_________________________________________________________
Brent
Nelson and Family Team Finally Overcome Years of Gremlins to Be
Named Super Cup Stock Car Series Champion
Statesville,
North Carolina (October 15, 2024) – Seven times in the past 10
seasons, Brent Nelson finished second or third in the final overall
Super Cup Stock Car Series point standings.
He led the way on multiple occasions during the beginning or
middle stages of various years, having accumulated statistics that
now top the all-time leaderboard in numerous different categories.
Despite their best endeavors preparing in the Petersburg,
West Virginia shop during offseason months and between races,
something always unexpectedly got in the Nelson Motorsports team’s
way at some point.
That is, until
2024. Nelson completed
every single one of the possible laps, leading more than 80 percent
of them, and winning five times which matched his total from 2023.
It was more than enough to hoist the long-awaited
championship trophy during the annual season-ending Awards
Presentation that took place following racing festivities at
Lonesome Pine Motorsports Park in Coeburn, Virginia.
“I’ve battled
gremlins for 14 years to finally get to this point,” Nelson,
making it three titles in a row by a driver from the Mountaineer
State, explained that evening. “You
hear noises with 15 to go, 10 to go, and it’s like come on, hold
together. We were
fortunate to be able to capture all of the points 
possible
and secure the championship this year.
Our whole operation is a family affair.
We’ve done it year in and year out, ups and downs, but we
were able to get it tonight though.”
Brent along with
his wife Wendy, brother and crew chief / spotter Rocky, and
Rocky’s wife Patsy as well as a few additional helpers from time
to time still needed to execute going into the final weekend of the
season. His closest
competitor in the standings Bill Ashton, who earned Top Performing
Rookie honors the same year Nelson accomplished his first podium
points finish in 2014, was right there challenging from the green to
checkered flag practically every race.
“Hats off to
Bill,” Nelson commented. “It
was between him and I pretty much the whole season.
Either one of us could have walked out of here with it.”
In addition to the
championship, the driver of the No. 80 Precision Auto Collision /
JEBCO / QH Design / Chevrolet was presented with the Car Owner of
the Year award, this year named in memory of past competitor and
team owner Mike Potter, who passed away at the end of 2022.
Nelson has previously received other special awards such as
the Patrick Miller Sportsman of the Year and Charlie Canterbury Hard
Charger of the Year.
“Just this past
week I was reviewing pictures when we were at Tri-County Speedway
and Mike was there,” Nelson indicated.
“We were fortunate to have a conversation, tell stories
like we always did, and were able to close that chapter.
I’m honored to receive that award.”
Part
of what went into the decision to give this year’s award to Nelson
was his efforts to bring along a frequent crew member, who wanted to
get back behind the wheel, in one of his past rides.
Larry Frame from Yellow Spring, West Virginia had a learning
curve, having only previously raced Four Cylinder and “Grocery
Getter” type cars, but achieved third in the final points and Top
Performing Rookie honors and looks to return to further improve on
his results in 2025.
“I’m really
satisfied, you know, just a new experience for me and I loved every
bit of it,” Frame said. “I
need to thank (Brent Nelson) and Wendy, Rocky, and Patsy, all of
them. Meant a lot to me.”
Pennsylvania
drivers Mike Senica, achieving his best career effort with a trio of
third place finishes, and Jason Schue, matching his best points
outcome from a year ago, rounded out the top five in the standings.
Ending up runner-up
was Uniontown, Pennsylvania’s Bill Ashton, but coming up one spot
short was by no means disappointing after having a career season and
winning for the first time since 2016.
“I
loved this year,” Ashton remarked.
“The older I get, the more I like it and the more fun it
gets. It was pretty cool
to have Brent win the points championship.
He’s been working at it a long long time.”
When he won his
first race eight years back, Ashton announced in victory lane that
it may be his last. Once
again, that could be the case, and although it is still to be
determined it would be for good reason.
“I’m really
hoping to lease or sell the cars that I’ve been bringing to the
races so that I can concentrate solely on running the series,”
Ashton noted. “(Joe
Schmaling) has trusted me with (the series) and I’m going to do
the best I can with it.”
Schmaling has been
the one calling the shots since the onset of the SCSCS when two
exhibition races were run in the autumn of 2007, but he will be
stepping back as he celebrates his 75th birthday near the conclusion
of October. In
recognition for all the work he has put into the series, as well as
his years of support in motorsports from being a tech official in
the former Hooters Pro Cup series to serving as a fabricator during
Harry Gant’s NASCAR 
farewell
tour to being in Darlington Raceway winners circle as part of Lake
Speed’s only Cup Series victory to helping innovate and design
various products, it was only appropriate to provide a special
recognition to him.
“We usually have
a Racing Spirit award, but I didn’t think that was enough for Joe
because he’s dedicated pretty much most of his life to racing,”
Ashton continued. “You
just can’t explain how much he’s been involved, so instead I
wanted to make it a Lifetime Achievement award.
We really appreciate everything he has done and we know he is
going to be there should we need any advice, which I’m sure going
to.”
Schmaling had an
opportunity to speak about the upcoming transition.
“There’s no one
else I would even consider to operate the Super Cup series,” the
series Director of Competition since the beginning added.
“I’ve got 17 years in it.
It just needs somebody who cares enough as much about it as I
do. This has been part
of my life. Bill is just
the best choice that I could find to carry for many many years I
hope.”
Track President of
Lonesome Pine, Jeff Roark, raced in Pro Cup when Schmaling was with
the series, sold his car to current champion Brent Nelson, and had
the opportunity to work with while wheeling Ashton’s cars on a few
occasions over the last couple years.
He echoed his thoughts as well.
“Bill’s such a
great guy and such an ambassador to the sport and the Super Cup
cars,” Roark said. “He’ll
do great things with him and Joe working together.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see 15 or 20 cars at these
events next year, which I hope so.
We’ve talked about having them back maybe two times next
year, which will be good. Maybe
I’ll get a chance to redeem myself (in the racecar) a little
bit.”
More specific
details regarding what will be planned and released will take place
over the winter months by Ashton and series partner Eric Dobson, who
has frequently served as an official and Race Director in recent
years, as they begin taking on the active roles in management.
As for Nelson, the
celebration is a little on the short-lived side as he tends to some
medical-related concerns beginning this month.
However, the all-time leader in top five finishes, top 10s,
races led, laps led, consecutive seasons with a lap led, hard
charger awards, consecutive races won, and now co-leader in total
races won will certainly be back in the shop when he can to prepare
for the next one.
“I don’t know
what the future is going to hold, but we’re going to try to give
it our best and be back for 2025.”
More information
can be found on the Super Cup Stock Car Series official website supercupstockcarseries.com,
on Facebook (search Super Cup Stock Car Series), Twitter (@SCSCSRacing),
and Instagram (SCSCS_Racing).
_________________________________________________________
