Motorsports

Loris car show participants get access to rare antique auto collection

Published

8 months ago

April 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Loris car show participants get access to rare antique auto collection

Most car collectors take their vehicles to shows.

Glenn Sledge’s collection is so impressive, that the car show came to him on Saturday, April 19.

As a bonus for entering their vehicles in the third annual Small Town, Big Show Car Show in Loris, participants were afforded a rare opportunity to visit what Sledge modestly calls his “Car Barn,” a pristine garage at his Willow Tree RV Resort in Longs. Tools and supplies to maintain a fleet of antique but pristine automobiles line the walls.

Outside the barn, the Loris Chamber of Commerce served red wine and hors d’oeuvres.

Inside, the guests could toast 19 stunningly restored vintage automobiles, including a large collection of 10 Model A Fords nearly a century old.

Sledge, 77, a Whiteville, North Carolina native, started collecting cars about 15-20 years ago, after he built the resort and campground.

The vehicles fill the interior of the expansive, climate-controlled garage, with about half of the collection elevated on lifts to form two vertical rows of autos in the single-story structure.

The Model A Fords aren’t, or at least weren’t, overly hard to find. Ford built nearly 5 million of them between 1927 and March 1932, after retiring the Model T after a 19-year run.

“It costs a lot to restore them, not to buy them,” Sledge said.

You could buy a new Model A for anywhere from $500 to $1,200 off the lot back in the day. The chassis would hold a variety of bodies including everything from a coupe and a roadster to a town car, taxi, pickup truck, delivery vehicle or phaeton, a car that had no roof.

Replacement parts are also still readily available from aftermarket suppliers.

“It’s like going to a dealership” back in the day, Sledge said of his Model A collection, with a wide variety of the Ford Model A on hand, including a roadster, a pickup, a town car and a convertible sedan.

In addition to the Ford Model A collection, Sledge has a 1931 Cadillac 370A with a V-12 engine and a rumble seat. The restoration was a four-year project.

The car was ornately appointed, with a hood ornament and lots of chrome, right down to the chrome oil filler cap on the engine.

“They were proud of what they did,” Sledge said of the manufacturers of the day. “It was designed to compete with the Duesenberg.”

There’s also a Jaguar, a Studebaker Commander, and a Volkswagen Beetle in the collection.

Three of the other Fords are 1957 models — a Thunderbird, a Continental and a rare Fairlane hardtop convertible.

Sledge said “1957 was a big year for cars; 1958 was terrible.” Sledge is a self-proclaimed expert on all matters involving older automobiles. He read his first issue of Hot Rod magazine in 1957, the year he turned nine.

Restoring and maintaining cars was once a hands-on hobby.

“When I was growing up you could work on cars,” Sledge said. In fact, home repairs were encouraged. The Model A Fords came with tool kits and instruction manuals for the owners.

Times have changed, with expensive diagnostic tools now necessary to identify many problems.

Sledge’s fleet can be repaired the old-fashioned way. His mechanic is Jeff Balding, a semi-retired Massachusetts transplant who bought one of the RV Resort’s campers and lives on the grounds with his wife Patty. He works about three days a week maintaining the fleet.

“Never thought I’d be doing this,” Balding said, who worked for John Deere repairing heavy equipment and noted he’s lucky to spend his spare time taking care of Sledge’s antique and classic cars.

The car show participants enjoyed a somewhat rare opportunity. It says “museum” on the side of the building, but access is limited. You can’t just walk in and see the cars.

If a resort guests knows about the cars and inquires, the doors can be opened on request, if granted. And, open houses are held on sporadic special occasions, Sledge said.

You also might see the vehicles being driven around the RV resort, or even see one of the more contemporary vehicles on a nearby highway.

The Model A Fords aren’t licensed, but can be driven on the roads in the privately owned resort, Sledge said. “The other cars in the collection” are licensed for the open road, he said.

“We take them out and drive them around,” Sledge said, explaining it’s necessary to run them to keep them in good operating condition.

Many of the visitors on Saturday drove souped-up hot rods, or more-modern classic cars or trucks. “People, when they get older, want the cars that they wanted in their youth,” Sledge said, lamenting a declining interest in antique cars of the early 20th century.

But he’s as guilty as the rest. Sledge’s first ride was a 1963 Pontiac Tempest, followed by a 1966 Oldsmobile Cutlass owned by his father-in-law.

Born in 1948, and part of the “Woodstock generation,” Sledge said the first car he paid for out of his own pocket was a 1963 VW Beetle convertible.

Now, his interests trend older, and are geared toward preservation instead of modification.

“I’m more interested in the cars as they came out of the factory. I’m interested in the preservation,” Sledge said.

