Reid Finney Takes Third at New Smyrna: A Family Legacy

The No. 80 brought home third. Decades of Merritt Island racing stand behind it. Reid Finney finished third in the Hart to Heart 60-lap Super Late Model Main Event at New Smyrna Speedway on October 17, 2026, giving local racing fans something to celebrate.

Behind the Merritt Island driver is a family story connecting a longtime Space Coast race shop with NASCAR teams, Daytona race weeks, and Brevard County classrooms.

Reid Finney Finishes Third at New Smyrna Speedway

“New Smyrna speedway sign01” by Ebyabe is licensed under CC BY 2.5.

Driving the No. 80 car, Reid earned a podium finish in the Hart to Heart 60-lap Main Event at New Smyrna Speedway.

For anyone who doesn’t follow racing closely, a podium finish means placing in the top three. Reid secured third, giving his family and hometown a result worth recognizing.

Here are the race details:

If you’re just getting familiar with Reid, keep an eye on No. 80. He’s adding his own results to a family racing history that stretches back decades.

Finney Racing Enterprise Has Merritt Island Roots

Long before Reid’s latest finish, the family was building its connection to motorsports through Finney Racing Enterprise in Merritt Island.

Operating since the 1970s, the race shop is owned by Wally and Brian Finney, a father-and-son team. Brian is Reid’s father, and Wally is his grandfather.

Three generations, with a local business connecting the family’s past and present.

For Space Coast residents, that history brings the story closer to home. A shop operating right here in Merritt Island has spent decades serving the racing community, including teams whose work takes them well beyond Brevard County.

At Blue Marlin Real Estate, we like knowing the stories behind local business names. This one comes with a lot of history under the hood.

NASCAR Team Support and Extensive Shock Work

Finney Racing Enterprise services a variety of needs for several NASCAR teams, including extensive shock work.

That’s a part of racing many fans don’t get to see. The cars on the track draw the attention, while shops and specialists handle the equipment work teams need behind the scenes.

For the Finney family, that technical work is part of the business. Their involvement in motorsports includes both driving and supporting the teams preparing to compete.

The family connection reaches from the driver’s seat to the shop floor, giving Reid’s racing story another layer.

A Parts Resource During Daytona Speedweeks

During Daytona’s Speedweeks period, Finney Racing Enterprise also serves as a parts resource for numerous race teams.

As teams compete in Daytona, the Merritt Island shop helps support their equipment needs. It’s a practical connection between a longstanding Brevard County business and one of Florida’s busiest racing periods.

For neighbors who have never heard of the shop, that may be the surprising part: a local operation has been doing work connected to a much larger racing community for decades.

“NewSmyrnaSpeedwayAerialpic” by Adam53Rick is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license: DCIM100MEDIADJI_0446.JPG

Phil Finney’s NASCAR Connection

The family’s racing history also includes Reid’s uncle, Phil Finney, who drove in NASCAR during the 1970s and 1980s.

That history helps put the family’s longtime involvement in perspective. Driving, maintaining equipment, supporting teams, and running the shop have all been part of the Finney story.

Now Reid is adding his own results.

His third-place finish at New Smyrna Speedway stands as an accomplishment of his own, with a family background that makes the story especially interesting for Merritt Island and Brevard County readers.

You don’t have to follow every race to appreciate that connection. A driver from your community earned a top-three finish, and his family has been involved in the sport for decades.

Brevard County Teachers by Day, Race Shop by Afternoon

There’s another side to the Finney family that local residents may recognize.

Wally and Brian both spent more than 15 years teaching in the Brevard school system while operating the race shop in the afternoons.

For years, their schedules included school days followed by work at the shop. Their connection to the community ran through both places.

Some residents may know the Finney name through motorsports. Others may remember it from school. That overlap is part of what makes a local story worth telling.

At Blue Marlin Real Estate, we see community through the people who put their time into it. Teaching students and keeping a family business running are two lasting ways to do that.

For people getting to know Merritt Island and Florida’s Space Coast, the Finney family offers a look at the local lives and businesses behind the area’s familiar landmarks.

Frequently Asked Questions About Reid Finney

Where is Reid Finney from?

Reid Finney is from Merritt Island, Florida, in Brevard County on Florida’s Space Coast.

Where did Reid Finney finish at New Smyrna Speedway?

Reid finished third in the Hart to Heart 60-lap Super Late Model Main Event on October 17, 2026, driving the No. 80 car.

Who owns Finney Racing Enterprise?

The Merritt Island race shop is owned by Wally and Brian Finney. Brian is Reid’s father, and Wally is his grandfather.

What services does Finney Racing Enterprise provide?

The shop handles a variety of racing needs, including extensive shock work for several NASCAR teams. During Daytona Speedweeks, it also serves as a parts resource for numerous race teams.

How is the Finney family connected to Brevard County schools?

Wally and Brian both taught in the Brevard school system for more than 15 years while also operating the race shop in the afternoons.

Merritt Island Has a Reason to Celebrate

Congratulations to Reid Finney on his third-place finish at New Smyrna Speedway, and to the family behind a racing story with decades of local roots.

Merritt Island, keep your eye on No. 80!

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