We spend almost every weekend of the year at the track. We’re used to the smell of high-octane fuel, the roar of engines that rattles your chest, and the layer of dust and rubber that coats everything by the time the checkered flag waves. But for one night in Charlotte, the firesuits were traded for tuxedos, and the catchfences were replaced by the elegant chandeliers of the Crown Ballroom.

The 2025 NASCAR Regional and International Awards weren’t just a banquet; they were a celebration of the soul of this sport. While the Cup Series gets the Sunday headlines, the drivers in this room are the ones grinding it out on Friday and Saturday nights, keeping the grassroots spirit alive from local bullrings to international circuits. It was a night to pause, breathe, and recognize the sheer hell it takes to become a champion.

A Night of History at the NASCAR Regional Awards

You could feel the history in the room, especially when Austin Beers took the stage. At just 22 years old, the Pennsylvania native did what many thought was impossible he tamed the beasts of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour to become the division’s youngest champion.

If you know Modified racing, you know it’s usually a playground for the veterans, the guys who have been turning left since before Beers was born. For a kid to step in and snatch the crown? That’s not just talent; that’s a statement. Watching him hold that trophy, you got the sense that we aren’t just looking at a regional champion, but a driver who is going to be a headache for the competition for a long, long time.

Then there was Isabella Robusto. Finishing fourth in the ARCA Menards Series standings is solid on paper, but it doesn’t tell the whole story of her drive. Taking home the Bounty Rookie of the Year honors at the awards ceremony was a fitting cap to a season where she proved she belongs in the conversation with the best up-and-comers in the garage.

Cult Heroes and Fan Favorites Steal the Show in Charlotte

Let’s be honest: racing needs characters. It needs guys who move the needle just by walking into a room. Enter Brenden “Butterbean” Queen.When Butterbean struck a pose with his ARCA Menards Series hardware, the room lit up.

He’s the kind of driver the sport thrives on talented behind the wheel, sure, but possessing that magnetic personality that turns casual viewers into diehard fans. Seeing him and his girlfriend, Nicole Natchus, on the red carpet was a reminder that while the on-track product is serious business, you’ve got to have fun with the journey.

It wasn’t just about the solo acts, either. Seeing Trevor Huddleston, the ARCA Menards Series West champion, celebrating alongside his father and car owner, Tim, hit you right in the feels. Racing is a family business, often quite literally. The sacrifices made by fathers, mothers, and siblings to get a car to the grid are immeasurable, and moments like that on the awards stage make every late night in the shop worth it.

International Awards Highlight NASCAR’s Global Reach

If you think stock car racing is purely an American obsession, you haven’t been paying attention. The International Awards portion of the evening was proof that the appetite for door-banging action spans the globe.

We saw Italian ace Vittorio Ghirelli hoisting the NASCAR Euro Series trophy, a testament to how fierce the competition has become across the Atlantic. Marc-Antoine Camirand and his team owner, Jean-Claude Paille, brought the Canadian flair as they celebrated a hard-fought title in the NASCAR Canada Series. And let’s not forget Alex de Alba representing the NASCAR Mexico Series.

These aren’t exhibition series; they are dogfights. To see these drivers sharing the stage with the American regional champs was a powerful visual of how small the racing world is becoming and how the talent pool is deeper than ever.

Celebrating the Backbone of the Sport

Perhaps the most grounding moment of the awards came with the recognition of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series champions. These are the warriors. The guys like Jacob Goede, who picked up his second national title.

To win a national weekly title, you don’t just have to be good; you have to be relentless. You have to show up when you’re tired, when the budget is tight, and when the car is barely held together. Goede’s recognition, along with regional champs like Brendon Fries and Chase Johnson, is a salute to every short tracker who keeps the lights on at local speedways across the country.

And we have to mention Kenna Mitchell. At 19, taking home a Limited Pro Late Model championship is impressive enough. But being honored with the Wendell Scott Trailblazer Award adds a layer of significance that goes beyond the stat sheet. It’s about opening doors and paving the way for the next generation.

Final Thoughts

As the lights went down in Charlotte, the trophies were packed away, and the tuxes were hung up. But the glitz of the awards is just fuel for the fire. Because every driver in that room knows the truth: the trophies are nice, but the real prize is waiting at the next green flag.