Article written by Marty Cmejla

MC Motorsports had one of the best weeks in team history this week. This was well timed as it would be the start of a brand new year. Immediately right on January 1st, 2025 the news broke that we would have a new partnership, with Vietvu Custom Diecast Shop. With this, Patrick Connell at Patrick Ray Designs made a great looking template for our iRacing cars.

Then, the first night of racing began. It would be NR Night in America racing to open 2025. First, Cmejla would do an ASPHALT MEDIA race at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, with the 410 Sprint Cars. It would be Cmejla's first start here. He finished 7th, respectfully. 

After Cmejla would register for NR Night in America's 2025 opening race - Next Gens at Daytona. Joining him would be Bradley Cmejla driving the #83 TJ's Tint Chevrolet, and Justin Connor, debuting our new All-Star #80 Brady Mueller: Life My Way Chevrolet. Unfortunately, problems immediately began with Justin Connor. Our #80 was messed up from the start and had transmission and pedal input problems. Our crew went hard at work to fix the #80 Chevrolet up. Connor wasn't able to qualify, so he started 30th in Duel 1.

All of our cars would race in Duel 1, which was really unfortunate. If all of us are in one duel, it decreases the chance of all of us making the feature significantly. The race went on. Unfortunately, Brad Cmejla got turned right on Lap 3, without a caution. Justin Connor was collected. Brad Cmejla would end his night early and would not make the show. A late caution gave Justin Connor a chance, but sadly he also DNQ'd.

Meanwhile Marty Cmejla was having an excellent race. Using months of new knowledge on Superspeedways (his last Superspeedway start in NR [excluding Race 5's] was October 31st), Cmejla was a Top 5 contender all race. It would be an overtime start to decide the winner of the duel. Cmejla was starting 3rd. "I wanted the outside," Cmejla told us.

Cmejla couldn't get to the outside and sunk fast, and had no help from Zachary Steele. But, Ethan Eckert, a former opp but now prop of MC Motorsports, jumped in front of Cmejla. Eckert and Cmejla flew threw the field on the inside together. Entering the tri-oval, Frank DeAngelis turned Eckert into Schmitt, the leader. They all spun. Cmejla went to the grass to avoid the chaos. He would lose the duel to a backwards-spinning Schmitt, by 0.003. The forbidden 0.003 - this is the same amount he lost the IndyCar race at Auto Club in October to Zachary Trull to. 

Cmejla would start 3rd in the race. Cmejla ran in the Top 5 all race long, but lost positions for the ensuing overtime restart. Cmejla would start 7th in overtime. Cmejla ended up tandeming with Nolan Drake and survived the last lap crash. Now there was only a 3 car pack up front. Cmejla and Drake were drafting hard and caught the lead pack as they made moves for the win. Nathan Lyons blocked Drake and Cmejla couldn't go anywhere. Cmejla finished a very respectable 3rd to start 2025.

The next race was COT Talladega. Unfortunately, duels would be present. We say unfortunately because Cmejla qualified on the pole, but that would only be for Duel 1. Otherwise it would have been for the actual race. Brad Cmejla qualified last but would start last in Duel 2. Cmejla was in the Top 3 all duel but fell short to Josh Kenyon, finishing 2nd in the duel again. Now, what we didn't say was this was also a Superspeedway Tournament night, so race finishes were scoring points if you finished in the Top 13. Cmejla earned 12 points at Daytona.

Brad Cmejla had a well-ran duel, but got involved in the last lap crash and finished 22nd, missing the Top 20 cut. Brad Cmejla was left furious but we agreed that it probably wouldn't have worked out well if he made the show due to his lack of experience in the COT. 

Cmejla would start 3rd in the race. Cmejla had a well ran race leading 5 laps. But with 2 laps to go, Cmejla was 1st. Unfortunately down the backstretch William Schmitt, instead of pushing Cmejla, decided to pass below the yellow line. "I wasn't going to let him back up," Cmejla said, but eventually was forced to. This led to Cmejla being on the outside in 5th place in the trioval. That's when NR Night newcomer Eric Labombard self-spun, and overcorrected taking out Cmejla. Cmejla was furious with Labombard after the race. Cmejla ended up 11th, but feels he was robbed of a win or another podium finish. Cmejla earned 3 points in the tourament.

Finally, it was Gen 4 at 2008 Daytona. Cmejla qualified 8th and ran there the entire race. But, with 5 to go there was a crash. Cmejla survived and would find himself restarting 5th. Cmejla made moves to get behind none other than William Schmitt, who basically just screwed Cmejla over in the previous race. Cmejla would be committed to pushing Schmitt. Cmejla pushed Schmitt up until the trioval. Then Cmejla tried to make a move of his own to win, but he fell short and finished 3rd. Schmitt got 2nd, which is critical for later.

"I wasn't going to push Schmitt all the way to the line because of what happened at Dega," Cmejla said.

Eventually, the points were a factor. Cmejla earned another 12. Cmejla thought he won the tournament, beating both Nolan Drake and Nathan Lyons. But, he didn't factor in William Schmitt. Schmitt had 26 points, and Cmejla had 26 points. The tiebreaker? The best finish in the night. Schmitt got 2nd at 2008 Daytona. Schmitt would be determined the nightly champion.

"I feel like I was partially robbed but it was fair in the end. I feel like the duels should have contributed to the average finish." Cmejla unfortunately didn't even get an interview on the broadcast. He was dragged into the interviews voice chat for about 5 seconds. Overall, Cmejla finished with an average finish of 5.67 on the night, with two podiums. This was exactly the start we were looking for to start 2025 off.

