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Photo Phil Cavali Photography
With just two races left in the SMART Modified Tour season, Tommy Baldwin Racing and rising star driver Caleb Heady sit on top of the championship standings. Heady holds a small advantage over Matt Hirschman heading to the next race on the series schedule, this Saturday, October 15 at Tri-County Speedway. With the lead on the driver’s side, Tommy Baldwin Racing is also leading the owner’s championship battle.
Throughout the 2022 season, Heady has been consistent on the SMART Modified Tour – visiting Victory Lane early in the season at Caraway Speedway in March. Since then, the team has been in and around the top-five at the end of feature races, and if not, in the top-10.
Heady is in the middle of a championship fight that includes at least six drivers still in mathematical contention going down the stretch run of the season, but he holds the lead. Additional drivers in contention include Modified veterans like Burt Myers, NASCAR Hall of Fame member Bobby Labonte and others. Heady, who is relatively new to Modifieds, has been impressive all year and now has a chance to seal up the title.
On top of the success down south, Tommy Baldwin Racing just recently sealed up the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour owner’s championship, with three different drivers competing in the No. 7NY during the season.
“Caleb’s been great to work with,” Baldwin said. “As a young driver he has a lot of experience to gain, and I feel like in the last two years he’s improved as a driver a lot. Heading into the last two races, we are just going to keep doing what we have been doing and hope to be there at the end. Leading the points this late in the season is always special but to seal the deal and add another title to our 2022 season would be a cool accomplishment.”
Heady started his career in karts, then moved to Legends Cars, where he still competes at times today. Heady has raced in hundreds of Legends Cars features and won championships. He actually got his start driving for Tommy Baldwin Racing after a random question in the shop one day. He’s good friends with Tommy Baldwin Jr.’s son, Jack Baldwin, and it sparked a relationship that led to him competing in the Modified.
“We were just kind of talking in the shop and I asked when I could drive it and the rest is history,” Heady said. “Working with Tommy – it’s certainly nerve-wracking knowing I have a car to win the race no matter where we go. It’s been a great experience and there is a lot to learn from working with him and driving his cars. I’ve always had my notebook wide open trying to soak everything in.”
Heady is excited to head to Tri-County this weekend to compete in the Cardinal 99.
“We’re just going to go there and try to win the race like we usually do,” Heady said. “I’ve only been to Tri-County a handful of times and only been on the track a small handful of times during practice. It has multiple grooves, and the fastest car seems to always get to the front at the end if they pick the right groove. Tommy always prepares a great car, so I’m confident we will be in contention.”
Once Tri-County goes in the rear-view mirror Saturday, Heady will turn his attention to the championship race at Motor Mile Speedway on Saturday, October 22, a place he has plenty of confidence.
“I’m definitely confident at Motor Mile, especially with that being the championship race,” Heady said. “We’re in a position of the season now where we have to look at the championship battle and be smart and cautious if we have to in order to be in a good spot to lock it up. I’m really a fan of Motor Mile. It’s a track I feel like I’m good at and we look forward to getting back there next weekend. First, we have some business to take care of at Tri-County.”
Tommy Baldwin Racing and driver Caleb Heady will return to the track at Tri-County Speedway in North Carolina on Saturday, October 15. The race will air to a live audience on FloRacing.TV, and will begin at 6:30 p.m.
For more information on Tommy Baldwin Racing, follow the team on Facebook for the latest updates.
