Star-Studded Early Entry List Released for 41st All American 400 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway

One of the strongest Super Late Model fields of the season is taking shape for the 41st All American 400 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, with 28 drivers already entered for the Sunday, November 8 showdown featuring the Appalachian Sucker Punch ASA STARS National Tour and Southern Super Series.

The early entry list features former All American 400 winners, national touring champions, NASCAR competitors and some of the brightest young talents in short-track racing. With additional entries expected before race weekend, the battle to make the starting field and ultimately capture one of short-track racing's most prestigious victories promises to be intense.

Leading the list of contenders is Pinellas Park, Florida's Stephen Nasse, who arrives in Nashville riding a wave of momentum following his victory in last weekend's World Crown. Nasse has enjoyed an outstanding stretch of major-event performances, highlighted by his Snowball Derby triumph last December and a runner-up finish in the recent Winchester 400.

Nasse is also a former All American 400 winner, having captured the prestigious Nashville event in 2022. He will look to add a second All American victory to his growing collection of short-track racing's biggest trophies.

Another major storyline surrounds Carson Brown of New London, North Carolina, who enters the weekend with a commanding advantage in the Appalachian Sucker Punch ASA STARS National Tour championship standings.

Brown has been the dominant force on the national tour in 2026, winning five of the first nine races, including a remarkable performance in the Winchester 400. His consistency and ability to lead laps have made him the driver to beat throughout much of the season.

Brown is also looking to improve upon his impressive All American 400 debut in 2025, when he finished second to Dawson Sutton. With a series championship in sight and another major-event victory on the line, Brown will be among the favorites when the green flag falls.

Sutton, a Lebanon, Tennessee native, will have the opportunity to defend his All American 400 crown in front of the hometown crowd.

The former Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway Pro Late Model champion captured last year's All American 400 after a dominant performance in which he led 202 laps. Sutton has since continued his climb through the NASCAR ranks as a full-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competitor, earning his first Truck Series victory at Bristol Motor Speedway earlier this season.

Sutton also finished third in the 2024 All American 400, giving him two podium finishes in his first two appearances in the event. He will attempt to become the first driver since Freddie Query in 1997 and 1998 to win consecutive All American 400 events.

Champions and Major-Event Winners Headed to Music City

The impressive early entry list includes several other accomplished competitors capable of challenging for the victory.

Canadian standout Chase Pinsonneault of Belle River, Ontario, will bring championship credentials to Nashville after capturing the CRA Turn One Pro Late Model championship. Pinsonneault has continued to build his reputation as one of the sport's rising young competitors and will look to make an impact against the national Super Late Model field.

Gabe Sommers of Plover, Wisconsin, is another proven champion entered for the event. The two-time ASA Midwest Tour champion and 2023 Oktoberfest winner has made four previous All American 400 starts, highlighted by an eighth-place finish in 2022 when he qualified on the outside front row and led 71 laps. Sommers also finished ninth in last year's event after starting 22nd.

Former ASA STARS National Tour champion Cole Butcher returns to Nashville with an impressive resume of victories and championships. The Canadian-born competitor has become a familiar name in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series while continuing to compete in major Super Late Model events across the country.

Another former All American 400 winner on the entry list is Matt Craig of Mount Pleasant, North Carolina. Craig captured the Nashville classic in 2021 and has established himself as one of the most accomplished Super Late Model competitors in the Southeast, with multiple championships in both PASS and CARS Tour competition.

Nashville's own Dylan Fetcho will also be among the drivers to watch. The Lebanon, Tennessee racer is a three-time Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway Pro Late Model champion and a former All American Weekend Pro Late Model winner. Fetcho will look to translate his extensive experience at the historic speedway into a strong performance against the national touring competitors.

Derek Thorn of Bakersfield, California, brings another impressive set of credentials to Nashville. The 2022 Snowball Derby winner is widely regarded as one of the premier Super Late Model racers in the country and will be seeking his first All American 400 victory.

Former Winner Garcia and Rising Stars Add to Field

The early entry list also includes 2024 All American 400 winner Jake Garcia of Eatonton, Georgia, adding another former champion to an already talented field.

Other notable entries include 2026 ARCA Menards Series East champion Tristan McKee, Wisconsin racer Derek Kraus, former Northwest Super Late Model Series champion Kasey Kleyn, Midwest standout Austin Nason, Canadian racers Kyle Steckly and Treyten Lapcevich, and talented young competitor Jade Avedisian.

Additional drivers already entered include Penn Sauter, Brandon Lopez, Ridge Oien, Wesley Slimp, Jett Nolard, George Phillips, Buddy Shepherd, Cole Robie, Albert Francis, Michael Simko and Dylan Bates.

The entry list includes competitors from across the United States and Canada, further demonstrating the national appeal of the All American 400.

With the field already approaching 30 entries and more expected, every practice session and qualifying lap will be important. The depth of talent ensures that even established champions will have their work cut out for them as they attempt to secure a strong starting position.

All American 400 History Filled With Legendary Names

Since its inaugural running in 1981, the All American 400 has established itself as one of the most prestigious events in American short-track racing.

The first race was won by Butch Lindley, beginning a tradition that has included victories by some of the sport's most recognizable names.

Rusty Wallace captured the event in 1985, while Darrell Waltrip claimed the 1987 edition. Other notable winners include Bob Senneker, Gary Balough, Jeff Purvis, Freddie Query, Wayne Anderson, Mike Garvey, Bobby Gill, Chase Elliott, John Hunter Nemechek, Daniel Hemric and Bubba Pollard.

More recently, the event has continued to attract the nation's top Super Late Model competitors, with Casey Roderick winning in 2020, Matt Craig in 2021, Stephen Nasse in 2022, William Sawalich in 2023, Jake Garcia in 2024 and Dawson Sutton in 2025.

With Craig, Nasse, Garcia and Sutton all entered for this year's event, four recent winners will attempt to add another All American 400 trophy to their collections.

Three Days of Racing Highlight All American 400 Weekend

The 41st All American 400 Weekend gets underway Friday, November 6, with Championship Night on the quarter-mile oval. Six feature events will determine Nashville's 2026 local division champions, with racing beginning at 7:00 PM.

Saturday, November 7, features All American Super Pole Qualifying for the Super Late Models, the Pro Late Model All American 100, the Turnkey Auto Works HRA Street Stock 40 and the Vore's Compact Touring Series Pest Doctor 40. Saturday's racing program begins at 5:00 PM.

The weekend concludes Sunday, November 8, with the 41st All American 400 featuring the Appalachian Sucker Punch ASA STARS National Tour.

Grandstands will open at 11:00 AM Sunday, followed by an on-track driver autograph session from 11:30 AM until 12:10 PM. Driver introductions begin at 12:30 PM, with the green flag scheduled for 1:00 PM.

Fans can experience all three days of racing with a three-day ticket for just $50, one of the best bargains in short-track racing. Single-day tickets are also available.

Advance Tickets: https://bit.ly/2026AA400Tix

Complete Weekend Schedule: https://nashvillefairgroundsspeedway.racing/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/SOE-Nashville-November-8-2026-NFS-4.pdf

Additional Information: www.nashvillefairgroundsspeedway.racing

With 28 early entries, additional competitors expected, and a field loaded with champions and major-event winners, the 41st All American 400 promises another memorable chapter in the history of Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.

-Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway Release
-Photo credit: Ultimate Lap Photo

All American 400 Entry List