JR Motorsports Late Model driver Caden Kvapil persevered on a hot night last Saturday, fighting among the top-five for much of the race before posting a sixth-place finish in the zMAX CARS Tour’s annual Mini’s Mission Burn Rubber to Help Another race at Virginia’s Dominion Raceway.
The driver of the No. 88 Jerky Boys/Corvette Parts/LKN Mechanical Chevrolet qualified 11th for the 125-lap run on the tight Dominion oval despite battling a loose condition. The handling issue was still in effect in the early stages of the event, but the young driver stayed with it until the handling began to tighten up.
At lap 95, with 30 laps left in the event, Kvapil finally got to the top five and looked poised to earn another good finish. A caution flag with around 10 laps remaining tightened the field for the finish.
In the resulting scramble, Kvapil dropped one spot to sixth and would finish there at the checkered flag.
“Overall, it was another solid night for our No. 88 JR Motorsports/Jerky Boys/CorvetteParts.net/LKN Mechanical/Roto-Rooter Chevrolet,” Kvapil said afterward. “We missed the handling a little at night, but still had a good points night. Thanks to Dale, Kelley, LW, Bryan, and my dad Travis for making this all possible!”
Mini Tyrrell, currently racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, returned to his home track for the annual race, which earns funds for Mini’s Mission, Tyrrell’s charity to help raise awareness towards childhood cancer following a childhood friend’s diagnosis.
The Virginia native pulled off a daring three-wide pass late in the race, driving around Connor Jones and Brenden Queen with five laps remaining to take the victory, making him the first repeat winner at Dominion in the CARS Tour’s five-year run there.
Kvapil still leads the point standings after seven races, having won twice in addition to posting five top-five and seven top-10 finishes.
Next up for Kvapil and JR Motorsports will be the annual event at North Wilkesboro Speedway on July 17.