Story By: BEN SHELTON / TRENT IVEY RACING – UNION, SC – Trent Ivey busted into the 2023 win column in a big way on Friday evening with a $10,000 victory at Cherokee Speedway (Gaffney, S.C.) in the 23rd running of the Grassy Smith Memorial.
The Mid-East Super Late Model Series triumph came aboard his Palmetto Pole & Piling / Hwy 29 Grill No. 88 Ivey Construction / Ivey Septic Service / Longhorn Chassis / Clements Racing Engine Super Late Model.
“We haven’t got to race as much this year as I would’ve liked because my new business has kept me busy, so to go out and grab a big win like this means a lot. Grassy Smith and the entire Smith family are obviously legends, so to win his memorial event is special,” Ivey said. “We’re going to head to Wythe (Raceway) this Saturday for the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals event and try to keep this momentum going.”
On Friday evening, Trent Ivey entered a single event over the weekend at Cherokee Speedway (Gaffney, S.C.) for the 23rd-running of the Grassy Smith Memorial.
With 26 Late Models in the Mid-East Super Late Model Series sanctioned event, Trent timed in second-fastest in his qualifying group and was victorious in his heat race.
Rolling off from the third position in the main event, Ivey took advantage of lap-30 restart to pass race-long leader Ben Watkins on the high side.
Trent led the final 20 laps en route to a $10,000 triumph and topped Ben Watkins, Chris Ferguson, Jeff Smith, and Anthony Sanders who completed the Top-5. The win was his first of the 2023 season.
Next on tap for the South Carolina racer is a trip to Wythe Raceway (Rural Retreat, Va.) this Saturday for the $10,053-to-win Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals event.