Casey Roderick Begins ASA STARS National Tour Championship Assault with
Rette Jones Racing at New Smyrna – Rette Jones Racing Photo
NEW SMYRNA, Florida: The offseason has taken the checkered flag, but Casey
Roderick and Rette Jones Racing are ready to take the green flag in
their pursuit of the 2026 ASA STARS National Tour championship,
beginning Tuesday night at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway.
Roderick, 33, returns for his third start under the Rette Jones Racing
banner in the Sunshine State on February 10, looking to capitalize on
the speed and promise shown in his first two appearances with the
Mooresville, N.C.-based organization.
After proving capable of running up front and contending for the win,
Roderick and the team arrive at New Smyrna poised to turn potential into
a defining early-season statement.
“We showed a lot of speed the first couple of races with Rette Jones
Racing, and that gives me a lot of confidence going into New Smyrna,”
said Roderick, driver of the No. 30 Ford Mustang.
“The pieces are there — the preparation, the communication, the cars
— now it’s about putting together a complete night. The ASA STARS
National Tour is as competitive as it gets in Super Late Model racing,
so you can’t afford mistakes. I feel like we’re in a position to
contend, and if we execute the way we’re capable of, we’ll be right
there when it matters.”
Rette Jones Racing is no stranger to Victory Lane at New Smyrna. In
2021, then-development driver Max Gutiérrez stormed to his first career
ARCA Menards Series East victory at New Smyrna Speedway, outdueling
Taylor Gray and Sammy Smith in a thrilling last-lap pass that cemented
the organization’s strength on the Florida half-mile.
Five years later, Rette Jones Racing returns to the legendary short
track with the same hunger and expectation — determined to add another
chapter to its New Smyrna legacy and put Casey Roderick in position to
contend for the trophy once again.
“New Smyrna is a place that rewards experience and patience,” added
Roderick. “Rette Jones Racing has already proven they know how to win
here, and that gives all of us confidence.
“The competition in the ASA STARS National Tour is tough every single
week, but I feel like we have the right combination right now. If we
qualify well, keep ourselves in position, and execute on restarts,
we’ll have a shot at the win when it counts.”
A proven craftsman on the short tracks, Roderick, a native of
Lawrenceville, Ga., has built his reputation on patience, tire
management and an instinctive feel for changing track conditions —
traits that consistently keep him in contention when races are decided
in the closing laps.
From bullrings across the Southeast to marquee Super Late Model events,
he has demonstrated a veteran’s ability to adapt, conserve and strike
at the right moment.
As he embarks on a full-scale pursuit of the 2026 ASA STARS National
Tour championship, Roderick is focused on channeling that experience
into week-to-week consistency, understanding that titles aren’t won
with speed alone, but with discipline, execution and an unwavering
presence at the front of the field.
“Short track racing is all about being smart and putting yourself in
position at the end,” said Roderick. “You can’t win the
championship in one night, but you can definitely lose it.
“For us, it’s about consistency — maximizing every race, even on
nights when we might not have the dominant car. If we keep putting
ourselves in the mix and capitalize on opportunities, I believe we can
be a serious factor in the championship fight all season long.”
Mark Rette, crew chief and Rette Jones Racing co-owner, believes having
a driver of Roderick’s caliber positions the organization to contend
from the drop of the green flag at New Smyrna Speedway all the way
through the demanding ASA STARS National Tour schedule, which culminates
at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway with the prestigious All-American 400
in early November.
“Casey brings a level of experience and race craft that’s hard to
teach,” said Rette. “He understands how to manage a race, how to
communicate what the car needs, and how to stay focused on the bigger
picture.
“Over the course of a long season, that matters. We’re not just
looking at one race — we’re building toward something bigger, and I
believe Casey gives us the leadership and consistency to win races and
make a serious run at this championship.”
Port City Racecars [1], a premier manufacturer of championship-winning
chassis and race parts, specializing in asphalt short-track racing will
support Roderick’s championship effort in 2026.
The Clyde Hart Memorial is one of the premier events at New Smyrna
Speedway, contested annually during the World Series of Asphalt Stock
Car Racing. The event honors Clyde Hart, the founding father of New
Smyrna Speedway, whose vision and leadership helped establish the
facility as a cornerstone of short track racing in Florida.
The two-day format begins on Monday, February 9, featuring Practice,
Hamke Pole Qualifying, and the Last Chance Race. Tuesday, February 10,
will see the 27th running of the prestigious 200-lap Clyde Hart Memorial
main event, drawing top Super Late Model teams from across the country
to one of the most historic venues in short track racing.