Two months have felt like almost a year for Rette Jones Racing and ASA STARS National Tour rookie driver Kyle Steckly.
Fortunately, the short spring sabbatical will end this week when the ASA STARS National Tour resumes its schedule on Thursday night with the Tar Heel 250 at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway.
“I’m feeling really good this week; it’s been a while since I’ve run with the Rette Jones team, but we have stayed close and continue to grow together,” said Steckly.
“I think we are ready for a good result this week.”
One of North Carolina’s famed short tracks will host one of the most anticipated Late Model races of the month in a race featuring series regulars, local invaders, and a former NASCAR Cup Series champion.
Undeterred by the challenges and the array of drivers expected for the season’s third race, Steckly and his Rette Jones Racing team are boldly trekking to Hickory. They are determined to rebound from the misfortune of Five Flags (Fla.) Speedway in March and put their No. 30 Ford Mustang back in the hunt.
Steckly continued to showcase speed in his rookie season with the Mooresville, N.C.-based team in the Sunshine State 200. Still, while contending for a strong top-10 finish, the team succumbed to a mechanical failure and a frustrating 19th-place finish.
With a renewed focus and determination, Steckly is setting his sights on a triumphant race. His goal is to inch closer to Victory Lane and steer his Mark Rette and Terry Jones–owned team back into the championship battle.
He’s also leaning on his experience this season in a CARS Tour race where the Canadian turned laps at the iconic half-mile oval.
“Hickory Motor Speedway is such a historic track, and very unique,” added Steckly. “I’m glad I have a race under my belt there with the CARS Tour event in April and can definitely lean on that experience to help dial the car in to have the best balance for 250 laps on Thursday night.”
With the 10-race ASA STARS National Tour schedule spread out over nine months, Steckly has turned to other Super Late-Model races, including racing in his home country of Canada, to keep a rhythm and build driver confidence heading into the summer.
“I think the more seat time you get, the better driver you will be,” explained Steckly. “So, although we had a long break with the ASA STARS National tour, I have kept busy racing back home, staying sharp, and ready to go as I continue to grow as a driver.”
With their sights set on victory, the team led by former ARCA championship crew chief Mark Rette is confident they can find themselves in the hunt for the win Thursday night. Their efforts in 2024 have been commendable, and they are ready to prove their mettle again.
“Pensacola didn’t go as planned, but we had speed,” reassured Rette. “Kyle’s unwavering positive attitude is a testament to his character. He adapts remarkably well to a new racing tour with fresh faces and dynamically different race tracks.
“I think that a track like Hickory Motor Speedway will play into his wheelhouse. Much like New Smyrna in February, it will be a stacked field, but Kyle has learned so much over the past four months that we can unload and immediately have that speed to put near the front of the field.
“We’re coming to Hickory to win, but we also want to go to the race and earn some much-needed points to keep us alive in this championship fight. Kyle has been doing a lot of racing since March, putting us in a great space overall.”
With eight races remaining in the 2024 ASA STARS National Tour season, Steckly and Rette Jones Racing sit ninth in the championship standings, 74 points in the arrears of championship leader Cole Butcher.
“Thursday night is huge,” sounded Steckly. “We have two races down now as a team in the series, and race three is a turning point in the 10-race season.
“I’m confident we can go out and have a good run Thursday night to put us in a good points position for the middle portion of the season.”
Auto Parts Centres (APC) | Canusa will be the primary marketing partner for Steckly’s full ASA STARS season aboard the No. 30 Ford Mustang.
APC Auto Parts Centres | Canusa is a family-owned automotive parts business started in 1981 with over 50 branches stretching across Ontario. APC’s target market is purely trade-based, supplying garages, specialty installers, dealerships, and muffler shops throughout the province.
Auto Parts Centres takes full advantage of the marketing power of motorsports by sponsoring numerous race cars and speedways around the province. APC is the proud title sponsor in the APC Pro Late Model Touring Series that has been recognized as one of Canada’s top series.
In addition to his 2023 APC United Late Model Series championship, Steckly’s accolades include two APC United Late Model Series wins, the 2023 Grisdale Triple Crown Champion and Gold Rush 123 winner, second-place at Oshweken Speedway with the NASCAR Canada Series on dirt, and winning the pole in the 2023 season finale Pinty’s Fall Brawl at Delaware Speedway in Delaware, Ont.]
For more on Kyle Steckly, like him on Facebook (Kyle Steckly Racing) and follow him on Instagram(@kyle_steckly) and X | Twitter (@KyleSteckly).
For more on Rette Jones Racing, please visit RetteJonesRacing.com, like them on Facebook (Rette Jones Racing), or follow them on Instagram (@RetteJones30) and X | Twitter (@RetteJones30).
The Thursday night showdown will kick off a fast weekend of Memorial Day racing in the Carolinas. The Tar Heel 250 is set for May 23rd, with Qualifying set for 4:30 pm ET, an autograph session at 5:30 pm ET, and racing at 7:30 pm ET.
Those unable to attend the Tar Heel 250 can watch live coverage online on TrackTV.com, MidwestTour.TV, or FloRacing, all of which are subscription-based services.
Rette Jones Racing PR
