Flat Tire Derails Kvapil's Night in CARS Tour Run at Dominion

Photo Courtesy of Amanda DeVaughn/Speedpix

Ron Lemasters | 6/20/2022

Carson Kvapil Dominion Raceway iRacing Late Model News

Carson Kvapil was contending for another CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car victory on Saturday night at Dominion Raceway in Virginia, but a flat tire on a late restart cost him a chance to extend his points lead.

Track Specs: Dominion Raceway, .400-mile oval/125-lap feature

Kvapil's finish: 15th        

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (June 20, 2022) -- Carson Kvapil was contending for another CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car victory on Saturday night at Dominion Raceway in Virginia, but a flat tire on a late restart cost him a chance to extend his points lead.

After qualifying his No. 8 iRacing Chevrolet in the third position for the 125-lap grind on the .400-mile oval, Kvapil settled into the top four for the opening laps, saving his tires and measuring his competition. It was a strategy that had worked well for the current CARS Tour LMSC point leader, and he was in position to make it pay off.

After riding in the top four all night, Kvapil was second to leader Connor Hall on a restart with 13 laps remaining in the race when the right front tire on the white No. 8 went down. That forced Kvapil to the pits for a quick change, which cost him two laps to the leader.

Once back on track, Kvapil did the best he could over the remaining circuits to come home in 15th position. The result ended Kvapil's streak of finishing fourth or better at nine consecutive races dating back to last season.

There was a silver lining to Kvapil's misfortune. Top championship rival Chad McCumbee also suffered from ill luck, breaking a driveline with 33 laps remaining to finish 20th. Kvapil, who entered the race 30 points ahead in the LMSC title race, gained in the championship despite the flat tire.

Hall won the race over Jacob Heafner, Landon Pembleton, Jonathan Shafer and Jonathan Findley.

The next CARS Tour race for Kvapil, team manager Bryan Shaffer and the rest of the JRM iRacing Late Model team is set for July 30 at Hickory Motor Speedway in the annual Throwback 276.

Carson Kvapil, driver No. 8 iRacing Chevrolet team

"We were in good shape prior to that last restart, when we got the flat. Our iRacing Chevrolet was really fast, we had been just riding in second and it was just a matter of running the last 13 laps to get at least a runner-up finish. We had the flat, and there was nothing I could do. We pitted to replace the tire, and that put us two laps down. Chad (McCumbee) had his own troubles, so we're OK in the points, but it's not the way we wanted to finish the night. We'll get them next time."

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