Stephen Nasse

A third-generation racer, Nasse started his racing career in the go-kart ranks at age four.{{cite web |title=10 Questions with…Stephen Nasse |url=https://slingersuperspeedway.com/2019/07/10-questions-with-stephen-nasse/ |website=Slinger Speedway |accessdate=March 26, 2020}} He won a national karting championship. He grew up watching racing at his hometown track Sunshine (now Showtime) Speedway. As a 13-year-old, he moved up to Florida's FasTrucks.{{cite web |last1=Allen |first1=Richard |title=Stephen Nasse Choosing His Own Path in the Racing World |url=http://insidecircletrack.com/2019/05/stephen-nasse-choosing-his-own-path-in-the-racing-world/ |website=Inside Circle Track |accessdate=March 26, 2020 |date=May 7, 2019}} Nasse had his first late model win as a 14-year-old in the 2009 New Smyrna Speedway's World Series of Asphalt Racing,{{cite news |last1=Beck |first1=Jason |title=No Bad Attention |work=Speedway Illustrated |date=October 2019}} and moved up to full-time late model racing in 2010.{{cite web |last1=Sullivan |first1=Connor |title=PFC Short Track Draft Scouting Report: Stephen Nasse |url=https://speed51.com/pfc-short-track-draft-scouting-report-stephen-nasse/ |website=Speed51 |accessdate=October 4, 2020 |date=March 29, 2018}} He and his family team eventually made two NASCAR K&N Pro Series East starts in 2012. Nasse won the Red Eye 100 late model race in 2012 and 2013.{{cite web |last1=Traylor |first1=Elgin |title=A Look at the History of the Red-Eye 100 |url=https://speed51.com/a-look-at-the-history-of-the-red-eye-100/ |website=Speed51 |accessdate=October 4, 2020 |date=December 22, 2014}}

Nasse was running in the Pro Cup Series in 2013 when he caught pneumonia, keeping him off of the track for two-plus months. After he recovered, Nasse ran in the Pro Cup Series' successor, the CARS Super Late Model Tour, teaming with DLP Motorsports.{{cite web |last1=Marquis |first1=Andy |title=Stephen Nasse Determined to Win |url=https://www.shorttrackscene.com/super-late-models/stephen-nasse-determined-win/ |website=Short Track Scene |accessdate=March 26, 2020}}

In 2015, Nasse spun leader Anderson Bowen on the first lap of the Rattler 250 at South Alabama Speedway. Nasse took responsibility for the incident but called it an accident, claiming that Bowen took an irregular line into corner entry, braking earlier than Nasse was expecting.{{cite web |title=Rattler 250 Notebook: Nasse Sets the Record Straight |url=https://race22.online/rattler-250-stephen-nasse-southern-super-series-notebook/ |website=Race22 |accessdate=March 26, 2020 |date=March 16, 2015}} During a Pro All Stars Series South contest at South Boston Speedway, Nasse was spun from the lead by Brandon Setzer and retired from the race.{{cite web |last1=Traylor |first1=Elgin |title=Smith Capitalizes on Late Tangle for SoBo Conquest |url=https://speed51.com/smith-capitalizes-on-late-tangle-for-sobo-conquest/ |website=Speed51 |accessdate=October 4, 2020 |date=August 16, 2015}} 2016 saw Nasse take checkered flags in various events, including the Baby Rattler 125 and races sanctioned by the Bright House Challenge Series and the CARS Tour.{{cite web |url=https://speed51.com/top-10-late-models-drivers-in-the-2017-short-track-draft/ |title=Top 10: Late Models Drivers in the 2017 Short Track Draft |website=Speed51 |accessdate=October 4, 2020 |date=May 10, 2017}} Multiple run-ins with Dalton Sargeant led to a brief rivalry between the two.{{cite web |last1=Blount |first1=Rob |title=A Racing Rivalry is Born: Stephen Nasse vs. Dalton Sargeant |url=https://speed51.com/a-racing-rivalry-is-born-stephen-nasse-vs-dalton-sargeant/ |website=Speed51 |accessdate=October 4, 2020 |date=October 12, 2016}} In the 2016 Snowball Derby, Nasse wrecked William Byron under caution in retaliation for an on-track incident; Nasse later called out Byron, Johanna Long and Todd Gilliland for moving up by writing checks and not moving up by talent.{{cite web |last1=Marquis |first1=Andy |title=Stephen Nasse Holds Nothing Back in Epic Twitter Tirade Following Snowball Derby Crash |url=https://race22.online/stephen-nasse-holds-nothing-back-in-epic-twitter-tirade-following-snowball-derby-crash/ |website=Race22 |accessdate=March 26, 2020 |date=December 7, 2016}}

