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Written by Chris Moore
LANGHORNE, PA – New Wheel Man.
The famed Belmont’s Garage No. 14 Crate Sportsman car will have a new driver behind the wheel for 2025.
Owner Andy Belmont has tabbed Ryan Simmons – fresh off his first career track championship at New Egypt (N.J.) Speedway in 2024 – to pilot the Belmont’s Garage hot rod.
“We’ve worked together in the past,” Belmont explained. “I was very pleased with the results Ryan earned.”
Over the past five seasons, the Belmont’s Garage No. 14 has amassed 55 wins and 25 championships, most notably with Pennsylvania’s Joe Toth and New York’s Payton Talbot behind the wheel.
Now Simmons will strap into the No. 14 as Belmont’s driver for the first time.
“I appreciate Andy and his family giving me the opportunity to drive such an iconic car,” Simmons exclaimed. “Andy has been a successful team owner on the NASCAR level and in the dirt racing world.
“All the success he’s had over the years with multiple drivers shows his commitment to success and I look forward to trying to fill some very big shoes.”
Simmons and Belmont will team up in a smaller role for 2025 than the Belmont’s car has seen in the last several years.
“We are going to run a part time schedule (in the 14),” Simmons stated. “I’ll still be focusing on New Egypt Speedway Saturday nights in our family-owned Elegant Exteriors No. 20.
“We will run the Short Track Super Series (STSS) South Region and other select shows throughout the year in the Belmont No. 14,” he continued.
The pair had discussions in previous years about Simmons running the car, but things came together the right way this time around.
“Andy wanted to cut back a little bit and I still want to run my family car at New Egypt,” Simmons proclaimed. “I have the utmost respect for Andy and what he’s done for racing as a whole.”
For Belmont, it wasn’t as simple as something he wanted, regarding Simmons driving the car.
“This was a family decision,” he offered. “My boys (Andrew, Brett, and Kyle Belmont) all wanted Ryan in the car as well.”
Simmons, fresh off arguably the best season of his career, and Andy Belmont’s No. 14 will kick off their partnership at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway with the STSS on Fri-Sat., March 15-16 for the ‘Speed Showcase.’
