#1747 / #1754 — Warrior Comanche HB
KING
MOTORSPORTS
Ryan King. Family-run race team out of East Tennessee. The 2026 season got cut short by a fall on the job in July. Healing up now, and planning to be back in the seat in 2027.
Driver Bio
Ryan King started racing dirt late models full-time in 2009 at age 18 — with no prior racing experience. His good friend Rusty Ballenger bought a late model that same year and got him into the sport.
Ryan's early career was shaped by his mentor, Scott Sexton, a legend in East Tennessee dirt racing through the '90s and early 2000s. Scott drove a car on a limited schedule for the King team from 2010 to 2012 and passed away on January 10, 2013. Scott taught Ryan more about driving style than setups — and just as importantly, how to carry yourself on and off the racetrack.
In February 2016, Mike Nuchols at Warrior Race Cars called the team about taking the Warrior House Car #1G to a Lucas Oil Series race at Golden Isles Speedway. Early success against top-tier Lucas Oil teams led to a full-time Super Late Model schedule running the Warrior House Car from 2016 through 2022.
Ryan stepped back from full-time racing after 2023 to focus on his family, his business (Brian King Roofing), and his faith. He came back in 2026 on a limited schedule — until a fall on the job in July put him on the sidelines for the rest of the season.
If you've wondered why the #30 has been parked this summer, here's the honest answer. In July I fell about two and a half stories off a roof on the job. I broke a vertebra in my back, broke my pelvis, and broke a bone in my shoulder. The back needed surgery to repair the vertebra, and that put me out of the seat for the rest of the 2026 season.
Right now the focus is on healing. The doctors have told me I'll be able to race again, and we're already making plans for 2027. As soon as they clear me, I'll be back in the seat. Thankful to be here, thankful for my family, and grateful for every message and prayer along the way.
— Ryan
Career Highlights
- 2012Track Champion at both 411 Motor Speedway and Smoky Mountain Speedway in Crate Late Model — same year.
- 2013Won the Sweetheart 52 at 411 Motor Speedway — the first Scott Sexton Memorial Race.
- 2015NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series (now Crate Racin' USA) Rookie of the Year and second in national points in the #30.
- 2016Began driving the Warrior Race Cars House Car #1G after a call from Mike Nuchols.
- 2016–2022Full-time Super Late Model schedule running the Warrior House Car.
- 2020Schaeffer's Oil Iron-Man Championship Series Champion — decided head-to-head with Michael Chilton at Lake Cumberland Speedway.
- 2021Qualified for the World 100 at Eldora Speedway by winning the last-chance 5-lap dash. 5th in points in Flo Racing Night in America.
- Career50+ feature wins across multiple late model divisions.
Race Schedule
The 2026 season ended early. In July, Ryan fell two and a half stories off a roof on the job and broke a vertebra in his back, his pelvis, and a bone in his shoulder. After surgery on his back, he's out for the rest of the year and focused on healing.
The doctors say he'll race again, and plans for 2027 are already in the works. Dates will be posted here once he's cleared. Until then, follow Brian King Roofing Racing on Facebook for race-week updates.
Dates and tracks will be posted here once the doctors give the green light.
Team Members
Family-run and small by design. These guys aren't employees — they're family.
Ryan King
Started racing dirt late models in 2009. 50+ career feature wins, 2020 Iron Man Champion, 2021 World 100 qualifier.
Brian King
Ryan's dad. Lifelong support of the program — the reason any of this exists.
Kevin Lusby
Keeps the cars and the racing program running. Stayed with the team through the Warrior House Car years. Also the shop manager at Brian King Roofing.
Steve Hickman
With the team since the early years through the Warrior House Car era. Family to the program.
Derek Sexton
Son of Ryan's late mentor Scott Sexton. Works at BKR and one of Ryan's best friends — family on and off the track.
Hunter Sands
Ryan's cousin. Been at the track with us since he was a kid. Runs the tire program and crews on race nights.
Mike Nuchols
Brought Ryan into the Warrior House Car program in 2016. Ryan does all his own setups, with Mike as the trusted sounding board when it counts.
- #1747 — 2021 Warrior Comanche HB
- #1754 — 2022 Warrior Comanche HB
- Vic Hill Racing Engines — Super Late Model
- Phantom Racing Engines — Limited Late Model
Gallery
Race nights, shop days, throwbacks, and family moments — the program in pictures.
The two reasons I stepped away for a while, and the two best reasons to come back.
Dad, Brittany, Kinsley, and Kamden with the #30. This is what the whole program is built on.
First Scott Sexton Memorial Race, 2013. We won it. Victory lap with Derek riding shotgun, checkered flag in his hand. Hard to top that one.
Volunteer Speedway win with Mike Nuchols by my side. The guy who brought us to Warrior Race Cars and has been backing the program ever since.
Running the Warrior House Car against Scott Bloomquist. Photo: Richard Barnes Photography.
Racing's not all victory laps. Assessing damage with Jed Emert and the crew — the nights you regroup and get back at it.
Sponsors
Racing doesn't happen without the people who back the program. We're grateful for every one of them.
Brian King Roofing
Family roofing business out of East Tennessee — the heartbeat of the team. Brian King Roofing has been the primary backer of this program since day one.
Warrior Race Cars
Long-standing relationship with Mike Nuchols and the Warrior Race Cars program. Both team cars are Warrior Comanche HB chassis.
Vic Hill Race Engines
Super Late Model power. Trusted Vic Hill horsepower under the hood when we run the big-ticket races.
Fox Factory
Fox shocks on every corner of the car. Factory service and sales relationship that keeps the program dialed in.
Phantom Racing Engines
Limited Late Model power for the 2026 program.