Nasse won the 2017 Southern Super Series championship and also claimed a victory in the CARS Super Late Model Tour season finale.{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Zach |title=Nasse is Last Man Standing in Wild CARS Tour Finale |url=https://speed51.com/nasse-is-last-man-standing-in-wild-cars-tour-finale/ |website=Speed51 |accessdate=October 4, 2020 |date=October 15, 2017}} The SSS championship came after Nasse started the season unsure of whether he would run the full season, as he had never done so in the past.{{cite web |last1=Newhouse |first1=Hannah |title=Nasse, Smith to Settle SSS Championship Battle at Five Flags |url=https://speed51.com/nasse-smith-to-settle-sss-championship-battle-at-five-flags/ |website=Speed51 |accessdate=October 4, 2020 |date=September 19, 2017}}

He switched teams from DLP Motorsports to Jett Motorsports in 2018 and followed the championship up with an early 2018 championship in the World Series of Asphalt.{{cite web |last1=Paul |first1=Brandon |title=Nasse Wins First Race With New Team at New Smyrna WS |url=https://speed51.com/nasse-wins-first-race-with-new-team-at-new-smyrna-ws/ |website=Speed51 |accessdate=October 4, 2020 |date=February 9, 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=David |title=To short-tracker Stephen Nasse, 'classy and nasty' appeals more than NASCAR fame |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1694525/2020/03/24/to-short-tracker-stephen-nasse-classy-and-nasty-appeals-more-than-nascar-fame/ |url-access=subscription |website=The Athletic |access-date=March 26, 2020 |date=March 24, 2020}} In April 2018, Nasse punched rival Donnie Wilson while Wilson was still in his car after an on-track incident at Five Flags Speedway.{{cite web |last1=Corder |first1=Chuck |title=After settling things with fists, Wilson-Nasse rematch set for 5 Flags |url=https://www.pnj.com/story/sports/motor/2018/06/21/after-settling-things-fists-wilson-nasse-rematch-set-5-flags/721077002/ |website=Pensacola News Journal |accessdate=March 26, 2020}} Nasse later controlled the last third of the race to win the Mobile 300 at Mobile International Speedway.{{cite web |last1=McCollough |first1=Ryan |title=Nasse Silences Critics With Dominating Mobile 300 Victory |url=https://speed51.com/nasse-silences-critics-with-dominating-mobile-300-victory/ |website=Speed51 |accessdate=October 4, 2020 |date=October 29, 2018}} At the Snowball Derby in December, Nasse wrapped his car in a Fortnite-style winter paint scheme.{{cite web |last1=Vining |first1=Daniel |title=Nasse goes to a Backup, then Back to the Primary |url=https://pixelatedspeed.blogspot.com/2018/11/nasse-backups.html |website=Pixelated Speed |accessdate=October 4, 2020 |date=November 30, 2018}} He also spent $5000 to hire what he thought was a Roush Fenway Racing development pit crew for the race but had myriad problems with the crew during the day, losing spots on pit road and eventually returning to the track twice with a loose wheel, ending his day in a crash. Nasse, infuriated by the smirks he saw on the rented pit crew's faces, charged the crew after exiting his car over an estimated $40,000 loss.{{cite web |last1=Walters |first1=Shane |title=Stephen Nasse explains why he tossed his helmet at his pit crew |url=https://racingnews.co/2018/12/10/stephen-nasse-explains-why-he-tossed-his-helmet-at-his-pit-crew/ |website=RacingNews |accessdate=March 26, 2020 |date=December 10, 2018}}

File:StephenNasse2019SlingerNationals.jpg in 2019]]

Nasse switched to a freelance schedule in 2019 instead of running for any one particular points championship.{{cite web |last1=Geyer |first1=Koty |title=Nasse Planning to Mix Things Up With 2019 Schedule |url=https://speed51.com/nasse-planning-to-mix-things-up-with-2019-schedule/ |website=Speed51 |accessdate=October 4, 2020 |date=March 8, 2019}} He won the super late model portion of Short Track Nationals at Bristol Motor Speedway in May, prevailing over Casey Roderick.{{cite web |title=Skinner, Nasse Claim Major Victories at 3rd Annual Short Track U.S. Nationals |url=https://tricitiessports.com/skinner-nasse-claim-major-victories-at-rd-annual-short-track-us-nationa-p92545-141.htm |website=Tri Cities Sports |accessdate=March 26, 2020 |date=June 1, 2019}} At Winchester Speedway, Nasse led all but eight laps en route to a Winchester 400 win.{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Zach |title=Should Stephen Nasse Have Been Drafted Higher? |url=https://speed51.com/should-stephen-nasse-have-been-drafted-higher/ |website=Speed51 |accessdate=October 4, 2020 |date=May 3, 2020}} After leading laps in the All American 400 at Fairgrounds Speedway, brake issues dropped Nasse from contention.{{cite web |last1=Geyer |first1=Koty |title=Leftovers from the All American 400 at Nashville |url=https://speed51.com/leftovers-from-the-all-american-400-at-nashville/ |website=Speed51 |accessdate=October 4, 2020 |date=November 4, 2019}} He also finished first in the Snowball Derby in December, but was stripped of the win during post-race technical inspection for having titanium piston caps in the braking system, something that was explicitly disallowed in the rulebook. Nasse claimed that his former brake supplier, PFC Brakes, told technical inspectors to check the brakes, and the claim was not immediately refuted by PFC employees, although the company later released a statement denying involvement.{{cite web |last1=Weaver |first1=Matt |title=The reason Stephen Nasse was disqualified from his Snowball Derby win |url=https://www.shorttrackscene.com/super-late-models/snowball-derby/the-reason-stephen-nasse-was-disqualified-from-his-snowball-derby-win/ |website=Short Track Scene |accessdate=March 26, 2020 |date=December 10, 2019}} Nasse also blasted PFC for playing favorites within their customer base.{{cite web |last1=Seelman |first1=Jacob |title=Inside Stephen Nasse's Snowball Derby Disqualification |url=https://speedsport.com/stock-cars/touring-late-models/nasse-speaks-out-following-snowball-derby-dq/ |website=Speed Sport |accessdate=March 26, 2020 |date=December 10, 2019}}

