Cody Overton of Evans, Ga., the younger brother of red-hot No. 1-ranked driver Brandon Overton, will make his Super Late Model debut running the Schaeffer’s Southern Nationals for Rum Runner Racing, team manager Joey Coulter told DirtonDirt.com.

A Crate Late Model standout, the 23-year-old Overton will join the Troutman, N.C.-based Rum Runner operation that employed his better-known sibling in 2019. Coulter said Overton is slated to follow promoter Ray Cook’s entire 12-race Southern Nationals, which kicks off Friday at Beckley (W.Va.) Motorsports Park and runs through July 31 at Tazewell (Tenn.) Speedway.

“I’m very thankful for them letting me do it,” Overton said of his opportunity to test his skills in the Super Late Model class piloting Rum Runner equipment wrenched by crew chief Harold Holly. “They are awesome people. I’ve been close with them for awhile now. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Overton, whose only experience in a Super Late Model has come in test sessions when he drove his girlfriend Ahnna Parkhurst’s car, has six Crate Late Model wins this season across the Southeast, including a career-high $10,000 triumph on May 30 at Cochran (Ga.) Motor Speedway.

“Since I started racing dirt we have had a great relationship with the entire Overton family and that relationship grew when Brandon was in our cars a couple years ago,” Coulter said. “Cody had has a lot of success Crate racing and we think he’s equipped to make the transition to Supers. We all think this a great opportunity not only for Cody to learn and grow as a driver but also a chance for us to continue growing as a team.”

Coulter, whose family fields Rum Runner Racing, said the team has no long-term plans with Overton at the moment. He added that Matthew Nance of Ronda, N.C., remains “a huge part of our program” and might run “a race or two” of the Southern Nationals in a second Rum Runner entry.