Casey Roderick and Rette Jones Racing Aim to Make Statement in ASA STARS Doubleheader
HICKORY, N.C.: After more than a two-month hiatus, the ASA STARS National Tour roars back to life this week with a doubleheader showdown in Eastern North Carolina, featuring two races in two days.
After a lengthy break following the Sunshine State 200 at Five Flags Speedway in mid-March, Casey Roderick and his Rette Jones Racing team return to competition this week with a pair of marquee short-track events in North Carolina, beginning with Thursday night’s Tar Heel 250 presented by Appalachian Sucker Punch at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway before shifting focus to Saturday night’s Carolina 250 presented by Appalachian Sucker Punch at Tri-County (N.C.) Speedway.
For Roderick, the busy week marks an opportunity to regain momentum in the ultra-competitive ASA STARS National Tour championship fight while continuing to build on the early season speed the team displayed during the opening stretch of the 2026 campaign.
Roderick enters the North Carolina doubleheader carrying confidence at both facilities, especially at Hickory, one of the Southeast’s most historic and demanding short tracks.
Known as the “Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars,” the 0.363-mile oval routinely produces intense side-by-side racing, tire management challenges and long green-flag runs that reward patience and discipline.
Meanwhile, Saturday’s visit to Tri-County Speedway presents another important test for the No. 30 team as the series continues one of the most anticipated schedules in pavement late model racing.
The .400-mile oval is expected to deliver another stacked field of competitors eager to capitalize on valuable championship points before the summer stretch of the season.
“We’re excited to finally get back to racing,” said Roderick. “It feels like it’s been a long time since Pensacola, and everybody at Rette Jones Racing has been working hard preparing for these next two races. Hickory and Tri-County are both places where track position, execution and staying ahead of adjustments are going to matter all night long.
“I think we learned a lot during the first part of the season, and hopefully we can apply some of that this week and put ourselves in contention when it matters most.”
More importantly, the team is hoping to secure its second top-10 finish of the season after mounting an impressive performance at Five Flags Speedway, where Roderick charged from a 21st-place starting position to earn a hard-fought sixth-place finish at the conclusion of the 200-lap feature.
“We were really proud of the effort at Five Flags,” added Roderick. “Anytime you can recover from a qualifying run like we had and drive back through the field against this level of competition, it says a lot about the race car and the people behind it.
“We kept working on it all night, stayed patient and put ourselves in position to capitalize late in the race. Hopefully, we can carry that same speed and execution into Hickory and Tri-County and take another step forward this week.”
Now sitting 12th in the ASA STARS National Tour championship standings and more than 100 points behind series leader Carson Brown, Roderick and his Mark Rette-led Rette Jones Racing operation understand the importance of leaving the North Carolina doubleheader with momentum-building finishes — and potentially a trophy or two.
Beyond the immediate championship implications, the demanding week also serves as a valuable tune-up for another challenging stretch of the schedule next month, when the series heads to Wisconsin for yet another pair of doubleheader events.
“We know we’ve got some ground to make up in the championship standings, but there’s still a lot of racing left,” explained Roderick. “These next two races are important because a good weekend can completely change the momentum of your season.
“The biggest thing for us is continuing to execute, qualify better and put ourselves in position all night long. If we can do that, I think we’re capable of contending for wins.
“At the same time, these doubleheader weekends help prepare everybody on the team for what’s ahead later this summer when the schedule really starts to intensify.”
For team co-owner Rette, the encouraging performance at Five Flags Speedway only reinforced the confidence he has in both his driver and organization as the team continues preparing for a critical summer stretch of the ASA STARS National Tour season.
Since returning from Pensacola, Rette and the Rette Jones Racing crew have remained focused on refining their program, preparing race cars and maintaining an optimistic mindset that the organization’s second ASA STARS National Tour victory is within reach — and potentially coming sooner rather than later.
“I’ve got a tremendous amount of confidence in Casey, especially during weekends like this where you have to adapt quickly and stay mentally locked in from the moment you unload,” said Rette.
“Doubleheader weekends can really expose teams and drivers because there’s not much time to regroup or reset between races, but Casey has always done a great job giving feedback, understanding what the race car needs and maximizing opportunities throughout the weekend.
“What impressed me most at Five Flags was how patient and methodical he was working his way through the field. That’s the kind of maturity and experience you need to contend for wins in this series.
“We feel like we’re getting closer every time we hit the racetrack, and hopefully these next two races give us an opportunity to show exactly what this team is capable of.”
While the results column may not yet fully reflect the speed and determination inside the organization, Mark Rette says he continues to take pride in the effort and commitment displayed by everyone at Rette Jones Racing throughout the opening months of the season.
From long hours in the shop to continued preparation between races, Rette believes the foundation being built now will eventually translate into consistent front-running performances and trips to Victory Lane.
“I’m extremely proud of this team and the effort everybody continues to put in behind the scenes,” said Rette. “A lot of people only see what happens on race day, but there are countless hours spent in the shop preparing these cars, going through data, making improvements and trying to find every little advantage possible.
“The attitude of this group has never changed, even through the challenges that come with racing at this level. Everybody believes in what we’re building, and that kind of chemistry and commitment is hard to find. I really think it’s only a matter of time before the consistent results start reflecting the work this team is putting in every single week.”
Port City Racecars, a premier manufacturer of championship-winning chassis and race parts, specializing in asphalt short-track racing will support Roderick’s championship effort in 2026.
The green flag for the Tar Heel 250 presented by Appalachian Sucker Punch at Hickory Motor Speedway on Thursday, May 21 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Fans unable to attend in person can watch the 250-lap event live on Track TV.
The green flag for the Carolina 250 presented by Appalachian Sucker Punch at Tri-County Speedway on Saturday, May 23 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Fans unable to attend in person can watch the 250-lap event live on Track TV.
For more on Casey Roderick, like him on Facebook (Casey Roderick Motorsports), follow him on Instagram (@casey__roderick) and X | Twitter (@CaseyRoderick26).
For more on Rette Jones Racing, please visit RetteJonesRacing.com, like them on Facebook (Rette Jones Racing), or follow them on Instagram (@RetteJones30) and X | Twitter (@RetteJones30).
About Rette Jones Racing:
Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, Rette Jones Racing (RJR) was founded in 2015 with the vision of building a competitive racing organization grounded in hard work, preparation and a relentless, never-give-up attitude.
Owned by veteran racers Terry Jones and Mark Rette, RJR continues to expand its footprint across multiple platforms.
In 2026, the team plans to field a full-time entry in the ASA STARS National Tour, while also competing in the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR Euro Series and other motorsports disciplines as part of its continued growth and competitive expansion.
Beyond its on-track efforts, Rette Jones Racing provides technical and setup expertise through its technical alliance partnership program, supplying teams with engineering support, chassis consultation, and race-day insight designed to elevate performance and foster long-term success.