File:Nasse_ARCA_East_2020.jpg in 2020]]

To start the 2020 season, Nasse debuted a new Rowdy Manufacturing super late model chassis, switching from a Fury Race Cars-built entry.{{cite web |last1=Geyer |first1=Koty |title=Getting Rowdy: Nasse Debuting New Car at SpeedFest |url=https://speed51.com/getting-rowdy-nasse-debuting-new-car-at-speedfest/ |website=Speed51 |accessdate=October 4, 2020 |date=January 22, 2020}} After winning the pro late model portion of SpeedFest in January, he spun Bubba Pollard with fifteen laps to go in the super late model portion of the event. Pollard later dumped Nasse, leading to an exchange of words between the two culminating in Nasse calling Pollard "the biggest crybaby in this pit area."{{cite web |last1=Paul |first1=Brandon |title=Pollard & Nasse Trade Blows in Closing Laps of CRA SpeedFest |url=https://speed51.com/pollard-nasse-trade-blows-in-closing-laps-of-cra-speedfest/ |website=Speed51 |accessdate=October 4, 2020 |date=January 25, 2020}} In February, Nasse was asked by his team owner to run the ARCA Menards Series East race at New Smyrna Speedway in an aim to get into the driver development program arena.{{cite web |last1=Weaver |first1=Matt |title=Stephen Nasse Returns to NASCAR with ARCA East Start |url=https://www.autoweek.com/racing/nascar/a30859694/stephen-nasse-returns-to-nascar-with-arca-east-start/ |website=Autoweek |publisher=Hearst Digital Media |accessdate=March 26, 2020 |date=February 10, 2020}} In his first race at Five Flags since the Snowball, Nasse scored a win at a Blizzard Series race there.{{cite web |last1=Geyer |first1=Koty |title=Nasse Gets Redemption in First Trip Back to Five Flags |url=https://speed51.com/nasse-gets-redemption-in-first-trip-back-to-five-flags/ |website=Speed51 |accessdate=October 4, 2020 |date=June 27, 2020}} After a potential late model stock car debut at the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 was cancelled, he returned to the Short Track Nationals.{{cite web |last1=Geyer |first1=Koty |title=Nasse to Defend Bristol Sword After Martinsville Cancels |url=https://speed51.com/nasse-to-defend-bristol-sword-after-martinsville-cancels/ |website=Speed51 |accessdate=October 4, 2020 |date=August 28, 2020}} Nasse also won two Southern Super Series races, claiming a $5,000 bonus for his win at Crisp Motorsports Park in August.{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Zach |title=Nasse Collects $10,000 Victory on Smooth Night in Georgia |url=https://speed51.com/nasse-capitalizes-for-georgia-summer-nationals-victory/ |website=Speed51 |accessdate=October 4, 2020 |date=August 9, 2020}}

Nasse has said that he originally aspired to be a high-level NASCAR driver, but that the organization lost its luster for boring racing, empty stands and vanilla personalities. As an alternative, Nasse said that he would like to run in a World of Outlaws Late Model with personalities like Scott Bloomquist.

When not racing, Nasse works as a foundation builder for residential construction. He is a casual iRacing player. Other hobbies of his include bass fishing in his hometown.{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Zach |title=Nasse Getting Adjusted to Sim Racing During Break |url=https://speed51.com/nasse-getting-adjusted-to-sim-racing-during-break/ |website=Speed51 |accessdate=October 4, 2020 |date=April 2, 2020}}

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

{{sup|*}} Season still in progress

{{sup|1}} Ineligible for series points

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Category:Living people

Category:1995 births

Category:NASCAR drivers

Category:ARCA Menards Series drivers

Category:Racing drivers from Florida

Category:People from Pinellas Park, Florida

Category:Sportspeople from Pinellas County, Florida

Category:ARCA Midwest Tour drivers

Category:CARS Tour drivers