Tazewell teen tearing up the track
Blayne Harrison.
Tazewell’s Blayne Harrison developed a passion for motorsports in unique fashion.
Flash back to a day in 2006 when Elby Harrison, Blayne’s father, made a visit to D&D Auto Parts in Bradshaw, West Virginia.
“As soon as dad walked out of the store, he heard the engine of a little Mod 4 car. Then he smelled the fuel,” Blayne said.
To say the least, Elby was intrigued by the Mod 4 marvel.
“Dad asked where he could get a car like that,” Blayne said. “The owner said one was available in Cocoa Beach, Florida, so dad just took off to Florida and bought the car. And that’s how we got into racing.”
Competing in a variety of divisions, mostly at Lonesome Pine Raceway, Elby won a series championship in Mod Street and was a title contender in Late Model.
“Dad has been around the block and he has taught me a lot,” Blayne said.
Elby now helps his son in the pits.
Blayne is just 19, but his resume runs deep.
The fast-paced competition begin at age four in the risky arena of motocross.
After gaining experience at area tracks such as Muddy Creek Raceway in Blountville, Blayne was preparing to run in the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.
The next turn on his 50cc bike was a nightmare.
“I was practicing at the old Lonesome Dove course in Raven, Virginia, when a bigger bike landed on me in mid-air. I came away with a concussion. Dad decided the sport was too dangerous after that,” Harrison said.
Following the lead of NASCAR stars such as Chase Elliott, Joey Logano and current sensation Corey Heim, Harrison became involved in the popular Thursday Thunder series for Legend and Bandolero cars at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Those races are held on a tricky 1.4-mile layout inside the track.
“We ran with the best of them, including Heim,” Harrison said.
Harrison won Bandolero track titles in 2016 and 2017 at Lonesome Pine.
Following a successful run in the Limited Late Model and Mod Street classes, Harrison moved up to elite Late Model ranks in 2022.
In addition to winning 2023 Late Model title at LPR, Harrison has competed at facilities across Virginia and North Carolina. For the past two years, he has been a regular in the Late Model ranks at famed Hickory Motor Speedway.
“Hickory is awesome,” Harrison said. “Running three-wide on the same track where so many legends like Dale Earnhardt raced is something else.”
Harrison finished second in points and earned a pair of wins at Hickory last season while grinding through a nearly 30-race schedule for the Taylorsville, North Carolina, based Wilson Racing Corporation.
Like many short track competitors across the nation, Harrison planned on following the remainder of the IHRA Stock Car Series this season. But those events, including a September stop at Lonesome Pine, were cancelled by IHRA officials last week.
Harrison has made two Late Model starts at the new-look LPR in 2026.
“It’s great to see all the improvements at Lonesome Pine,” Harrison said. “Joey Owens (track owner) has transformed the place, and now it’s comparable to any track I’ve seen.”
What is the schedule for the rest of this year?
“I haven’t really made a plan in stone,” Harrison said. “At some point, I would like to venture into the ownership side and start a rental program for different drivers.”
There is an established path from Tazewell to the upper reaches of NASCAR.
Tazewell native Kevin Kidd has more than 25 years of motorsports experience as a crew chief, engineer and official. He was hired in 2025 by the parent company of Dodge, Ram and other brands to lead motorsports programs in the NHRA and guide Ram’s return to the NASCAR Truck Series.
Kevin’s brother, Michael, raced on area short tracks and now operates Kidd Tire Auto Parts in Tazewell.
Harrison lives next door next to Kelly Kidd, the father of Kevin and Michael Kidd.
From the track to the race shop, Blayne has paid his dues.
On weekdays, he serves as a heavy equipment diesel mechanic at the Richlands branch of James River Equipment before working on his race cars at night.
“I set up my car and dad turns the wrenches,” Blayne said. “We’ve had a good time in the sport and we’re looking forward to the future.”
Whatever happened to that Florida-based Mod 4 that kicked off the motorsports run for the Harrison family?
“Dad ran that car for a year before it blew up. That’s racing. We just moved on from there,” Blayne said.