Related Topics:antique auto big building buy car car show cars equipment ford glenn magazine new show tree vintage

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NASCAR Statement on Michael Annett – Speedway Digest

Published

12 minutes ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

“NASCAR is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett. Michael was a respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage. Throughout his career, he represented our sport with integrity and the passion of a true racer. NASCAR extends its condolences to Michael’s family and many friends.”

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Michael Annett, former NASCAR winner has passed at age 39

Published

9 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

JR Motorsports has issued a statement

Former NASCAR driver Michael Annett has passed away.

Annett climbed from the ARCA Menards Series to the NASCAR Cup Series. He ran with JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series from 2017-2021.

He was a Daytona winner with JR Motorsports. He won the season opener in the 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.

He also spent three years in the NASCAR Cup Series. He raced for Tommy Baldwin Racing (2014), HScott Motorsports (2015), Hillman-Circle Sport LLC (2015) and H Scott Motorsports (2016).

Annett was 39 years old.

At this time, there is no further information on his death.

JR Motorsports statement

JR Motorsports posted the following on Friday night:

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” JR Motorsports posted.

The team added, “Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today.”

Annett suffered a leg injury and retired following the 2021 season.

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Lando Norris pips Max Verstappen to go quickest in FP1

Published

9 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Lando Norris went quickest in opening practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on the weekend that he could claim his maiden Formula 1 world championship.

The McLaren driver set a 1m24.485s on used soft tyres, which meant he pipped second-placed Max Verstappen who is also his nearest challenger in the championship.

Norris will become champion should he claim a podium on Sunday, as he is 12 points above the Red Bull driver and 16 ahead of team-mate Oscar Piastri who was one of nine drivers to sit out first practice.

That’s because F1 rules dictate that drivers must skip at least two FP1s during the season and give their seat to a driver with no more than two grand prix starts.

IndyCar star Pato O’Ward therefore took Piastri’s place and he was one of nine rookies to contest opening practice at Yas Marina Circuit, which was hot and sunny for the final weekend of the 2025 campaign.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images

With it being the season finale, all cars were quick to enter the track during the opening five minutes, and it was Verstappen who set the early pace with a 1m27.130s on the hard tyre.

This was 0.038s quicker than runner-up George Russell on the same rubber, though not everybody started on the hards with O’Ward using soft tyres and several others – including Norris – opting for the mediums.

Such variety took place during an opening 30 minutes that was dictated by track evolution, as various names greeted the top of the leaderboard from Norris to Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar – who this week was announced as Verstappen’s Red Bull 2026 team-mate.

It was only until the halfway mark when drivers converged onto the softs that the usual frontrunners rose to the top. Verstappen was first to do so, breaking the 1m25s barrier with a 1m24.493s on his opening soft tyre run, 0.026s quicker than Norris and 0.074s above third-placed Charles Leclerc.

The championship top two would then trade positions as Norris pipped the four-time world champion by 0.008s with a lap time that would subsequently go unbeaten.

That’s because several cars went back onto the other compounds, including Verstappen with the hards, to complete their long-run programmes in a dramaless end to FP1.

Arthur Leclerc was one of nine rookies in action in FP1

Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images

So, the leaderboard largely remained as it was following the short soft-tyre window, as Leclerc completed the top three with a 1m24.501s, 0.016s behind Norris, but still complained of no grip and being “so slow”.

Mercedes teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli was then 0.123s off the Monegasque in fourth with Nico Hulkenberg completing the top five. Russell was sixth in the sister Mercedes, 0.248s off the pace and one spot above Hulkenberg’s team-mate Bortoleto in a strong showing for Sauber, which will enjoy its final race before becoming Audi.

The top seven times were all set on the soft tyre, and it was Oliver Bearman in eighth who went quickest on the mediums, as he completed a 1m24.759s for Haas.

Carlos Sainz and Franco Colapinto then rounded up the top 10, meaning all nine rookies finished in the bottom half of the order.

Endurance world champion Ryo Hirakawa was quickest of the nine with a 1m24,934s, ahead of Paul Aron (13th), O’Ward (14th), Arvid Lindblad (15th), Arthur Leclerc (16th), Ayumu Iwasa (17th), Luke Browning (18th), Jak Crawford (19th) and Cian Shields (20th).

F1 Abu Dhabi GP – FP1 results

Photos from Abu Dhabi GP – Practice

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Paul Aron, Alpine F1, Arthur Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Alexandra Saint Mleux

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

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Ex-NASCAR driver dead at 39 as JR Motorsports issues statement – Motorsport – Sports

Published

10 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

JR Motorsports has confirmed the death of former driver Michael Annett.

On Friday, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s NASCAR team, JR Motorsports (JRM), announced that Annett, the 39-year-old former driver for the team, had died. Annett had spent time driving in the Cup Series, Xfinity Series — now called the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series — and Truck Series.

