The “Best of 2015” presented by WP Racing Shocks continues with the Most Improved Drivers of the 2015 season in the Late Model Stock Car division. These are the drivers that we see having made the most improvement over the previous season.
10. Tyler Matthews
Tyler Matthews might have been a rookie in Late Models during the 2015 season but that didn’t mean that he couldn’t go from being out to lunch early in the season to one of the contenders by seasons end. To say that Matthews struggled at the beginning of the season would be an understatement. Nearly every driver in the Jerry Moody Memorial race left miffed at the young driver but that was in May and by July he was parked in victory lane at East Carolina Motor Speedway. Look for Matthews to make waves in 2016.
9. Patrick Coleman
Patrick Coleman was certainly not that brash young Limited driver who was constantly at odds with other drivers anymore. This season the driver blossomed into a threat to win at Ace Speedway, a feat that isn’t easy given the veteran drivers he would race against including Barry Beggarly, RD Smith, Dennis Holdren and others. He broke through for his first win on September 4th and he could be one of the drivers contending for wins week in and week out in 2016.
8. Wayne Hale
Wayne Hale has had success in his racing career before but after a couple of seasons of struggling the veteran driver got back on that horse this season winning a race at Lonesome Pine Raceway and Kingsport Speedway. He also won the championship at Lonesome Pine Raceway.
7. Kyle Barnes
Kyle Barnes was seemingly destined to become one of the best young racers in this region. His uncle had provided the path with success all over including Motor Mile Speedway, Friendship Speedway and Franklin County Speedway. Success had yet to come to Kyle but that all changed this season as he broke out with wins at Lonesome Pine Raceway and Kingsport Speedway.
6. Bobby Gower
When the season began, I’m certain that many people had never heard of Bobby Gower. But, after victories at Wake County Speedway and Dillon Motor Speedway many people wondered where he had come from. Gower was a contender in every race and ended the season with five victories to his credit.
5. Jonathan Findley
Jonathan Findley hadn’t had much success in Late Models when the season started but a rules package change at Southern National Motorsports Park sparked a career season for the young driver. Findley won three events at Southern National en route to his first Late Model championship.
4. Ronnie McCarty
He’s been in the mix seemingly from the beginning of his Late Model career at Kingsport Speedway but this season he ramped things up and took his racing to another level. Ronnie McCarty picked up five victories at Kingsport Speedway and the Late Model championship in a career best season.
3. Kate Dallenbach
From 2014 to 2015 Kate Dallenbach made huge strides behind the wheel of a Lee Faulk Racing machine. In 2015 she put herself on the proverbial map with strong runs in nearly every event. Southern National Motorsports Park seemed to be a perfect fit for the young driver as well as she was immediately in the mix for the lead and wins on the tough 4/10 mile track. Her biggest accomplishment of 2015 had to be running along side and with eventual NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Champion Lee Pulliam in Southern National’s season finale.
2. Tyler Ankrum
No one is surprised that Tyler Ankrum picked up a win in one of Hickory Motor Speedway’s biggest events of the season in the Fall Brawl. His improvements to become a driver who could contend for wins week in and week out was exactly what he needed to land at #2 on this list.
1. Myatt Snider
We could have easily ranked Myatt Snider #2 in our Best Drivers list though he ended up outside the top ten. His performances were great but in the end it was his lack of wins that cost him a top spot on that list. However when it comes to the improvement category, Snider had the competition killed. He was a contender in every race he competed in and his lone victory did come in one of the biggest races of the season in the UNOH Battle at the Beach at Myrtle Beach Speedway. However more than the win, his performances in the CARS Tour vaulted him to the top of the heap.
