CONCORD, N.C. – Retired NASCAR competitor Hermie Sadler and Virginia State Senator Bill Stanley has partnered to form SS Racing with plans to compete in the SMART Modified Tour this year.
Sadler and Stanley, of Franklin County, Va., worked together last year to promote the SMART Modified Tour event at Motor Mile Speedway. The relationship between the two continued to grow, leading to the formation of SS Racing. The team plans to field one full-time entry and a second part-time entry in the SMART Modified Tour. Both cars will have sponsorship support from Pace-O-Matic, a Georgia-based gaming software and entertainment company.
Jonathan Brown, a 20-time modified winner at Bowman Gray Stadium, will pilot the team’s full-time entry. The second car will be driven by Sadler and other familiar NASCAR personalities. The new SS Racing team will be housed and managed by Phil Stefanelli of PSR Products.
“Bill is a friend first, but he is also a passionate fan and supporter of grassroots racing, especially in Virginia,” said Sadler. “Co-owning this team gives us yet another vehicle to help promote the SMART Modified Tour as well as short track racing not just in Virginia, but throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. We are ready to rock.”
“I am excited for the upcoming 2022 SMART Modified Tour season, and thrilled to be co-owning SS Racing with my good friend and Virginia racing legend, Hermie Sadler,” said Stanley. “Our pursuit of a SMART Tour championship in the team’s inaugural season will involve both drive and determination, a personality trait that Hermie and I both share, because quite frankly, we hate to lose more than we love to win. This team and the SMART Tour will also highlight the short tracks in Virginia that are the foundation blocks of the history of stock car racing in America, and we look forward to promoting those historical tracks, the communities that surround them, and the newly created Virginia Tourism’s ‘Stock Car Heritage Trail’ as we embark on this awesome journey.”
Stefanelli and his PSR Products organization helped introduce Sadler and Stanley to the SMART Modified Tour last year. That relationship has blossomed and led to the formation of the SS Racing team that will not only see Sadler’s return to the seat, but also will have Brown chasing the SMART Modified Tour championship.
“I am incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to team up with Hermie and Senator Stanley to chase the SMART Tour title this season,” said Brown. “We’ve had a bunch of conversations about our expectations for the 2022 season and everyone involved has the same goals. With Hermie’s experience, the support of Senator Stanley and Pace-O-Matic, and the fleet of new PSR Modifieds we’ll be taking to the track this season, I know we’ll have all the tools we need to succeed week in and week out.”
“From the time I first met with Hermie and Senator Stanley, I could see how passionate they were about putting together a successful team that can not only win races, but also raise awareness for the small businesses of their area,” added Stefanelli. “Their eagerness for success is something that aligns with the values we have at PSR. We’re going to put all of our efforts together to chase checkered flags every time our SS Racing cars hit the track.”
SS Racing will make its SMART Modified Tour debut on March 5 at the season-opening event at South Carolina’s Florence Motor Speedway.