From Controversy to Crown Jewels: Shifting Gears with Stephen Nasse
Nasse celebrating his first Florida Governor’s Cup - as a home track, and growing up watching, and racing here for a long time, this one was an especially sweet victory for him & his family.
November 29th, 2023,
Introduction:
The #51 of Stephen Nasse is a name that reverberates through the world of Super Late Model racing. This 28-year-old driver from Pinellas Park, Florida, has left an indelible mark on the asphalt, both in reputation, and the residuals of burn-outs in victory lane. While his career is studded with milestones, it has not been without its fair share of well-documented controversies.
Beginning of momentum shift in Late Model Racing:
Nasse put the Super Late Model touring series world on notice when he clinched the 2017 Southern Super Series (SSS) (now ASA SSS) points title in his inaugural full season. At the time, the SSS was the best Super Late Model touring series around. It is still arguably second, after the ASA STARS National Tour. Competing against notable talents such as Chandler Smith on a full-time basis, and frequently against such stars as: Jeff Choquette, Donnie Wilson, Bubba Pollard, and Casey Roderick, Nasse secured eight top-5 finishes in 12 races. Although a win eluded him that year, he notched up five second-place finishes — a testament to his emerging prowess.
The Turning Point
The years that followed only solidified his place in the sport. In 2018, Nasse triumphed in the week-long World Series of Asphalt Super Late Model division at New Smyrna Speedway in Florida. His crowning glory came a year later at the US Short Track Nationals hosted by: Bristol Motor Speedway in Nashville. Faced with an early setback that relegated him to the back of the field, Nasse masterfully navigated through a competitive pack of Late Model standouts. Having earned the pole position by setting a new track record for time in the qualifying, Nasse briefly lost the lead at the start, but quickly retook it, and never looked back for the opening 30 of 100 laps, until the a yellow came out. This prompted Nasse to surprisingly head for the pits. As Nasse put it: “I started feeling some sway in the rear of the car. Knowing me, I had that problem at the Snowball Derby earlier this year. Actually, Steven Wallace gave me some help there. It’s so tough when you are leading a race like that to make the call to come down pit road and lose all that track position. My spotter asked Steve-O’s spotter to see what it looked like. He pulled up to me and told me it was shaking. If it wasn’t for him, I probably would have ended up with a wrecked race car.”
Steven Wallace and Casey Roderick would battle for the lead while Nasse set his sights on working his way through a large field of great cars. On lap 73, Nasse managed to overtake Wallace for second, and on lap 95, Nasse made the move to get by Roderick. Overcoming the odds, he not only won the race, but also pushed his car manually up the victory ramp, as the car was unable to move at that point, after a big burnout in front of family. From there, he was on fire: winning many features, continuing to be a podium or victory threat on any night, anywhere he went, and scoring wins in multiple Crown Jewel races, such as the Winchester 400 (2019 & 2022 addition), and the 2022 All American 400. He feels he was robbed of the Winchester 400 this year, in 2023, as well. #28 Cole Butcher may have had the best car, if not, he and Nasse both did. Butcher made a few mistakes, accidentally contacting the outside wall several times, slowing him down. Late in the race, it looked like Nasse’s to win, but the #22 Gio Ruggiero ran Nasse up the track, and into the wall, allowing Gio to speed past, and take the win. Cole would end up with second, while Nasse was able to collect it in time to take the final podium position.
Reputation and Evolution
While Nasse had successes prior to this time period as well, he was better known to many as a result of controversial actions on and off the track. Known for his outspokenness and emotional intensity, he's earned the dual nickname "Classy/Nasty Nasse." Would we see a Classy Nasse, or a Nasty Nasse? Was a common thought, or some similar phrase was often asked. While this reputation continued to follow him into his string of marquee wins, it seems that the Nasty Nasse side of things has started to fade out. Originating from a region in Florida known for its hard-nosed, rough racing, Nasse has never shied away from expressing himself, especially given the degree of stakes and money involved in the discipline. On the note of stakes and money involved - this doesn’t just include the winners money prize, but, to paraphrase: he has expressed frustration in the past about young drivers coming from a lot of money, who have new, very expensive cars bought for them, and then the driver doesn’t really appreciate the consequences of risking tearing up equipment. And sometimes that leads to drivers who don’t have as deep of pockets, and put their heart and soul into working on their cars, getting caught up in needless wrecks, and destroying their cars.
The Man Behind the Wheel
This is your space - you can, and are encouraged to go into as much detail as you please about anything. From my end, I am not here to personally go over past incidents' of yours with a fine-tooth comb. This includes crossing the line first at the Snowball Derby in 2019, but being disqualified by the whole PFC-Brembo brakes situation, and then the 2020 Snowflake 100 when you crossed the line first, but it was taken away for contact with Bubba Pollard on the final turn. I included the Winchester 400 from this year because I had just mentioned you won it twice, and that race, while a crown jewel, doesn’t get quite as much attention or memory for most, compared to Derby weekend. Both your accolades and past incidents have been thoroughly covered by other outlets before; you have a Wikipedia page about you, as well: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Nasse I don’t want to re-hash all of the same things, what I am interested in, though, is highlighting your career arc, and how much change is evident. You've said many times that you race people how they race you, and if there was ever any doubt, it has been proven over and over in recent times, including in your great battle with Jake Garcia this summer at Watermelon Capital Speedway, sanctioned by the ASA SSS, and your great Late Model Stock battle with Bobby McCarty, where he waited around your hauler for you after the race, to have a beer with you and talk.
How did it feel to win the 2017 Southern Super Series in your first full season?
