On February 17, 2024, Bobby Watson’s Carteret Speedway, a popular short track in North Carolina known as “America’s Nicest Short Track”, hosted its annual Banquet of Champions at The Silos of Newport. The event was hosted by Carteret Speedway owner Bob Lowery, along with organizer Judy Hailey and members of the BWCCS Team. Eric Creel was on hand to take photos. The event celebrated the 2023 racing season and recognized the top three drivers from eight different divisions: Bandolero, Mini Cup, Bomber, U-CAR, Legend, Mini Stock, Street Stock, and Limited Late Models. The banquet was an opportunity for drivers, teams, and fans to come together to celebrate the accomplishments of the past season and look forward to the upcoming racing season.
The evening began with a welcome by the track’s owner Bob Lowery, who highlighted the successes of the past season and expressed gratitude to the drivers, teams, sponsors, and fans for their support.
The guest speaker for the 2023 banquet was Jeremy Mayfield, a veteran NASCAR driver with over 400 starts in the Cup Series. As a former NASCAR driver with a successful career. Mayfield shared his insights, experiences, and words of wisdom with the attendees. His presence added prestige to the event and offered valuable perspectives to both aspiring and seasoned drivers present at the banquet.
During the banquet, the top three drivers in each division were honored and awarded trophies as a symbol of their success on the track. In addition to trophies, the drivers & attendees also received door prizes, gifts, and various swag items as tokens of appreciation for their dedication to the sport. The event was not only a celebration of individual accomplishments but also a gathering of racing enthusiasts and supporters who came together to share their passion for motorsports.
Bandolero Top Three Drivers:
1st Landon Burbage
2nd Landon Strickland
3rd Rylan Speight
Mini Cup Top Three Drivers:
1st Landon Strickland
2nd Michael Bivens
3rd Nolan Walker
Bomber Division Top Three Drivers:
1st Haley Brown
2nd Bob Snow
3rd Joe Wade
U-CAR Top Three Drivers:
1st Curtis Lanier
2nd Logan McAllister
3rd Steve Sullivan
Legends Top Three Drivers:
1st Scotty Benford
2nd Carsyn Gillikin
3rd George Ferrari
Mini Stock Top Three Drivers:
1st Travis Miller
2nd Travis Provost
3rd Steve Sullivan
Street Stock Top Three Drivers
1st Tyler Smith
2nd John Sharp
3rd Curtis Lanier
Late Model Top Three Drivers
1st Dylan Newsome
2nd Kenneth Mercer
3rd Holden Haddock
Also Honored:
Bobby Watson Sportsmanship Award: Leon Burrow
Jumpstart Award: Nolan Walker
Mark Watson Merit Award: Ken Mercer
Words of Appreciation & Support also went out to:
Solid Rock Carriers
Islander Hotel & Resort
Moores BBQ
Adams Beverage
We would also like to thank all of the 2023 Season Sponsors & Fans for being a part of such a fantastic season of racing. Also a huge thanks goes out to everyone on the BWCCS Team–their constant support, dedication & hard work keeps Bobby Watson’s Carteret Speedway running throughout the season.
The Carteret Speedway Banquet of Champions 2024 was a memorable occasion that brought together drivers, fans, and industry professionals to celebrate excellence in motorsports. The recognition given to top performers across various divisions, coupled with Jeremy Mayfield’s inspiring speech, made the event a truly special experience for all involved. We thank everyone for coming out to celebrate our champions & can’t wait for the 2024 racing season!