Still the Hottest: Ashton Tucker Sets Sights on Oxford, Big Races, and a Full Pro Stock Tour Run in 2025
The #2 team celebrating victory - Photo Courtesy of JT Racing Pix
May 13th, 2025
When I checked in with Ashton Tucker just before last season, I described him with the title “Hottest Driver in the Maritimes”, a title that I found hard to dispute. And then he followed that up by turning in one of the most dominant campaigns we've seen in recent years.
In 2024, the Lyttleton, NB driver clinched the Super Late Model Series (SLMS) championship, edging out #83 Cory Hall in a tie-breaker that only emphasized just how elite both drivers were all year. Tucker’s SLMS results told the story: 1st, 1st, 3rd, 1st, 4th, 1st—a six-race string that included four wins and never dipped outside of the top four.
Even when the SLMS season ended, Tucker wasn’t finished. He brought home a second-place finish in the Mike Stevens Memorial 254, one of the region’s most prestigious unsanctioned races, and grabbed his fourth career win in the Speedway 660 250, continuing his dominance at the Geary track.
Over on the East Coast International Pro Stock Tour—where Tucker has often been a part-time threat—he was just as dangerous. In a handful of appearances, he logged a 2nd-place finish in a 150-lapper, took 3rd in the IWK 250, finished 6th in the Summer Clash 250, and then closed out with a win in the Scotia Speedworld 200. If there was any doubt about his adaptability across formats and fields, 2024 settled it.
2025: Changing Focus
So what comes next for the Maritimes’ hottest wheelman?
Tucker will run the Pro Stock Tour full-time for the first time in his career. It will present a new challenge, and allows for the ability to be the first champion of both series’.
Beyond that, Tucker plans to target major unsanctioned races once again, including another bid at the Mike Stevens Memorial and the Speedway 660 250. He also has his eyes on Oxford Plains Speedway south of the border: the Oxford 250, one of North America’s largest Late Model events.
Tucker also had hoped to enter a 150-lap event at Oxford Plains Speedway earlier in the season as a tune-up race, though that race has now been postponed twice due to weather, casting doubt on whether it will go ahead at all. Even if that doesn’t materialize, the 250 remains a major focus.
Standing in the Way: Jarrett Butcher
One driver who could derail Tucker’s full-time Pro Stock Tour ambitions is none other than #54 Jarrett Butcher, the reigning series champion. Jarrett put together a rock-solid 2024 campaign that showcased both speed and consistency—exactly what it takes to win championships.
His finishes tell the story: 1st, 1st, 2nd, 12th, 2nd (IWK 250), 7th, 2nd (Summer Clash 250), 5th, 1st, and 2nd. That’s three wins, seven top-3 finishes, and a resilience that saw him bounce back from his only stumble (a 12th-place result) to win just one race later.
Jarrett’s ability to finish strong when it matters—including in high-profile races like the IWK 250 and the Summer Clash 250—means Tucker will have a serious title fight on his hands in 2025. The contrast in their 2024 schedules only adds intrigue: Tucker had more wins with fewer starts, while Jarrett proved himself across the full grind.
2024 Comparison: Ashton Tucker vs. Jarrett Butcher
| Category | Ashton Tucker | Jarrett Butcher |
|---|---|---|
| Pro Stock Tour Wins | 1 (Scotia Speedworld 200) | 3 (incl. Season Opener) |
| IWK 250 Finish | 3rd | 2nd |
| Summer Clash 250 Finish | 6th | 2nd |
| Scotia Speedworld 200 Finish | 1st | 5th |
| Mike Stevens Memorial Finish | 2nd | 4th |
| Pro Stock Tour Best Finish | 1st | 1st (×3) |
| Pro Stock Tour Lowest Finish | 6th | 12th |
| Overall Pro Stock Tour Consistency | 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 1st | 1st, 1st, 2nd, 12th, 2nd, 7th, 2nd, 5th, 1st, 2nd |
| Average Finish (PST + Mike Stevens) | 2.8 | 3.45 |
If 2024 was a preview, 2025 is set to be a heavyweight title fight between two of the region’s finest. Note that only Pro Stock Tour races, and the unsanctioned Mike Stevens that they both raced in are included here.
Head-to-Head Highlights – Tucker vs. Butcher in Key 2024 Battles
Speedway 660 (150 Lapper – Pro Stock Tour Opener)
🏁 Winner: Jarrett Butcher
🥈 Runner-Up: Ashton Tucker
— Jarrett opened the season strong, holding off Tucker in a tight battle.IWK 250 – Riverside International Speedway
🥈 Jarrett: 2nd
🥉 Ashton: 3rd
— Both drivers finished on the podium in one of the season’s crown jewels.Summer Clash 250 – Scotia Speedworld
🥈 Jarrett: 2nd
6️⃣ Ashton: 6th
— Jarrett outpaced Ashton in this crown jewel feature.Scotia Speedworld 200 (Season Finale)
🥇 Ashton: 1st
5️⃣ Jarrett: 5th
— Tucker closed his Pro Stock Tour appearances for the year with a definitive victory.Mike Stevens Memorial 254 (Unsanctioned)
🥈 Ashton: 2nd
4️⃣ Jarrett: 4th
— Another showdown, with Tucker prevailing in a stacked field.
The average finish in the above graphic is only based on those 3 marquee Pro Stock Tour races + The Mike Stevens Memorial
The Verdict
Call it a new chapter or call it business as usual—but it seems unlikely that Tucker is going to cool down anytime soon. Whether he’s chasing trophies in Geary, fighting for big wins in Halifax, or battling the best at Oxford, he will look to do what he does best: win races, turn heads, and make a case for being one of the best Late Model driver in the Maritimes, and not just in the present.
