Riley's Racing Story

Since a young age, Riley has been involved with his father Kevin and Uncle Tommy's race teams. He would be in the shop playing with his toy race cars until he was old enough to start banging wrenches on his dad's car. For the Neal family, racing has always been a family occasion and tradition. They have raced everything from 4 Cylinder Mini Stocks, to Late Model Sportsman's, and all the way up to the mighty Modified's at Bowman Gray Stadium and the SMART Modified Tour.

"My dad and Adam [Eaton] have taught me everything I know," said Riley. "If I do not work on my car during the week and keep my grades up in school, I do not get to race."

Riley started racing Champ Karts in 2017 at Stateline and Liberty Raceway, but quickly figured out that karts were not his forte. But in 2019, Riley got the opportunity to run his first 602 Race at Ace Speedway and he was hooked. Riley ran three more 602 in 2019, and moved on to running the full 602 Tour in 2020. On August 1st, 2020, Riley's hard work began to pay off as he qualified on the pole and won the race on the same night. He would go on to win 3 more races and another pole positions on his way to winning the 602 Tour Championship at just 12 years old. 

In 2021, they purchased a offset chassis and went Late Model racing with the Carolina Pro Late Model Series. However, Riley did not find much success in that series after a crash at Orange County Speedway ended their season. But Riley was able to race for Ryan Nelson for a race at Caraway Speedway and came out with the win!

In 2022, Riley made his first laps at Bowman Gray Stadium and quickly found what he had been searching for. On April 30th, just the second week of the season, Riley would win the first 20 lap race of the night and becomes the youngest winner in Bowman Gray Stadium history at just 14 years old. 2022 would be rather successful for Riley, as he went on to win three more races at Bowman Gray that year and the Madhouse Race at Carteret County Speedway. He would also win Bowman Gray's 2022 Sportsman Rookie of The Year and the Sportsman Division's Most Popular Driver.

That brings us to 2023. Riley would once again run in the Sportsman Division. Him and his team decided that it was time to make a run for the Sportsman Championship. After collecting three wins and many more Top 5's and Top 10's, Riley would finish 3rd in the points standings. He would also win the season's Sportsman Hard Charger Award, Most Improved Driver and Most Popular Driver. 

For the 2024 Season, Riley Neal will be making the jump into the historic Modified Division at Bowman Gray Stadium. Riley and his team have their eyes set on making winning the Modified Division Rookie of The Year, and becoming the youngest winner in Modified Division history at Bowman Gray. Riley wants to seal the Neal family name in the record books, and his team, partners and fans will be standing with him along the way.