The next night things would get wild. It would be our first full showing of ASPHALT MEDIA of 2025. The schedule was released with some realistic options for a good result.

1. Super Late Models - Langley
This would be Cmejla's first start at Langley in ASPHALT MEDIA. Cmejla had always been screwed over in ASPHALT Super Late races.

2. Trucks - Richmond
Cmejla got his 2nd ASPHALT MEDIA win with this combo, but that was the last time he did the combo.

3. Dirt Street Stock - Eldora
Cmejla's favorite Dirt Street Stock combo, recently won a Dirt Street Stock race at Lanier.

4. Next Gen - Daytona
Typical superspeedway race.

"I knew it would be tough and competitive," were Cmejla's thoughts on the schedule. He was right. Race 1 kicked off with little speed as he qualified 8th. But, Cmejla survived the chaos and found himself making a pass for the lead. With some door banging, Cmejla made it work. He took the lead over Nathan McLaughlin. Then a caution came out sending the race into a Green-White-Checkered. Cmejla got an awful start. It allowed Everett Kautz to stay within range. Kautz got tight exiting Turn 4 coming to the white flag and slammed Cmejla in the wall. Cmejla lost all steering and because of the chaos behind, still finished 6th. "I didn't feel good after that one," Cmejla said.

After a heartbreak like that, it's always tough to recover in the next race. The next race would be Trucks Richmond. Cmejla started a dissappointing 11th. But, good wreck avoidance throughout the race led to a 5th place finish with some good battles.

Next was Dirt Street Stock at Eldora. This race went green the entire way. It was a battle between Marty Cmejla and Daniel Mosteller. Cmejla fell short to Dmos, finishing 2nd, but still had a lot of fun and was happy to get another podium on the year.

Next was Next Gen Daytona. Brad Cmejla was gearing up to race. But wait, a schedule change? Yes. ASPHALT owner Robbie Devore changed the schedule from Next Gens to Gen 4. It was extremely rare to see a Gen 4 Superspeedway race in ASPHALT MEDIA. Unfortunately, Brad Cmejla doesn't own the content, so he had to sit this one out. Cmejla qualified 8th.

Cmejla made early 3-wide moves getting himself into the Top 5. "I love the options the Gen 4 car gives you," Cmejla said. Cmejla had to avoid 2 side-by-side lap cars which caused a wreck. Cmejla would restart 2nd outside of Nathan McLaughlin.

Cmejla then made a hideous mistake. Cmejla wasn't focused and restart in 4th gear, a mistake that should lead to a crash. Luckily, the outside wasn't stacked too well and Cory Johnson was able to recognize the problem. Cmejla full numerous positions, but quickly got back to the lead with the help of Austin K. Mitchell.

With another caution, Cmejla was in a great position. The race went green again with another caution. Cmejla fell back to the 3rd spot for what would be an overtime restart. Cmejla got great help from Jacob Hoskins behind. Cmejla was able to get to the outside right behind Yahir Rodriguez. Cmejla stayed high and Yahir blocked. Then entering Turn 3, Daniel Mosteller made a move. Rodriguez blocked but Cmejla was too late. Cmejla had no help, but was able to slot in front of Hoskins. Cmejla then had to stay in line. 

Cmejla was in a 5 car pack with separated away from everyone featuring: #16 Yahir Rodriguez, #87 Daniel Mosteller, #11 Michael Mitcham, and #5 Austin K. Mitchell. Down the back, Yahir did some horrible moves and walled Mosteller. Everyone crashed in the pack... except for Cmejla. Cmejla escaped on the outside. Cmejla looked in his mirror.

"You just hope everyone behind gets involved at that point," Cmejla commented.

Unfortunately that was not the case. John Crosby, an ASPHALT MEDIA veteran who has made now 90 starts, was looking for his FIRST EVER win. Cmejla had a solid lead but knew Crosby could get there at the line. Crosby had no help. Down the frontstretch, Crosby was right there. Entering the tri-oval, with a big run, Crosby went high. Cmejla slammed the side of Crosby which ended up with them both in the wall. Cmejla was able to hold on over Crosby and an incoming Zechariah Cartledge to win.

This finish sparked controversy. Nobody was happy expect MC Motorsports loyal supporters. One in particular especially not happy was owner Robbie Devore, and rightfully so. Devore made comments how "15-20 of Cmejla's wins come from wrecking people."

"I know he's joking but it just brings up false narratives," Cmejla said. He ended up doing a high-pressure interview but was still able to shoutout the sponsors.

We looked back and found that 8 of Cmejla's wins in ASPHALT MEDIA were done in a dirty form, but only 2 of them were deliberately intentionally hooking cars. The other 6 were well timed blocks, or doorbanging cars.

If Cmejla doesn't put Crosby in the wall, Cmejla doesn't win the race. "I just didn't get it. I got wrecked out of a win in Race 1, and nobody said anything, but here everyone was upset. I wanted to win, and that's the move that had to be made. Anyone would have done it." 

Cmejla talked with John Crosby after the race and Crosby wasn't even upset. He said he's just here to have fun and doesn't care about the results. But, Cmejla still felt bad, but ties are good between the two drivers.

This was a milestone win. It already puts a 1 in the win column for 2025 at MC Motorsports, and for January. But, more than that, it was MC Motorsports' 50th Win across NR Night in America and ASPHALT MEDIA, amongst all drivers. 

With new partnerships, a successful opening to NR Night in America, and a win in ASPHALT MEDIA, and a 50-win milestone getting hit, this week marked one of our best weeks as a team in our long history.