November 4, 2024
Nashville, TN — Jake Garcia may have only taken the lead during an overtime restart, but the last two laps of the All American 400 were the only ones that mattered.
The nineteen-year-old NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competitor returned to the Super Late Model scene once again in 2024 for the ASA STARS National Tour season finale at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, and returned with one goal in mind.
That goal was achieved when Garcia scored the victory.
“We were sitting there around eighth with a few laps to go and we weren’t the fastest car on the racetrack, but you know like I said to Ricky earlier today, the car with the best tires at the end of the race wins,” said Garcia in victory lane. “Ricky made an amazing strategy call there at the end to give us those tires and kind of carve my way through the field. On those final restarts, I just did everything I could to advance my position, and then I had a shot in the front row there and made it happen.”
Behind Garcia, Casey Roderick and Dawson Sutton rounded out the podium.
Roderick, who finished second, was crowned as the 2024 ASA STARS National Tour champion. Roderick, the polesitter, struggled heavily early on but was able to rally back late.
“We really struggled there after the first 30-40 laps,” said Roderick. “Car just got really tight on me so we fell back, then I thought I had a tire problem. Didn’t want to push it too hard so we kept falling back, but man what a hard-fought race we had. Lot of adversity there throughout the whole race. Our very last change helped us the most and gave us a little hope.”
Gio Ruggiero was entrapped in a thrilling fight for the lead late with Dawson Sutton, but late-race cautions hindered his progress and ultimately led to him falling back for a fourth place finish.
Ruggiero seemingly had his teammate Albert Francis to blame.
Contact from Francis sent Connor Okrzesik around, collecting Derek Thorn. The incident led to the second and final overtime restart.
“Just unfortunate. My teammate Albert was wrecking for last and brought out two yellows there. Kinda had older tires than the guys behind me, but I don’t really think that affected it too much.”
Stephen Nasse rounded out the top five.
Also of note, twelfth place finisher Kyle Steckly was crowned Rookie of the Year for the ASA STARS National Tour.
40th annual All American 400 Results
- Jake Garcia
- Casey Roderick
- Dawson Sutton
- Gio Ruggiero
- Stephen Nasse
- Austin Nason
- Dylan Fetcho
- Jake Finch
- Matthew Craig
- Tyler Tanner
- Kasey Kleyn
- Kyle Steckly
- Albert Francis
- Cole Butcher
- Dylan Bates
- Jonathan Knee -1 lap
- Josh Stade -5 laps
- Blake Rowe -6 laps
- Billy VanMeter -17 laps
- Connor Okrzesik -19 laps
- Derek Thorn -19 laps
- Chase Burda -35 laps
- Hunter Wright -40 laps
- Boris Jurkovic -71 laps
- Michael Hinde -116 laps
- Haeden Plybon -149 laps
- Johnny Brazier -281 laps
- Mark Day -284 laps
- Brett Robinson -304 laps
Cover photo: Reid Scott/Liberty Racing Review
Liberty Racing Review 