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By Ronald Young
Photo: Landon Huffman Racing
(Charlotte, NC} For the first time in his racing career Landon Huffman will be branching out from his Late Model Stock roots to compete in select events on the NASCAR and SMART modified tours.
Quite a feat for a driver who has rarely ventured out past the cozy confines of his home track at Hickory Motor Speedway-where he won the track title in 2022- until he was tabbed to drive for Nelson Motorsports early in the 2023 season on the Cars Tour.
Making the most of his opportunity, Huffman took the checkered flag in the prestigious Old North State Nationals at Tri-County in August and ran among the leaders in several races as the year came to a close. In fact, Huffman was edged out for victory by a car length at Martinsville Speedway in what is regarded as the biggest Late Model Stock race in the South.
So Landon, with your racing background in full bodied race cars how did you wind up in a tour modified car? “I got connected with a guy named Justin Hanney, who is a longtime family friend. Actually, his father (Ernie Hanney) built engines and owned part of an engine shop that worked with my dad (Robert Huffman) in the ’90s during the Goody’s Dash Series days called Golden Shamrock,” Huffman explained. “They developed a really good friendship over the years. Once my dad got out of racing, Justin’s dad Ernie closed shop and Ernie moved out West with Justin, who lives in Washington State now.
The team, which will be owned by Justin and Ernie Hanney and operates out of Huffman’s shop in Claremont, North Carolina, has its origins in the 1960s and ’70s. Hanney’s father, Ernie, owned a Modified team that fielded cars for drivers like Richie Evans and Eddie Flemke.
Shamrock Motorsports plans to run car no. 98 and make its debut during the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway. However, Huffman says the team will not run the Modified tour opener on February 10th
Instead, Huffman said the team will race in the Modified division during the World Series to better prepare for their Whelen Modified Tour debut, which will come at Richmond Raceway on March 29.
“I think the biggest adjustment is going to be the tires and how much tire you have compared to a Late Model,” Huffman said recently. “My expectations are to be competitive and run in the top half of a 30-car field and I will consider that a good night. As Huffman and his new team prepare for New Smyrna, the 27-year-old driver realizes he has a lot to learn but says he is ready to embrace the challenge.
“Great chance for me to drive something different and build my inventory of skills behind the wheel,’” Huffman stated after a recent test run at Caraway Speedway.” I am very excited to get down to Florida and kick off Speedweeks. Hopefully, we’re solid down there and have a successful week and learn a lot.”
“I do know this is the best equipment money can buy,” Huffman said of his car purchased from Tommy Baldwin Racing. “For that reason, this opportunity sets out from any ride that I had prior to joining Nelson Motorsports.”
