Opened in 1951, Hickory Motor Speedway is one of the oldest and most historic racetracks not just in the region, but in the country. To this day, the allure of Hickory Motor Speedway attracts thousands of fans and some of the strongest car counts in all of short track racing.
Hickory Motor Speedway, which is located in Newton, North Carolina, has seen the likes of Richard Petty, Ned Jarrett, Dale Jarrett, Ralph Earnhardt, Junior Johnson, Harry Gant, Jack Ingram, Tommy Houston, Dennis Setzer and many more. It’s not just the history, it’s also the racing. An old, worn out track surface has given way to thrilling three-wide racing and spectacular finishes at the 3/8th mile bullring – a track that provides enjoyment for the drivers and entertainment for the fans.
Kevin Piercy is the current promoter of Hickory Motor Speedway and has been for the better part of the last decade. Piercy has brought big, bold ideas to Hickory, returning the track to near-mainstream relevance. Under his tenure, he has implemented the Paramount KIA “Big 10” Challenge, a championship series that draws drivers from all over the region to Hickory Motor Speedway.
2015 will be the third season of the 10-race championship series. Last season, the format for the series was altered to include a points reset, which keeps all the drivers in contention up until the final race. The result was a sustained car count through the entire set.
“Last year, we changed the way we did the points system and it worked out really well because nobody got eliminated,” Piercy said. “When it first started, we had real good car counts for the first five races then the car count dwindled as drivers were so we set it up so nobody gets eliminated and we have a points reset after five races.”
In an era where tracks, such as Lucama, North Carolina’s Southern National Motorsports Park and Robersonville, North Carolina’s East Carolina Motor Speedway, are merging their Late Model Stock Car and Limited Late Model divisions, Hickory is sustaining full fields in both divisions. When asked how his track’s able to sustain strong fields in both divisions, Piercy said that there’s no real magic to it.
“There’s no magic to that other than we have a real strong car count. The Late Models have been strong, the big 10 has improved that and the Limited Late Model division is more of a budget division. I’m very fortunate to be located at Hickory which has a strong following… People have the ability to move up but they don’t have the finances so they stay in Limiteds and it gives us a strong count. We also have people who try to run at Hickory from other tracks.”
This season, Hickory will host the Championship Auto Racing Series (CARS), the KOMA Unwind Modified Madness Series, the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour and the Pro All Stars Series (PASS). The CARS Tour and the PASS South Super Late Model Series will both hold their season finale events at Hickory.
“We’re honored that so many series want to do their finales here. We hosted the UARA finale for several years here. I was honored that [Pro All Stars Series president] Tom Mayberry wanted to do his finale here. I think the world of his series. Jack McNelly and CARS had his finale here in the Pro Cup Series so it was natural that he wanted to do his finale here too.”
While Piercy is glad to host the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour on October 3rd, he said he was disappointed the race is not one of the 14 NASCAR Modified races that are being televised nationally on the NBC Sports Network (NBCSN).
“We’re disappointed we didn’t end up being a nationally televised race,” Piercy remarked. “They put on a great show and have a great crowd so we’re excited to bring them back in 2015. However, we were disappointed not to end up on NBCSN.”
The KOMA Unwind Modified Madness Series, which showcased a thriller in its inaugural event which as held at Hickory, will be returning twice in 2014 with races on March 21st and July 3rd.
“Randy Myers did an excellent job debuting their races here at Hickory. We were one of the first tracks that supported that series. As the gates closed and the night was over, the fans were like ‘I can’t wait to see them again, you have to get them back here’ so it was definitely a popular event.”
The PASS South Super Late Model Series will race twice at Hickory. The Easter Bunny will be held on April 4th and the season-ending Mason-Dixon Meltdown has been moved from Southern National to Hickory and will be held on November 21st. The CARS Tour’s inaugural season will also make two visits to Hickory with races on May 9th and November 1st.
Hickory had the opportunity to bookend the CARS season but elected not to do so out of respect for their relationship with Tom Mayberry and PASS.
