THORNBURG, Va: Following a top-10 finish last month at Five (Fla.) Flags Speedway that helped get their ASA STARS National Tour campaign back on track, sophomore driver Kyle Steckly and the Rette Jones Racing team head to Dominion Raceway this weekend for Saturday night’s Appalachian Sucker Punch 250 presented by Jones Utilities, eyeing their first victory of the 2025 season.
Dominion Raceway marks uncharted territory for the ASA STARS National Tour, but while the unfamiliar may rattle some teams, the Mooresville, N.C.- based Rette Jones Racing squad is leaning into the challenge—and sees it as a prime opportunity to capitalize.
“I’ve done a lot to prepare for Saturday night,” said Steckly. “I’ve definitely been doing a lot of studying, watching old races from there. We also had a recent test there that was extremely beneficial as we try to dial in our car closer each and every week.
“I’m really excited to head back there and race this weekend — it reminds me a bit of some tracks we have back home in Canada.”
To gear up for the third race of the ASA STARS National Tour season, Steckly and the Rette Jones Racing team spent an afternoon at the iconic short track fine-tuning their No. 30 Ford Mustang.
“We were able to make it to Dominion Raceway for a test, which was definitely a huge benefit,” said Steckly.
“We built a notebook and were able to establish a strong baseline heading into race weekend. The car felt really balanced, and it gave us a solid direction on what we need to fine-tune heading into Saturday night.
“Having the chance to get comfortable on the track before race day takes a lot of pressure off. It allows me to focus more on execution and racecraft rather than just learning the line. Dominion is a unique track, and every lap during that test gave me more confidence that we’ll be competitive.”
Luckily for Steckly, momentum appears to be shifting in the right direction. After a tough start to the season with a rough outing at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway and an early exit during his ARCA Menards Series debut at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, the team turned the tide in Pensacola, putting together a clean, consistent race that resulted in a strong top-10 finish.
“It was huge,” said Steckly of the rebound at Five Flags Speedway. “We had a really solid weekend and showed speed from the time we unloaded. It was a big confidence boost not just for me but for the whole team.
“We needed that run to get our season pointed in the right direction, and now we’re focused on building from it. Hopefully, we can keep that momentum rolling into Dominion this weekend and keep climbing.”
While the goal is to challenge for the win in Saturday night’s Appalachian Sucker Punch 250 presented by Jones Utilities, Steckly acknowledged that if circumstances keep his Mark Rette-led team from contending for the victory, another top-10 finish will be critical in maintaining their championship push.
“I’m going to win as always, but I think if we continue to grow and carry that momentum with a top-five finish, I’ll be happy,” Steckly said.
“It’s all about stacking solid results right now. Every race is a chance to improve, and if we keep putting ourselves in the mix, the wins will come.”
Auto Parts Centres (APC) | Canusa will again be featured on Steckly’s No. 30 Ford Mustang this year in ASA STARS National Tour competition.
APC Auto Parts Centres | Canusa is a family-owned automotive parts business started in 1981 with over 65 branches stretching across Ontario. APC’s target market is purely trade-based, supplying garages, specialty installers, dealerships, and muffler shops throughout the province.
Auto Parts Centres takes full advantage of the marketing power of motorsports by sponsoring numerous race cars and speedways around the province. APC is the proud title sponsor in the APC Pro Late Model Touring Series that has been recognized as one of Canada’s top series.
Mark Rette, Steckly’s crew chief and co-owner of Rette Jones Racing, is eager for the opportunity to build on the team’s recent momentum and give his young driver another new track to showcase his talent.
“We’ve seen the growth in Kyle every time he straps into the car,” said Rette. “Dominion is a new challenge for the series, but that levels the playing field a bit — and I think it’s a place where Kyle can excel.
“We’re putting in the work to give him a car capable of running up front, and if we execute, I believe we’ll be in the hunt.”
In addition to back-to-back APC United Late Model Series championships (2023 – 2024), Steckly’s accolades include seven APC United Late Model Series wins, the 2023 Grisdale Triple Crown Champion and Gold Rush 123 winner, along with multiple podium finishes in the NASCAR Canada Series.
For more on Kyle Steckly, like him on Facebook (Kyle Steckly Racing) and follow him on Instagram (@kyle_steckly) and X | Twitter (@KyleSteckly).
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).
For more information on the Appalachian Sucker Punch 250 presented by Jones Utilities, including the full entry list and event update, please follow the ASA STARS National Tour on social media.
Fans unable to attend in person can watch the Appalachian Sucker Punch 250 presented by Jones Utilities live via TrackTV.com, providing full flag-to-flag event coverage.
About Auto Parts Centres (APC) | Canusa:
Auto Parts Centres (APC) | Canusa is a family-owned automotive parts business started in 1981 with over 65 branches stretching across Ontario. APC’s target market is purely trade-based, supplying garages, specialty installers, dealerships, and muffler shops throughout the province.
Auto Parts Centres takes full advantage of the marketing power of motorsports by sponsoring numerous race cars and speedways around the province. APC is the proud title sponsor in the APC Pro Late Model Touring Series that has been recognized as one of Canada’s top series.
About Rette Jones Racing:
Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, Rette Jones Racing (RJR) was founded in 2015 with the mission of building a competitive racing organization grounded in hard work, perseverance, and a racer’s mentality.
Owned by veteran racers Terry Jones and Mark Rette, the team is set to field full-time entries in both the 2025 ASA STARS National Tour and the NASCAR Euro Series.
Additionally, RJR plans to compete in select events across the ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR national series platforms.
Beyond its own racing efforts, Rette Jones Racing provides technical support and setup intelligence through its growing technical alliance partnership program.
Source: Rette Jones Racing
