A Season of Learning, Improvement For VanMeter

Billy VanMeter was tasked with a major challenge in his second full year in Super Late Model racing. After winning the 2022 ASA/CRA Super Series Rookie of the Year, he hit the road to contest the full ASA STARS National Tour schedule while also running full-time in the ASA Southern Super Series.

The season did not start on an ideal note for the Indianapolis racer. He was involved in an accident during practice at Five Flags Speedway, then was the recipient of a fire extinguisher courtesy of Boris Jurkovic during the Sunshine State 200. He then failed to make the second race of the season at Madison International Speedway.

Over the final eight races though, perhaps no driver in the series showed more improvement than VanMeter. He raced his way into the ECMD 150 at North Wilkesboro with the highest car count of the season, then turned in his first top-ten run two races later at Milwaukee. That started a streak of four-straight top-tens with the ASA STARS National Tour, with best finishes of seventh at Anderson and Toledo. He ended the season with an eighth at Nashville after spending a considerable amount of time in the top-five.

After the ten-race season was complete, VanMeter was sixth in the final points standings while also finishing eighth in Southern Super Series points and fourth in ASA/CRA Super Series points.

“The beginning was a little bit rough. At the first race I wrecked in practice and then got in a little trouble with Boris (Jurkovic),” said VanMeter. “The next two races went well, then we had mechanical issues. We still managed a decent finish (at Milwaukee). We had some issues at one point with a couple drivers but we solved that and we’re all friends now.”

Every time he was on the racetrack, VanMeter was also going to school. More specifically, he spent a lot of time watching two of the best Super Late Model racers in the country in order to improve his own craft behind the wheel.

These guys are all really good and I learned a lot all year from them. I really enjoyed watching Ty (Majeski) and Bubba (Pollard) and seeing the lines they run. They have so much finesse and Ty has so much line capability. Just running behind them, I learned so much. I will always be faster after watching them.”

With the 2024 season on the horizon, VanMeter has set high expectations for himself. He has his eye on a trio of marquee Super Late Model races next year, ones that he believes he will have a shot at winning.

“I’m hoping that I can pull out two or three wins between here and the Southern Super Series. I think the Redbud, Winchester and All American 400’s I have good shots at. I was really good at all three of those last year. VanDoorn has a new clip and I’m looking forward to using it at all three racetracks.

For more information on the ASA STARS National Tour, please visit the series website at starsnationaltour.com, or be sure to follow the series on social media (Facebook: ASA STARS National Tour | Twitter: @racewithstars | IG: @starsnational).

ASA STARS National Tour
The ASA STARS National Tour debuted in March 2023 for Super Late Model racing in America. Announced in October 2022, many of the best drivers in America will compete in the ten-race national tour with a minimum $100,000 point fund. The championship team will be guaranteed $25,000.

The ASA STARS National Tour is made up of three races from each of the regional pavement Super Late Model Series under the Track Enterprises banner – the ASA/CRA Super Series, the ASA Midwest Tour and the ASA Southern Super Series.

The Team Construction Winner’s Circle program has been announced as a part of the ASA STARS National Tour for licensed drivers/teams with perfect attendance. The program provides additional financial incentives to those teams who support the series.

Track Enterprises, a racing promotions company based in Illinois, will operate the ASA STARS National Tour. It announced the acquisition of Champion Racing Association (CRA) in January 2022 and followed that up with the purchase of the Midwest Tour in July. In October, Track Enterprises President Bob Sargent announced a partnership with the Southern Super Series, which set the table for the formation of the ASA STARS National Tour.

-ASA STARS National Tour Release
-Photo credit: Will Bellamy/Racing America