“We had an opportunity to do the opener with the CARS Tour but, out of respect for Tom, we elected to leave that schedule as it was. Tom’s been a long time support of Hickory as has Jack so we all worked together and made the schedule out where it would be friendly to both series.”
The Bobby Isaac Memorial, a longtime staple in the Hickory schedule, will be returning in 2015 and will continue to be held on Labor Day weekend as has become tradition. Hickory’s other marquee Late Model Stock Car race, the Fall Brawl, has been extended from 150 laps to 200 laps at the request of the competitors.
Piercy said he’s also looking forward to the Fall Classic, a 100-lap Limited Late Model event which will be held on September 26th.
“I bet Corey Latham has a good time at that one too,” Piercy commented. “You take those Limited Late Model cars and put 30 of them battling for $2,500 and they battle from first all the way to the back.”
Last year, the Limited Late Model race in the Bobby Isaac Memorial featured a thrilling photofinish between Dexter Canipe, Jr. and Travis Byrd – one of many photofinishes that have taken place over the years. Piercy says the aged surface at Hickory promotes that kind of close-quarters racing action.
“One of our advantages is that we’re running on an old wore out surface. A lot of tracks, similar to the big three in NASCAR, they have the fresh asphalt and the cookie cutter kind of tracks and you see a lot of racing where people get away from each other. With these bullrings, you can run anywhere. It presents for a good show here.”
While a lot of the sport has gotten away from tradition, Hickory Motor Speedway maintains tradition. One of which, stopping the race when a funeral is taking place at the neighboring Catawba Funeral Home and Memorial Park.
“It doesn’t matter if we’re in the middle of practice or a race, we honor that and respect that cemetery next door and they, in turn, respect us and it’s a perfect example of businesses working together for the better. Sometimes I’ll even have people request a memorial lap and we’ll try to honor that.”
Piercy says he thinks Hickory is the most prestigious track in the region and that it remains one of the top tracks in racing.
“You know, I feel like it’s the most prestigious track in the region. I’m sure a lot of track operators don’t feel that way. I feel like, with our history and the wall of fame we have and the level of competition we produce week in and week out along with the names that have been here, we’re definitely, we should be on top if we aren’t there.”
Now, he’s going through final preparations to get the 2015 season underway.
“This weather’s been difficult. A lot of times, we have to cut our water of in the winter because of the cold, the weather’s not cooperating very weel to begin painting and preparations so the season’s coming fast but we’ll get it done and be ready on March 7th when the green flag drops.
This will be my seventh season at Hickory as the General Manager and I’m looking forward to watching these competitors and fans here at Hickory Motor Speedway. I consider myself very fortunate to be doing what I’m doing.”
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Hickory Motor Speedway 2015 Season Schedule
March 7th: Spring Classic LMSC & Limiteds
March 14th: LMSC & Limiteds
March 21st: KOMA Modified Series
March 28th: LMSC & Limiteds
April 4th: PASS Easter Bunny 150
April 11th: LMSC & Limiteds
April 18th: LMSC & Limiteds
April 25th: LMSC & Limiteds
May 2nd: LMSC & Limiteds
May 9th: CARS Tour
May 23rd: LMSC & Limiteds
May 30th: LMSC & Limiteds
June 6th: LMSC & Limiteds
June 13th: LMSC & Limiteds
June 20th: LMSC & Limiteds
June 27th: LMSC & Limiteds
July 3rd: KOMA Modified Series
July 11th: LMSC & Limiteds
July 18th: LMSC & Limiteds
August 1st: LMSC & Limiteds
August 8th: LMSC & Limiteds
August 15th: LMSC & Limiteds
August 29th: Bobby Isaac Memorial
September 5th: LMSC & Limiteds
September 12th: LMSC & Limiteds
September 19th: LMSC & Limiteds
September 26th: Fall Classic 100 Limiteds
October 3rd: NASCAR Whelen Southern Modifieds
October 24th: Fall Brawl 200
November 1st: CARS Tour
November 21st: PASS Mason Dixon Meltdown
