Track Specs: Hickory Motor Speedway, .363-mile oval/138-lap feature
Kvapil's finish: 4th
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Aug. 8, 2022) -- The rain-delayed Throwback 276 for the CARS Tour on Friday night was a chance for Carson Kvapil to extend his points lead and honor his father Travis at the same time. What made the night even more special was that this 138-lap Late Model Stock Car event at Hickory Motor Speedway is one of the biggest events on the schedule as well.
Kvapil qualified his No 06 iRacing Chevrolet—decked out in a paint scheme honoring his father's first career NASCAR Cup Series start in 2004—third a week ago before persistent rain pushed the feature to Friday evening. The field was not allowed any further practice and lined up ready to race.
On the initial start, Kvapil maintained third place until the first caution waved just 10 laps into the event for a spin in Turn 1. Kvapil reported to crew chief Bryan Shaffer that he was happy with his handling, saying that he had good turn and plenty of drive off the corners, but that it was on the loose side to start.
Having to run the race on one set of tires, Kvapil slipped back to fourth on the bottom groove, battling with Conner Jones on the high side. Jones eventually got past, putting Kvapil fifth. The 19-year-old driver stayed there, saving tires for the end, until a brief rain shower slowed the action at lap 61, nine laps short of what would have been the first competition caution.
When the track was dried and racing resumed, Kvapil returned to the battle with Jones and took fourth place at lap 74. Then10 laps later, polesitter Connor Hall used the high groove to get around Kvapil on his way toward the front.
After resetting, Kvapil started his own run to the front at lap 92, picking off a fading Mason Diaz for fourth. Veteran racer Deac McCaskill came with Kvapil and the pair battled all the way around the .363-mile oval until McCaskill got around him at lap 100.
Over the next 22 laps, Kvapil reeled in McCaskill, passing him back for fourth at lap 123. Kvapil's car had further turned toward the loose side as the laps ticked away, and despite catching Kaden Honeycutt, the second-generation driver could not complete the pass for third in the remaining laps, resulting in a fourth-place finish.
Behind Hall came 15-year-old rookie William Sawalich, Honeycutt, Kvapil and McCaskill.
Kvapil maintained his points lead with the performance, and will take a healthy margin with him into Friday night's CARS Tour LMSC event at Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, N.C.
Carson Kvapil, driver No. 8 iRacing Chevrolet team
"I ran here in June with Josh (Berry) in the Jack Ingram Memorial and finished second with a loose iRacing Chevrolet, and I kind of fought the same thing tonight. We thought we had it tightened up enough, but it was still too loose there at the end. I'm learning more and more each race about what the car needs, but it feels good to come away with the points lead we have right now, I just need to stay consistent. It was also pretty cool to throw back to my dad's first NASCAR Cup Series start and to have him here with us tonight."