Mason Diaz, subbing for Carson Kvapil, was in the top 10 midway through Saturday's zMAX CARS Tour LMSC event at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway when a suspension part broke, leading to a 24th-place finish.
Mason Diaz, filling in for Carson Kvapil as the latter made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, posted a 24th-place finish in Saturday night’s Tuff Shed 250 zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car feature at Hickory Motor Speedway.
Diaz started 27th in the 150-lap event, driving the No. 8 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats & ATVs Chevrolet, and charged up to the top 10 within the first 60 laps. A short time later, the 2023 Throwback 276 winner was saving tires for the finish when, at lap 73, a front suspension part let go, putting Diaz and JR Motorsports out of contention for the victory and out of the race.
Connor Zilisch won the race over Brenden Queen, with Chad McCumbee, Connor Hall and Mini Tyrell the rest of the top five.
The zMAX CARS Tour will next see action this Saturday at New River All-American Speedway in Jacksonville, N.C., with Kvapil back behind the wheel. The race was originally scheduled for March 23, but was rained out.
Mason Diaz, driver No. 8 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats & ATVs Chevrolet team
“We made it from 24th to the top 10 and were just starting to move forward from there when the left front suspension broke. I hate that it happened, because we were just starting to roll with this Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats & ATVs Chevrolet. In practice, we knew we had great long-run speed, and we were looking for a much better result than what we ended up having. Thanks to JR Motorsports, Bryan (crew chief Bryan Shaffer) and Bass Pro Shops for the opportunity, and I wish we’d been able to see it all the way through.”