With the second event of the ASA STARS National Tour season just days way, the stars and cars of the Super Late Model tour have shown a glimpse of what fans can expect for the remainder of the year.
Because this national series competes across several states, there can be a wild variety of names that fill rosters from week to week. But a new series initiative for 2025 can help fans better evaluate who they can watch at every round of this year’s championship.
The Platinum Program is a season-long incentive program designed to draw more teams to commit to full-time competition. The program is valued at $975,000 total for the 2025 season. With 15 drivers and teams signed up to participate, that equates to $65,000 per team.
So, which drivers are the favorites, solid contenders and plucky underdogs?
While one race isn’t much to draw conclusive answers from, most Platinum Program racers are no stranger to Super Late Model competition, with plenty of stats to warrant their status of expected performance this season.
So we took the time to break the field down for you.
It should be noted that the following list, while partially based on stats and accolades, is also partially subjective. So with that said, let’s examine how this author believes the 2025 ASA STARS National Tour’s Platinum Program roster is expected to fare.
We’ll start with the heavy hitters.
The Favorites
Cole Butcher – Wilson Motorsports
Butcher and Wilson Motorsports are no strangers to winning big races in Super Late Model racing, especially when it comes to the ASA STARS National Tour. The Canadian led the 2024 roster with three wins to his name last year at Five Flags, Hickory, and in an Indiana crown jewel – the Winchester 400 at Winchester Speedway. Butcher had to miss a few races due to a heart condition in 2024, ultimately finishing third in the standings. Assuming he stays healthy, 2025 will be the year where Butcher shows fans and competitors alike what can happen when he’s able to compete all year long.
Bubba Pollard – Pollard Motorsports
It’s a name most short track fans know, even if they’re not necessarily Super Late Model fans. Pollard is a consistent threat to win on each race weekend. Already picking up a couple victories this year in Super Late Model competition, Pollard has almost too many accolades to mention. He’s a winner of the All-American 400, Slinger Nationals, and a Southern Super Series champion, but Pollard has yet to complete a full ASA STARS season. With the Platinum Program now in place, it remains to be seen if Pollard will stick it out. But if he does, he’ll likely be a factor come year’s end.
Gavan Boschele – Wilson Motorsports
Boschele is the only driver to pick up a win in ASA STARS competition this year, claiming victory in the season-opening Clyde Hart Memorial at New Smyrna Speedway. With a seat atop the standings, Boschele set the bar rather high for the 2025 season. Time will tell if that standard holds up, but with Wilson Motorsports backing him, Boschele will likely spend plenty of time toward the front of the field.
Stephen Nasse – Stephen Nasse Racing
Another well-known name in the realm of Super Late Models, Nasse is a highlight on the Platinum Program roster for 2025. The Southern Super Series champion, All-American 400 winner, and Winchester 400 winner is no stranger to victory at the facilities ASA is set to embark on this year. While Nasse has undergone woes with his family operation in years past, the veteran has returned to the forefront of Super Late Model competition as of late, giving his team some momentum heading into the 2025 season.
Derek Thorn – Highland Motorsports
The only Snowball Derby winner on the Platinum Program roster, Thorn is someone that fans new and old should keep an eye on. He looks to chase the 2025 ASA STARS title with Virginia’s Highland Motorsports. That’s a new driver/team combination that could face growing pains, but there’s reason to believe that Thorn still has the racecraft to continue to remain in contention for several more Super Late Model victories throughout 2025.
The Contenders
Dawson Sutton – Rackley W.A.R.
A full-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competitor, Sutton is also slated to compete in full-time ASA STARS competition, in large part thanks to zero scheduling conflicts between the two series. Sutton picked up one victory in the 2024 ASA STARS season, making a late race-winning pass on Truck champ Ty Majeski at The Milwaukee Mile. Having shown winning potential throughout several races, the young driver is always a contender to run towards the front. Sutton’s team, Rackley W.A.R., continues to pick up speed as well, given its newfound collaboration with Kevin Harvick Incorporated.
Kyle Steckly – Rette Jones Racing
Last year’s championship runner-up, Steckly has shown nothing but promise in his young short track career. Steckly won the 2024 ASA STARS RedBud 400 at Anderson Speedway and continues to hone in his craft with Rette Jones Racing, even expanding his status with the team by dipping into the ARCA Menards Series. With more teams slated to run for the title this year, it will be interesting to see if Steckly and crew have what it takes to remain competitive with the increased competition.
