If you’re looking for fun for the whole family, look no further than your own backyard. Just 20 minutes east of Mooresville in Salisbury, NC lies Millbridge Speedway, a dirt track treasure for rookie and seasoned racers alike. You can bet you’ll see future stars of racing on the podium at Millbridge and, once in a while, some of your favorite professional race car drivers return to their roots at the premier facility, too.
Finn Crowdes, nine years old, is an Iowa native recently turned Mooresville, NC local. Finn got his start in racing in 2021 and has raced on quite a few tracks already! When asked what his favorite part about racing at Millbridge Speedway is, he said, “How fast the track is!” He has also made friends with “lots of kids” within the community and looks forward to competing against them. When asked which NASCAR driver he gets most excited he might see at Millbridge, Finn said, “Kyle Larson and Ryan Newman.” These two, alongside many other notable racing legends have been known to make regular appearances at Millbridge whether it’s to cheer on a family member or to hit the dirt themselves.
As previously mentioned, Finn Crowdes is new to Race City after his dad, Joe Crowdes, recently started his career as a graphic designer for Hendrick Motorsports. Joe has been an avid race fan since his youth, so it’s no surprise he described his new job as “a dream come true.” Joe, his wife, Kelsey, and their four sons ultimately decided to trade in the comfort of their Iowa hometown for a fast-paced change of scenery in Mooresville because of “the community [they] have built throughout the years” while Joe has put in countless hours outside of his full time job providing freelance creative services within the racing community – all roads eventually leading them here. From March through November, you can find the Crowdes family, along with so many others in the motorsports community, at the race track “at least two nights a week.” When asked what makes Millbridge Speedway a premier dirt racing destination, Joe said, “When you show up to race at Millbridge, you are not only racing amazingly talented drivers, you are racing against crew members on top series teams, crew chiefs and top series drivers’ children, as well.” He added, “To people in youth karting, it is like driving into a NASCAR facility that is well maintained and cared for.” If you happen to pass the Crowdes family around town or at the track, be sure to give them a warm welcome! They are certainly a great addition to our wonderful community, and we are thrilled they now call Mooresville “home.”
I was fortunate enough to catch up with NASCAR Xfinity Series rookie Jesse Love, AKA The Hammer, with a few questions. Love has risen through the ranks of NASCAR, from dirt to Daytona, finding success each step of the way. When asked what it is about Millbridge Speedway that keeps him coming back to compete, Love answered, “I just love dirt racing and racing with Chad Boat in general. Everyone at Chad Boat Industries (CBI) are my brothers, and to go race on the edge like that against great racers, makes for so much fun. I think it helps my car control in NASCAR cars, as well.” I was curious how Love got his nickname ‘The Hammer ,’ so of course I had to ask. He shared, “I used to hold all of the quarter midgets I drove wide open and everyone shouted ‘The Hammer!’ when I rolled out.” Love finally shared his “most memorable Millbridge moment” would have to be his “battle with Larson (Kyle) and Bell (Christopher) and Brent Crews for the win in 2021.”
When you spend an evening at Millbridge Speedway, you never know who you might see. But, chances are you’ve probably seen them on your screen, heard them on your radio or cheered them on any given Sunday. Regardless, at Millbridge Speedway everyone is there for the same reason – to spend time with family enjoying a night of down home, darn good dirt racin’ under the lights.
Needless to say, Millbridge Speedway may be small, but it’s kind of a big deal.
