While most NASCAR drivers are kicking back and living it up, Kevin Harvick‘s replacement in Stewart-Haas Racing team, Josh Berry, along with his right-hand man, crew chief Rodney Childers, are knee-deep in racing Late Stock Car models. Berry’s laser-focused on joining forces with Childers to defend his back-to-back crowns at the Southern National Motorsports Park’s Thanksgiving Classic. He’s got his sights set on a hat-trick this year.

On the flip side, when it comes to snagging the coveted pole position, this year’s Thanksgiving Classic threw a curveball. Kaden Honeycutt swooped in to clinch the pole for Sunday’s showdown, leaving Josh Berry, Jared Fryar, and Brenden Queen trailing in his wake. And Berry’s got an inkling, hinting at the Southern National Motorsports Park authorities, about why he didn’t come out on top this time.

Josh Berry isn’t exactly singing praises about the track’s condition

Berry spilled the beans on what he thinks nudged him behind Kaden Honeycutt in the race for pole position – the track’s cleanliness, or rather, the lack thereof. He didn’t mince words as per the interview video posted by Matt Weaver, saying, “I’m not knocking about any body or any tracks in particular but the track is dirty. It’s too dirty.”

Josh Berry drew a stark contrast between this track and the spick and span NASCAR ones, elaborating, “NASCAR tracks have vacuumed space clear, they come around and pick up all this rubber and stuff, and all the rubber is just kind of sticking in that sailor. You know, I think it’s if we can keep the plate, keep it cleaned up maybe before the race, and then that’ll give us some options to maybe hopefully run that in and activate it. I think that would be a good thing, but right now I just go like, “There’s just way too many marbles and stuff on a brand and then up the track. You can just speak a bit. I think if that’s what is hard a little bit.”

The Thanksgiving Classic, a staple since 1998, attracts the crème de la crème of the Late Model Stock world. It’s a stage where legends like Scott Riggs, Denny Hamlin, and Matt McCall have shone. Now, Josh Berry, under the banner of Kevin Harvick Inc., is eyeing a record-breaking third win at this prestigious event.

But Berry’s remarks raise an eyebrow – with such stellar names gracing the event, why aren’t the authorities more on the ball with maintenance? Berry’s concern could be echoed by others, and it makes one wonder if these big shots will show up next year if the track remains in this state.

Interestingly, Berry’s crew chief doesn’t seem to share his view. He praised the track and the team at Southern National Motorsports Park in a tweet, saying they’ve done a fantastic job and he’s excited for the coming days. He tweeted, “Track turned out good today.. The guys @SNM_Park have done a great job. The facilities look amazing! Can’t wait for the next two days! You can watch on @RacingAmerica this Sunday! @joshberry @KHIManagement.” Seems like Berry and his crew chief might need to hash this out

Watch This Story: NASCAR’s Historic Track on the Brink of Extinction

But amidst these contrasting opinions, one can’t help but wonder – what’s the real importance of the Thanksgiving Classic’s grand finale in the Late Stock Car racing world, and why is it so talked about?

The significance of the Thanksgiving Classic at Southern National

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Southern National Motorsports Park is not just any venue; it’s the crucible where the storied tradition of the unofficial Late Model Stock Car competition blazes on. This annual showdown, rooted in history since 1998, is much more than just another race. It’s where Philip Morris, a titan with five NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series titles under his belt, first left his mark against tough competitors like Randy Renfrow and Deac McCaskill.

Over the years, this event has blossomed into a sought-after finale for Late Model Stock Car racers aiming to cap their season with a flourish. Sure, the Thanksgiving Classic has weathered its share of storms, including a three-year break and a pandemic-induced cancellation in 2020. Yet, it remains a jewel in the racing calendar, attracting a mosaic of talent across various disciplines, all eager to be part of the weekend’s spectacle.

This year, over 20 drivers are revving up for Sunday’s race. As per nascar.com, Josh Berry, one of the contenders, shared his thoughts before the event. “It’s another prestigious race. With the NASCAR schedule opening up, there are fewer and fewer opportunities to go do this stuff. That one always fits for us, but Southern National is a fun track. For us, it’s important to support these guys and these race tracks when they put on these big races. It’s important for the sport as a whole.”

Berry, aiming for a hat-trick with KHI, knows it won’t be a walk in the park. “[Three in a row] would be awesome. We’d terribly love to win one of these last three races with KHI. We know it’s going to be tough, and it’ll be a process getting everything tuned like we want it. I’m excited for [Sunday] and we’ll see what we can do.”

Read More: Rodney Childers Expects the Worst as Josh Berry Aims to Ace After Major Track Change for Southern National’s Thanksgiving Classic

With Berry having already raised a flag about the track’s condition, fingers are crossed that the authorities will step up and address these concerns.