As the NASCAR grid takes a quick nap, the Late Model world is wide awake. Some thrilling races unfolded in the past two weeks, culminating in dramatic finishes. Last weekend’s Hickory race was particularly unique, as the trophy was handed to somebody else. That person recently appeared on Dale Earnhardt Jr‘s podcast, revealing his motivation to race these unpredictable races.

Ronnie Bassett Jr embarked on a redemption path this year, digging up his Late Model roots with unmatched fervor. His goal was fixed, as Bassett aimed to enter the famous series Dale Jr co-owns, CARS Tour. According to him, the brightest of the lot race here.

Dale Earnhardt Jr’s series receives honorary mention

The CARS Tour program is the southeast’s premier late-model stock car touring series. It dates back to the USAR Hooters Cup Late Model Series in 1995. Over the years, this series has undergone numerous changes, including adopting a playoff system largely similar to NASCAR and the transition to late-model racing. In 2015, significant NASCAR dignitaries like Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr hopped aboard, giving new meaning to the series.

Now budding race car drivers aspire to join the CARS Tour as a springboard for their career. The most talented out of the bunch end up racing here, including studs like Brendan Queen or Josh Berry. So when Dale Earnhardt Jr asked Ronnie Bassett Jr why he chose his series, the latter had an answer ready.

“There were two things, you know. The traveling around stuff we liked…and then we just wanted to race the best Late Model Stock drivers in the country. That was, when we came back to Late Model Stock racing…if we wanted to win a race, we wanted to beat the best. So we felt like that was where the CARS Tour (was),” he said.

Indeed, even the Throwback 276 race at Hickory Motor Speedway was a thriller for Bassett. A heated battle between Ryan Millington and Connor Hall dominated the last few laps. Hall got to the bottom but couldn’t pass, and then slipped and drifted into Millington to take the lead. But Millington charged back into the final corner and spun out Hall, crossing the finish line first. The race officials penalized both for the hullaballoo, albeit giving Hall a third-place finish after much deliberation.

Instead, Ronnie Bassett Jr became the lucky dog on track and snatched the victory, drawing appreciation from Kevin Harvick. He ran in the top three for most of the 125-lap race, trailing Millington. Bassett’s first win in the CARS Tour marked an emotional victory for both him and his family. Besides being able to bask in Dale Earnhardt Jr’s favor, Bassett overcame tumultuous upsets to get to this point.

Bassett’s win was a long time coming

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When Ronnie Bassett Jr stood in Victory Lane at Hickory, virtually the entire pit area stopped by to congratulate him. That is because everybody knew of the Bassett family’s hardships. In their youth, Ronnie and his younger brother Dillon excelled in Late Models, with the latter winning the crown jewel Thanksgiving Classic race. They even upgraded to the ARCA Menards Series, and Ronnie recorded five top-five finishes in 2014-15. But disaster struck.

In May 2016, a raging fire set ablaze their race shop, destroying all their cars. Despite pulling through with help from fellow competitors, they struggled further. In 2020, Justin Allgaier sent Ronnie into the wall in Kentucky, destroying the lone car the Bassetts owned in their garage. However, the climb back to position was slow but sure. In 2024, Ronnie feels confident to race in the Late Model scene again.

After notching a third-place finish at the zMAX CARS Tour race at New River All American Speedway last year, Bassett slipped a wish which would warm Dale Earnhardt Jr’s heart. “The coolest thing would be to share a [CARS Tour] win with my wife and my two kids. Every time I come home, my kids talk about how I was so close to winning. I want to celebrate with them in Victory Lane and we’re going to work hard to make that happen.” 

And Bassett did make it happen the past weekend. We can only wait to see the remarkable heights this racer would achieve.