Carson Brown – Anthony Campi Racing
Brown has big shoes to fill in the Super Late Model world. Piloting the famed Anthony Campi Racing entry, the young gun will compete with the team who won last year’s ASA STARS championship with Casey Roderick. Brown has started off his Super Late Model tenure strongly, scoring multiple wins in February’s World Series of Asphalt at New Smyrna. The Five Flags Speedway track champion has proven that he’s a championship-caliber driver in Pro Late Models, so his rookie year in full-time Super Late Model racing will be one to watch.
George Phillips – Wilson Motorsports
A young racer in an operation that’s new to him,Phillips will pilot the No. 22 Wilson Motorsports machine previously driven by Gio Ruggiero. Phillips has won on a few different occasions in Pro Late Model contests, but has yet to fully showcase what he can do behind the wheel of a Super Late Model. The teenager comes off of a top-five effort in the ASA STARS season opener, showing that he’ll likely remain in contention on more than one occasion in 2025.
Johnny Sauter – Richie Wauters Motorsports
Sauter is best known for his 2016 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship, but he is also a past ASA champion, winning the national title in the 2001 campaign. The Wisconsinite is no stranger to Super Late Models and has shown that he can run up front with his Richie Wauters Motorsports team. He Recently scoring a runner-up finish in last year’s World Crown 300 at Cordele Motor Speedway. Despite a mechanical failure causing him to miss the show at this year’s season opener at New Smyrna, Sauter’s decades of experience prove that he can contend for solid finishes and perhaps victories.
The Underdogs
Ty Fredrickson – Dan Fredrickson Racing
Midwestern sensation Fredrickson has quickly made his way through the short track ranks, collecting impressive accolades along the way. Fredrickson picked up Rookie of the Year honors in the ASA Midwest Tour in 2024, earning the prestigious Kulwicki Driver Development Program championship. With stats that speak for themselves, Fredrickson has shown why he is considered one of the most promising young prospects these days. But at the young age of 15, there’s still room for development. Expect a big learning curve in Fredrickson’s first foray into full-time national competition.
Austin Nason – Nason Motorsports
One of the smaller family operations in the ASA STARS garage, Nason Motorsports is still in search of its first ASA STARS National Tour victory. Nason is the only driver to compete in every ASA STARS event to this point, with two fifth-place finishes in final season standings in both 2023 and 2024. That shows promise. But with more sizable teams and operations joining the full-time roster for 2025, the Illinoisan will have to consistently outrun some of the biggest names (and pocketbooks) in short track racing to contend each week.
Billy VanMeter – VanDoorn Racing Development
VanMeter is another driver that has benefited from consistent starts in the ASA STARS National Tour, boasting a sixth-place effort in 2023 and seventh-place run in 2024. The Hoosier’s racecraft is undoubtedly improving, with VanMeter even picking up a noteworthy win in Super Late Model competition last year. During a UARA National event at Owosso Speedway, VanMeter prevailed while piloting a Pro Late Model against the field of Super Late Models. Given the signs of progress, it’s not outlandish to expect success from VanMeter in the 2025 ASA STARS season. But he’ll have to beat some of the best to do it.
Derek Kraus – DMK Racing LLC
Wisconsin’s Kraus enters the 2025 ASA STARS season after a 13th-place finish in the 2023 standings and a ninth-place effort in 2024. The Midwest Truck Series champion has built an impressive résumé in the ARCA Menards Series and various NASCAR ranks. But when it comes to ASA STARS competition, Kraus has only scored three top-five finishes. While 2025 is set to be Kraus and crew’s first year running for a full-time title, a 12th-place effort in this year’s season opener means that Kraus will have some early work to do to reach the top of the grid.
Chase Pinsonneault – Carson Hocevar Racing
This season marks the second year of Pinsonneault’s efforts with Carson Hocevar Racing. Given that Pinsonneault started off the 2024 campaign piloting Pro Late Models, there hasn’t been a huge sample size of Super Late Model starts to draw statistics from. But the young prospect did make three starts in ASA STARS competition last year, finishing in the top ten each time and scoring a top five in the Winchester 400. That shows promise, but a lot of unknowns remain as the Canadian enters his first year of full-time Super Late Model competition.
The ASA STARS National Tour returns to action on Sunday, March 23rd for the second event of their 2025 season – the Sunshine State 200 at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida.
Fans can watch the weekend’s action on TrackTV.com. But if you can’t watch, Frontstretch will have you covered on social media with two journalists on-site.
