nasty Nasse / Classy Naase will look to extend a signature season on Sunday at Nashville

Jeff Ames | STS

Stephen Nasse’s pursuit of a crown jewel sweep begins on Sunday in the All-American 400 at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville.

Having captured a famed Winchester 400 rifle last month in dominant fashion, leading all but eight laps in the CRA Super Series championship race, Mr. Excitement now turns his attention to the next marquee event in Music City USA.

This will be the 24-year-old from Pinellas Park, Florida’s second best start in the Civil War Wheels, taking the green in fifth after behind his fourth-place starting spot in 2017.

Nasse believes his success in the most recent marathon race in Indiana will translate to Sunday’s 400 lapper.

“A lot transfers over just as far as the distance-wise goes. 400 laps, anywhere is going to be tough, but when you take a track like Nashville or Winchester, it makes it even tougher. Here off of two has a bump, and three and four is a little tricky to get through as well,” Nasse said.

Nasse is no stranger to success at the Fairgrounds. He already has a top-five, and a top-10 on his All-American 400 resumé, with three other top-10s in the annual spring event.

His most impressive race to date at this event was in 2016, when he led 41 laps and finished fourth. Nasse is hoping this past experience will translate to this year when it comes down to the wire.

“Probably about lap 350, I want to try to get up front if I can early, and I’d like to lead as much as I can, but I won’t risk my car doing it”, Nasse said.

Nasse has mixed opinions over the amount of 16 tires each team is allotted for Sunday. He is pleased it will make for an easier driving car but also says it could hamper the ability to pass with drivers so seldomly on used rubber.

“We get a lot of tires here, 12 tires, inside the pits, you know that’s not including what’s on your car.” “That makes the cars better to drive for us, less of a handful, but at the same time, it’s going to make it harder to get by people, because you really start slipping by guys once the tires wear out,” Nasse said.

And if he can somehow add a famed guitar to his rifle, then Nasse gets to set his sights on the Tom Dawson Memorial Trophy at the Snowball Derby.

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