That whole season we kept telling ourselves we weren’t points racing, but it was hard to ignore the battle we found ourselves in. We went into the last race with a slight points lead and we tried everything to give it away, but somehow we clawed our way back to win it. It was pretty cool to win it, especially earlier in the series when there were a lot of guys running the whole series for points. It never hurts adding a championship to your resume.
Am I right to call the win at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2019 a turning point for you? Could you describe that race and how you felt afterward?
I’d say yeah that was probably my first big win on that sorta National stage. That’s another we tried to give away. We were fast and led laps, and had to come in and come from the back to win it. It was one of the most special wins to me because I used to go there with my Dad and watch NASCAR races when I was younger. So to be able to win that race with him was pretty cool. They wouldn’t let my nephew in the pits there so I found him and my mom on the backstretch and did a burnout right in front of them against the wall so that was a really cool moment none of us will forget.
You’ve been nicknamed "Classy/Nasty Nasse" due to your actions on and off the track. How do you feel about that nickname?
I don’t mind it. I think I lean more to the Classy Nasse side in my old age, but I wear the Nasty Nasse as an ode of who I can be if you push me there.
How have you evolved both as a driver and as a person since the start of your career?
That’s a tough one. I’ve evolved in so many ways. When I was younger I thought I had to be a certain way to make it to nascar. Then when I realized it really wasn’t anything other then how much money we could pay then I kind of rebelled. I went through a really rough time when honestly, I really didn’t want to race, but I did it because I really didn’t have anything else going for me. I found the joy in racing once my nephew really started coming and he grew up watching me race and he thought it was so cool. He liked it more than me, but he idolized me. It was then that I realized that I loved it through his eyes. Then I really started focusing on being the best and we started having fun and winning a lot of races. As a driver, I used to not care about respect, or I guess I just really didn’t understand it. I just wanted to win no matter the cost. I made a lot of people mad, and even though I acted like the things people were saying didn’t bother me, it did. Then I really perfected the finesse of how to race with people with respect. I think that’s changed how people raced me back, and I started growing mutual understanding from other drivers.
It's always been clear that family is important to you. What does it mean for you, having your family supporting you at the track?
It means everything to me. Having my parents there every week is a sacrifice for them. We’ve all missed a lot of other things to be at all these races. But I love seeing all the fans and all the people. I know how much they appreciate me coming to all these races.
In 2022, Stephen Nasse looked to be having a season that could be considered disappointing for someone of his elite stature. That is, until he capped the year off with back-to-back Crown Jewel victories, winning both the Winchester 400, and the All American 400. In 2023, he again seemed to be displaying some struggles, by the sky high standards expected, and frequently displayed. Compelling however, he recently debuted in what was only officially agreed upon to be a one-off, with Anthony Campi (ACR #81) Racing in his familiar #51 Trim. He out-duelled second place finisher Bubba Pollard at Five Flags Speedway, in Penascola, Florida, while also besting competitors such as: Jeremy Doss, Hunter Robbins, Travis Braden, Matt Craig, Giovanni Ruggiero, Jesse Love, Augie Grill, and many more, including former Back-to-back Oxford 250 victor Eddie MacDonald making the long trek South from the US Northeast.
Not surprisingly, this deal has now expanded, going into 'big race season'. After his win on the first of twin features at Five Flags Speeedway, he would place 6th in the second feature. He followed this up with a Winchester 400 in which, as mentioned earlier, he capitalized on a few mistakes by competitor #28 Cole Butcher, the other best car in that race, and looked to be setting sail for his 3rd Winchester Rifle, before the #22 Gio Ruggiero ran him high up into the wall, racing for the win. Not content to kick his feet back and relax for a while after a frustrating turn of events, Nasse would strap into a Late Model Stock Car (The LMSC races have not been with Anthony Campi Racing) for a less common appearance in that discipline, running 5th, and displaying a great deal of mutual respect with some of the best. Back to the ACR side of things, his All American 400 ended shortly after Lap 200, as a missed fluid leak, or a too-long before throwing the caution flag situation led to the top-8 or so of the field all wrecking heavily, including Nasse.
Redemption would come his way though, in a moment that was a very long time coming, and had great personal meaning, he took on the Florida Governor's Cup. Just before the green flag flew, Nasse needed to head pit side. Starting from the rear however, he wasted no time marching to the front, reaching the top-5 by about Lap 50. Not to be too discouraged, another undesired pit-stop sent him to the rear yet again. He shook this off, and very quickly had himself carving his way back up through the top-10. Ultimately he would put on a great series of battles against ACR Team Mate #24 William Byron of NASCAR Cup series fame, who was fighting tight conditions, and seemed stronger on the long-run, Nasse on the short-run. In the end, it was Nasse with his first Governor's Cup victory. Still not content to relax, indulge in Thanksgiving, and wait for the Snowball Derby, he hopped back into a Late Model Stock to face tremendous competition for the South Carolina 400, before switching back to his Super for the November 25, 2023 for the SRL National 8th Annual Bill Bigley Sr. Memorial 128, against many of Florida's best, and some outsiders like Luke Fenhaus & Ty Majeski from Wisconsin, not only for a Snowball Derby tune-up race, but seeking a $30,000 to win prize. That night belonged to #50 Jett Noland, who would have the biggest victory of his career.
And that leaves us of course with the ever anticipated 56th annual Snowball Derby, Five Flags Speedway, Pensacola Florida, this December 3rd, to finish off the year the best way possible, first with the Snowflake 100, and then the Snowball Derby. Will Nasse kiss the snowball this year?
