Hickory Motor Speedway
Location: Newton, NC
Track Size: 0.363 mile
Banking: 8-14 Degrees
Shape: Oval
Built: 1951
Late Model Stock Car Track Record: Matt McCall 14.79
2015 NWAAS Late Model Stock Car Champion: Matt Piercy
Last Race Winner: Tyler Ankrum
NWAAS Late Model Winners from 2015:
Dexter Canipe, Jr. – 6
Josh Berry – 5
Landon Huffman – 3
Shane Lee – 1
Matt Piercy – 1
Payton Ryan – 1
Jake Crum – 1
Travis Swaim – 1
Tyler Ankrum – 1
Austin McDaniel – 1
2016 Season Schedule:
March 5 – LMSC & Limiteds
March 12 – LMSC & Limiteds
March 19 – LMSC & Limiteds
March 26 – PASS South
April 2 – Limiteds
April 9 – LMSC & Limiteds
April 16 – Sprint Cars
April 23 – LMSC & Limiteds
April 30 – LMSC & Limiteds
May 7 – CARS Tour
May 14 – LMSC & Limiteds
May 28 – LMSC & Limiteds
June 4 – LMSC & Limiteds
June 18 – PASS South
June 25 – LMSC & Limiteds
July 2 – Southern Modified Madness
July 9 – LMSC & Limiteds
July 16 – LMSC & Limiteds
July 30 – LMSC & Limiteds
Aug. 6 – LMSC & Limiteds
Aug. 13 – Outlaw Late Models
Aug. 27 – LMSC & Limiteds
Sept. 3 – Bobby Isaac Memorial LMSC & Limiteds
Sept. 10 – LMSC & Limiteds
Sept. 17 – LMSC & Limiteds
Sept. 24 – PASS South
Oct. 1 – Southern Modified Madness
Oct. 22 – Fall Brawl LMSC & Limiteds
Fantasy Predictions for 2016 Season
Top Three Drivers
1 – Dexter Canipe, Jr. – Six wins in 2015 set him up to be in position to be the top dawg this season. He’ll be chasing his 100th career win this weekend in the season opener and if last season was any indication he could very well go way beyond that this season.
2 – Matt Piercy – He’s last years champion but that came with a lot of controversy as he and Landon Huffman battled for the title. Questions of bias won’t get in his way this season but Dexter Canipe, Jr. just might.
3 – Travis Byrd – Last years Limited Late Model champion is “movin’ on up” and he won’t go down without a fight. He’s one of the toughest competitors at Hickory and I could easily see him mixing it up for race wins this season.
Breakthrough Driver
Charlie Watson – Look for this driver to break through this season with a Late Model victory after a strong season last year and solid performances against some stiff competition. The more laps he gets, the longer the season wears on the better he’ll be.
Rookie Threat
Travis Byrd – He’s the ultimate Rookie for the 2016 season. The 2015 Limited Late Model champion will not only be a great rookie driver but he’ll also as referenced above be one of the top drivers of the 2016 season.
Ryan Millington – He’s been getting in a lot of laps in a Late Model over the last couple of years but not racing but a few times which allows him to be a rookie this season. Ryan Millington is a second generation driver following in the footsteps of his father Scott.
Dawson “DK” Cram – He’ll be running his first Late Model race on Saturday at Hickory but if his success coming up the ladder through Legends cars is any indication, Dawson Cram could be a threat for the Rookie title this season.
