Even though he's never raced at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain said competing in the Battle of Broadway 150 at the historic track will be like coming home.
Chastain has several ties to Nashville including serving as the defending champion of the NASCAR Cup Series Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway.
The inaugural Battle of Broadway will be a pro late models race on June 27, three days before this season's Ally 400 at the superspeedway. Chastain is expected to be joined by several other NASCAR Cup drivers who will be in town that week. Hendersonville native and NASCAR Cup Series rookie Josh Berry also has committed to race in the in Battle of Broadway 150.
Chastain's other local connections include being part of the Trackhouse Racing Team, which has offices in Nashville. He will drive the No. 1 Tootsie's Orchid Lounge Chevrolet, prepared by Rackley W.A.R., which is based in Centerville. Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks lives in Nashville.
"It's never easy (to add races outside the Cup schedule), but to be able to race in Nashville where Trackhouse's brain trust is and it being a home race makes it worth it," Chastain said. "Any excuse I can have to come to Nashville, get a little bit of work done early, and enjoy it is good. We might even enjoy a cold Busch Light on Lower Broadway. We'll see."
The Battle of Broadway 150 is a non-points race for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour and Bob Sargent, owner of the tour, is also the leaseholder of the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.
"Bob Sargent is another reason I'm coming," Chastain said. "He runs the series and we talked and I got to know him and he told me they were going to have this on the weekend of the Cup race and it sounded like something I wanted to be a part of."
Sargent told The Tennessean he recently raised $10,000 for the winner of the Battle of Broadway 150. He said he expects several local drivers to compete along with Chastain and Berry.
"We keep adding to the excitement of this event," Sargent said. "We're going to work real closely with the Nashville Superspeedway. We just think it's a great event for our local drivers to earn extra money and be able to race against these out-of-town drivers. Having the likes of Ross Chastain, obviously one of the top NASCAR drivers right now and the reining Ally 400 champ, really does make the event more special."
Dawson Sutton of Lebanon currently leads the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway pro late models points standings. He made his NASCAR debut on May 18 in the Craftsman Truck Series race at Charlotte. Other local drivers in the top 10 in the points standings who are expected to run in the Battle of Broadway include Micheal House from Columbia, Bennie Hamlett and Chase Johnson from Mt. Juliet, brothers Michael Bolden from Lavergne and Daniel Bolden from Antioch, Hunter Wright from Lebanon and Austin Wilson from Murfreesboro.
A street stocks race will also be on the racing card for the event.
For tickets or more information call 615-254-1986 or visit bit.ly/3HvudSG.
Tennessee Tech 4th, TSU ninth in OVC all-sports award
Tennessee Tech finished fourth and Tennessee State was 10th out of 11 programs in the Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner's Cup Award for 2023-24. The award ranks each program's men's and women's overall athletic performance.
Eastern Illinois and Little Rock tied for first and Southwest Missouri was third.
TSU finished sixth out of 10 teams in 2022-23. TSU's lack of sponsored sports often impacts its low standing. The Tigers plan to add baseball and ice hockey along with women's soccer, swimming and diving in the future which will give them a better chance at finishing higher.
Belmont finishes fourth in MVC
Belmont finished fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference All-Sports Championships. This was the Bruins' second year in the MVC after previously being in the OVC.
Belmont finished fourth or better in eight sports in the conference.
Drake finished first in the MVC.
Luke Smith promoted at Belmont
Speaking of Belmont, former Bruins basketball star Luke Smith was named director of basketball operations.
Smith is a Knoxville native who transferred from Sewanee in 2019. He made the OVC All-Newcomer team in 2020-21 and ended up averaging 10.3 points and 2.1 rebounds over two seasons with the Bruins.
"As a player, (Smith) was as much a coach on the floor as anyone I've ever coached,” Belmont coach Casey Alexander said.
Other changes Alexander recently made included elevating Sean Rutigliano to associate head coach and elevating former Bruins star Kerron Johnson to assistant coach.
Tyler Holloway left Belmont's staff in May to become the coach at Christ Presbyterian Academy.
Tyler Murray promoted on Lipscomb basketball staff
Tyler Murray was promoted to associate head coach of the Lipscomb men’s basketball team.
Murray joined the Bisons staff as an assistant in 2019-20 and helped them to three straight winning seasons.
Murray previously had stints at Furman and Charleston Southern and was the head coach at Shorter.
If you have an item for Midstate Chatter contract Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.
