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Allen Turner Hyundai PLMs: Big Asphalt Dreams Drive Holmes Toward Top at Five Flags

By Chuck Corder

Perhaps it’s his proximity to one of auto racing’s most hallowed theaters.

Perhaps it’s his drive and determination to one day drive on NASCAR’s biggest stages. Perhaps, it’s his sheer knack to balance a full college course load with an equally busy racing schedule.

Whatever lures you in about Brett Holmes, it certainly seems the 18-year-old late model driver from Munford, Ala., is destined for big things.

Holmes, born and raised 15 minutes from Talladega Superspeedway, hopes racing is part of the picture. For now, Holmes lives the dream by competing against the nation’s top late model drivers and trying to conquer iconic short tracks, such as Five Flags Speedway.

After a few near misses already this season, the Auburn freshman returns to Pensacola’s high banks Friday for another test in the Allen Turner Hyundai Pro Late Model doubleheader feature (20-/30-lappers).

“This next 20 lapper, I’ll be pretty disappointed, honestly, if we don’t win it,� said Holmes, who is majoring in building science on The Plains. “We want to get a win before the Snowflake (100 in December). We weren’t planning on running for points when we started the season, but we talked about it and it feels like now it’s the best option.�

Holmes, who just wrapped up the Show Me the Money Series PLM track championship at Montgomery Motor Speedway, sits third in the Allen Turner PLM season standings. He trails fellow college freshman Ryan Luza by 58 points.

The Pro Trucks, Sportsman and Bombers will also be in action Friday night. The gates open at 4 p.m. Friday and admission is $15 for adults; $12 for seniors, military members and students; $5 for children ages 6 to 11; and free for kids under 6.

In five features this season — a 100 lapper in May coupled with the two doubleheaders — Holmes boasts four top-seven finishes.

He’s landed on the podium twice at Five Flags. He finished third during the 20-lap feature on June 26 and endured a heartbreaking second to Derek Thorn’s 20-lap victory July 10.

“I felt like we should’ve won that race,� Holmes still laments. “We were right on (Thorn’s) tail. But, he beat me on restarts. Shoulda woulda coulda, but I definitely felt there was a lot more room for potential in that race.�

All in all, the dirt-tracker by birth has acquitted himself quite nicely in just his second season of asphalt racing.

Despite being raised in the shadow of one of NASCAR’s most popular tracks — Talladega is, literally, just a series of backroads from home — Holmes was reared on dirt.

Like most kids, Bret Holmes grew up idolizing his father, Stacey Holmes. Quality time for son and father meant Bret watching Stacey wheel a late model around the dirt at Talladega Short Track.

“Being this close to Talladega, it’s easy to be around a racetrack your whole life,� said Bret Holmes, who raced go-karts and Legends cars until moving to dirt late models a few years ago. “When the NASCAR guys would roll in, we’d of course go to the race every year. But, I had only raced dirt.�

After capturing crate late model titles, track championships and breaking all sorts of track records on dirt, the younger Holmes got his first taste of asphalt last year.

As part of a driver development program with Lee Faulk Racing out of Hickory, N.C., Holmes raced in about 25 pavement features throughout the Carolinas.

“It was a completely different learning curve,� he said. “In dirt, you’re not listening to somebody yell in ear unlike now where I’m relying on a spotter.

“In dirt, you don’t have to worry about your line on the racetrack. Right before practice, or qualifying or a race, you’d walk up and see how the moisture was in the track and that’s how you made your adjustments. Asphalt, it’s a little easier to make the adjustments based on temperature.

“Not having to counter-steer is something else that’s different,� Holmes continued. “I’ve never turned left this much in my whole career.�

But, Holmes, has also found a use for his dirt track skills on asphalt.

“When the tires wear out that’s when having that dirt experience comes in,� he said.

After he finished his Faulk Racing development program midway through 2014, Holmes and his father set out on their own.

Holmes ran his family car three times last year at Pensacola, a 20/30 doubleheader in addition to the Snowflake Tune-Up in the fall before the Snowflake 100 where he finished a respectable 11th.

Jim Barfield was brought in this season as crew chief. Barfield, who crewed for T.J. Reaid and has worked with Chase Elliott and Casey Roderick among other young guns, has proved to be an invaluable resource as Holmes navigates his way through any lingering growing pains.

“Jim definitely has experience, and that’s what we needed,� Holmes said. “He’s been a perfect addition to our team, and we really work well together.�

The adjustment period with Barfield didn’t take long. The pair meshed almost immediately.

The adjustment period from dirt to asphalt has also worn off. In fact, Holmes has a secret he’s not sure he wants printed.

“I know my dirt-track buddies aren’t going to like hearing this, but I’ve come to like pavement more than dirt,� he said. “The competition is so close every week compared to dirt. Everybody’s right there. That’s what makes asphalt really fun.�

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