Billy Gregg Racing has stepped up its game this summer at Bowman Gray Stadium

Nate Gregg doesn't mind talking junk to his father, Billy.

When it was pointed out that his father has a little bounce in his step now that he's leading the Sportsman Division in points, Nate couldn't help himself.

"I don't know about that; he still moves kind of slow," Nate said with a laugh.

Billy certainly isn't moving slow when he's behind his No. 98 car so far this season at Bowman Gray Stadium.

"I really think that the 602 (engine) deal worked to our advantage," Billy said about the new specs for the engines in the Sportsman Division this year. "All those years we spent running the 602 in the Street (Division), we have knowledge with that type of engine, so I think that's been helpful."

What wasn't helpful a couple of weeks ago was when Billy went through two engines in practice and was left without a car. He drove Bryan Sykes Jr.'s car so he could get points, but it was a rather harrowing day.

"I've blown engines before, but never two in one day," Billy said.

Billy's a four-time winner of the Street Stock championship, and Sykes Jr. was the Street Stock champion last year.

Now, all three of those Billy Gregg Racing cars are putting together a consistent season.

Heading into Saturday's two Sportsman 20-lap races, Billy leads the high-flying Justin Taylor by just two points. Sykes Jr. is in third place in the points with Nate Gregg fourth and Zack Ore, the champion two years ago, in fifth place.

Billy said he's enjoying running the Sportsman Division full time, something he tried in 2015, the year his dad died.

"He built me a Sportsman car, and I moved to the Sportsman, but I was terrible," Billy said. "So, I ended up back in the Street Stock."

As for the competition in the Sportsman Division, Billy says he likes how the season is shaping up. On Saturday night, it will be the start of the second half of the 18-week season.

"I think there are definitely a lot of emotions out there," he said. "You just have to hold them in check. There's a lot of rivalries, and there's just a lot of drivers that don't like each other."

There have been plenty of run-ins this season, and one that stands out was Tommy Neal and Ore getting involved in a caution-lap flareup.

"You have to drive your car, too," Billy said. "You've got to be a good driver to win the title, and you have to know your competition."

Nate says he's been impressed with how his dad has done this season. Billy has 12 starts with two wins, and he's had 10 top-5's. Nate has three wins, and Ore leads the division with four wins.

"This is the first time in a long time that he's focused on trying to win and be competitive," Nate said. "He's always had so many other things going on with the cars, but this year it's been better even with the engines he's blown."

In past seasons, father and son would split time in a car, but this year each of them have a car to their liking.

"He loves how his car is doing, and I love how my car is handling," Nate said. "That does make a difference."

Billy said winning the title is something on his mind, but he also wants Sykes Jr. and his son to continue to excel.

Last week, Nate had to hold off his father for the win as the Greggs finished 1-2 in the second Sportsman race.

"You have to think about it," Billy said about trying to win his first Sportsman title. "I don't think you can back into it. I don't mind getting beat by Nate or (Sykes Jr.) or Justin Taylor or Sterling Plemmons. ... What I don't want to do is get beat by the tower."

Bowman Gray Stadium racing officials are very good at not letting anybody know about post-race inspections and what the penalties are when something is found.

On Thursday buried deep in a news release sent to local media previewing this week's racing, it was announced that Brandon Brendle's win in the Stadium Stock race did not count from last week.

"Initial race winner Brandon Brendle and second-place finisher Luke Smith were both disqualified after failing post-race inspection," the news release said.

Adam Baker, Chuck Wall, Brad Michalowski and Levi Holt all moved up in the results, and it caused plenty of jumbling in the points' standings. Smith was running away with the division title, but now Wall is close behind.

The second half of the season will begin with Week 10, and the featured race will be the Market USA 100 in the Modified Division.

The Fan's Challenge also will be offered again. Drivers who choose to start in the rear of the field will earn an extra $3,000 if they finish in the top four.

There also will be two 20-lap Sportsman races, two Stadium Stock races and a 20-lap Street Stock race.

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This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 4:06 AM.