COPPER HILL, VA :: Late Model Stock Car racing featured a strong freshman class in 2014 with rookie drivers scoring victories and challenging big name drivers for victories in big name races. Here’s a look at the best of the 2014 freshman class.
10. Blake Stallings
Blake Stallings has had a couple starts in the Late Model Stock Car over the past few years but 2014 marked his rookie season and he made the most of it. Stallings picked up his first career Late Model Stock Car victory at Ace Speedway on August 29th against a field of very tough competitors – solidifying his name as a Late Model contender.
9. Devin Steele
Coming in ninth on our list is Devin Steele. Steele ran most of his rookie season at Ace Speedway and South Boston Speedway but had most of his success at Franklin County Speedway where he scored his first career win in his first start at the 3/8-mile bullring and backed that up with a second place finish two weeks later.
8. Justin Carroll
Justin Carroll competed on a part-time basis in 2014 at Ace Speedway and Hickory Motor Speedway. Carroll joined the list of rookie winners on August 16th with a victory at Ace. Carroll had a handful of top-five and top-10 finishes throughout the season to compliment his victory.
7. Todd Gilliland
Todd Gilliland, son of NASCAR driver David Gilliland, came onto the Late Model Stock Car scene at the beginning of the 2014 season running a full tour. He started out in Limiteds but quickly graduated to the Late Model Stock Car division at Ace Speedway while also racing at Hickory Motor Speedway and other tracks. Gilliland came up short in his quest for victory but had strong performances in the Autumn Classic where he finished second as well as in the Myrtle Beach 400.
6. William Byron
William Byron joined JR Motorsports for his rookie Late Model season with a lot of success. Byron scored a victory at Hickory on September 6th. Byron was a contender to win every week, finishing in the top-five just about every race. He ended up finishing the season second in points at Hickory to teammate Josh Berry.
5. Kyle Plott
Beating Anthony Anders at Greenville-Pickens Speedway is a tough challenge, a challenge not even Lee Pulliam could answer despite a valiant effort. One driver who did answer the challenge was rookie driver Kyle Plott, scoring his lone win of the season on August 9th. Plott scored 20 top-five finishes and 23 top-10 finished in 25 starts during the regular season making him one of the best rookies in Late Model racing all season.
4. Dalton Sargeant
Florida driver Dalton Sargeant was competitive much of the season in Limited Late Models. When he made the transition to Late Model Stocks, he did so with immediate success when he teamed up with Lee Pulliam. Sargeant scored a top-five finish right out of the gate at Ace Speedway and backed it up with a win at Orange County Speedway on October 25th. Sargeant also mastered the Super Late Model discipline, finishing second in the Snowball Derby and contending for the win in the Winchester 400.
3. Tyler Ankrum
Tyler Ankrum’s name first started popping up in discussions about Late Model racing over the summer as he competed at Langley Speedway and South Boston Speedway. The 14-year-old made sure his name stayed in the discussion. At Langley, he was often a credible threat to win races. He finally picked up his first career win on September 1st. Ankrum is someone we’ll hear about for a long time.
2. Payton Ryan
Payton Ryan was strong all season long, certainly one of the best in the 2014 rookie class with 14 top-five finishes. In the month of July, Ryan got red hot scoring three wins – two at Myrtle Beach and one at Motor Mile Speedway where he edged out Lee Pulliam in a photofinish. Ryan will be another one of those drivers we’ll hear about for some time to come.
1. Brayton Haws
Haws sits atop the 2014 rookie class due to his performance in the three biggest races of the season. Haws entered Martinsville having already won a race at Hickory in June. He went on to finish in the top-10 at Martinsville. Haws then backed that up with a win in the Autumn Classic at Southern National Motorsports Park and another top-10 a couple weeks later in the Myrtle Beach 400.
