Nasse, Campi Team Up for Trip to Victory Lane at Five Flags

The Stephen Nasse-Anthony Campi Racing partnership made a strong statement Friday night at Five Flags Speedway.

Originally, Nasse and Campi had plans to pair up for the third Deep South Cranes Blizzard Series race of 2023 when it was part of a July doubleheader. However, that race was postponed due to inclement weather.

The two-time ASA Southern Super Series champion got his shot in the Anthony Campi Racing entry Friday night, and promptly took it to victory lane in the American Welding Society 100.

Nasse took the lead for the final time on a lap 82 restart, working his way around Bubba Pollard and then pulling away to win by 2.6 seconds.

“I’ve been saying if I can get someone like Anthony [Campi] to be helping me out with these cars, we’d do great things,” said Nasse in victory lane. “I’ll tell you what, the car really wasn’t the best tonight, and I tried to give the race away a couple of times. Bubba’s pretty good on those restarts on the outside. Thankfully, I was able to sneak back by him.”

While Nasse has had strong showings during the 2023 season, including a runner-up finish with the Southern Super Series at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in the North/South Super Late Model Challenge, Nasse’s been searching for the extra step needed to find victory lane with his own Super Late Model program.

With an opening in the Anthony Campi Racing stable, Nasse found exactly what he needed to get back to Five Flags victory lane for the first time in nearly a year, dating back to the 2022 Night of Champions.

“We’ve had some good runs, but we’ve been really struggling with my own program. I got really lucky with this seat opening up with Anthony. We’re here to take advantage of it, and I expect to click off many more wins to top off the season.”

It has not been determined at this time if Nasse will have another opportunity beyond this weekend’s doubleheader in the Campi machine, but he has interest in getting those opportunities, particularly in this year’s Snowball Derby.

“Any time Anthony brings cars to the track, they’re fast. I’ll be definitely blessed if I can get back in this thing come Derby time. I’ve got to get back that trophy they stole from me.”

Pollard finished second after losing the lead on the final restart. He admitted that he was never quite happy with the handling of his car, but enjoyed a strong showing.

“We struggled all day today, really. Couldn’t get a good balance, couldn’t find what I liked. We still just weren’t that good during the race. We were just way too free off. We were decent in the center, but way too free off.

“We tried to make the most of it, and that’s all you can do. This place is tough, and all these cars are tough nowadays. We always enjoy coming here, it’s a lot of fun. We’ll work on it and see if we can do it tomorrow.”

With a fourth-place finish to back up his win during the originally scheduled PepperJack Kennels Twin 100 weekend, Jeremy Doss won the PepperJack Kennels Snowball Derby Prize Package. The package includes free registration for the 56th Annual Snowball Derby, eight free pit passes for the week of the Snowball Derby, four sets of Hoosier racing tires, up to 25 gallons of Sunoco Racing fuel for the race, andeight all-inclusive VIP PepperJack Kennel Club credentials.

Doss will also receive a free private test on the weekend prior to the Snowball Derby, as well as a Five Star Body Reskin Kit.

“I just want to thank PepperJack Kennels, Five Star Bodies, The Tool Shack, everyone who put this package together,” said Doss. “It’s pretty special and helps our team go to the Derby and makes it a lot cheaper. Hats off to those guys.

“It’s really special. Thanks again to all of them. I’d like to thank Tim Bryant and Five Flags Speedway for the hospitality. It’s been cool running here all year, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

The Super Late Model competitors will be back on Saturday night to close out the points-paying season for both the ASA Southern Super Series and Deep South Cranes Blizzard Series. They will be joined by the Allen Turner Pro Late Models and the Modifieds of Mayhem.

Gio Ruggiero enters Saturday's finale with a 19-point advantage over Matt Craig in the ASA Southern Super Series points standings. With his fourth-place finish, Doss extended his points lead to 34 markers over Hunter Robbins in Blizzard Series points. Dylan Fetcho leads John Bolen by 14 points in the Allen Turner Pro Late Model title fight.

Qualifying for Saturday’s program at 5 p.m. CT (6 p.m. ET), with racing getting underway at 7 p.m CT (8 p.m. ET). Fans unable to attend the event can watch live on Racing America.

-Photo credit: Will Bellamy/Racing America

AMERICAN WELDING SOCIETY 100 RESULTS