In October 2021, Annett announced he would retire from full-time competition at the end of the 2021 season. The news of Annett’s death comes days after JRM revealed a new color scheme honoring the late Dale Earnhardt Sr.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” JRM’s statement on social media began. “Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today.”

The Xfinity Racing X account also posted on Annett’s passing, writing: “We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of former Xfinity Series driver Michael Annett at the age of 39. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Annett family in this difficult time.”

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Drivers from throughout the various levels of NASCAR also posted their condolences after hearing the news of the 39-year-old’s death. “RIP Michael Annett — I was on the radio with him at Hawkeye Downs Speedway the first time he drove a big car on asphalt. Life is precious,” Landon Cassill posted on X.

Front Row Motorsports’ Noah Gragson added: “Love you diesel Mike. Will always cherish my time with you buddy!” Ricky Stenhouse Jr. also posted: “Sad to get the news of Big Mikes passing. Raced each other for a long time coming up through ARCA together. Spent a lot of days in the gym together before he retired.”

Zachary Tinkle, a driver in the ARCA Menards Series East, posted a lengthy message on social media, recalling memories of the recently passed Annett. “Saddened to hear of the loss of Michael Annett tonight, gone way too soon,” Tinkle’s post on X began. “I’d like to send my thoughts and prayers to the Annett family during this difficult time.

“I will always fondly remember seeing those Pilot / Flying J colors Michael had on his car on the racetrack growing up as one of my favorite cars to see on the Nationwide/Xfinity series track every week, and watching live to see Michael finally break through to win at Daytona. You will be missed by everyone in the NASCAR family, Rest In Peace, Michael.”

NASCAR star Matt Tifft added: “Thoughts and prayers with Michael Annetts family and friends tonight, one of the nicest guys in the garage.”

Annett’s cause of death is currently unknown.

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Viking Motorsports Expands to Two-Car Operation for 2026 Season – Speedway Digest

Published

10 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Viking Motorsports announced today that the organization will expand to a two-car NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series program for the 2026 season. The team will field the newly established No. 96 Chevrolet, driven by Anthony Alfredo, with Josh Graham — who previously worked with Alfredo earlier in his career — returning as his crew chief as the pair reunite for another competitive run together.

This expansion marks a major step in the team’s evolution as Viking Motorsports enters its second full-time season at the national level. The move underscores the organization’s commitment to continued growth, performance, and long-term competitiveness.

Team owner Don Sackett expressed his enthusiasm for the team’s next phase:

“Expanding to a second full-time car is a major moment for our organization. Anthony brings experience, professionalism, and a tremendous work ethic that aligns perfectly with where Viking Motorsports is heading. Reuniting him with Josh gives us a strong foundation for this new team. Their chemistry, trust, and history together will help accelerate our growth and elevate our entire program.”

Alfredo, who joins Viking Motorsports with multiple years of NASCAR national series experience, is eager to reteam with Graham.

“I’m fired up to join Viking Motorsports and drive the No. 96 Chevrolet in 2026. Having the chance to work with Josh again is something I’m really excited about — we’ve had success together, and I know what we can accomplish as a team. You can see how much Viking is building and investing in its future. Being part of their expansion to a two-car program is a big opportunity, and I can’t wait to get going.”

The team will announce primary and associate partners for the No. 96 Chevrolet in the coming weeks.

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Mark Martin is worried about the NASCAR lawsuit hurting the sport

Published

11 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

“I’m worried about our sport. I want it to thrive.”

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are currently suing NASCAR for alleged antitrust violations. The trial began on Monday and they have been in court every day this week.

There’s been a lot of news to come out of the trial. Both NASCAR and the teams involved have egg on their face as private messages surface in court.

Richard Childress is considering legal action against NASCAR he was called a ‘redneck’

The trial is expected to last just a few weeks. However, the loser will likely appeal, dragging this case on for a lengthy amount of time.

A settlement could bring it all to a stop. Settlement discussions took place leading up to Monday’s opening in court but the two sides were unable to reach an agreement.

All of this has Mark Martin worried…

NASCAR team owner says he’s lost $100M in the sport

Mark Martin comments

“This lawsuit is devastating to the sport we love. I really hope we as fans come out of this better off, but I just don’t see a pathway that leads us to that,” Mark Martin stated via X.

He added, “I’m worried about our sport. I want it to thrive.”

He’s not alone. Earlier this year, Brad Keselowski noted that this lawsuit was the greatest threat to the sport.

Brad Keselowski says the NASCAR lawsuit is a threat to the sport

Before the trial began, Judge Kenneth Bell encouraged both sides to come to an agreement before trial. He noted that otherwise, both sides would be “burning the house down”.