Race: National Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram 125 at New River (N.C.) All-American Speedway
Track Specs: .400-mile oval / 125 laps
Race Winner: Bobby McCarty
Kvapil's finish: 5th
Earnhardt Jr.'s finish: 14th
Returning to the No. 8 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats &ATVs Chevrolet in the zMAX CARS Tour presented by SoundGear, two-time and defending Late Model Stock Car champion Carson Kvapil raced to a fifth-place finish in Saturday night’s National Dodge Chrysler Jeep 125 at New River All-American Speedway. Team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. overcame a mid-race tangle with another car to finish 14th.
Kvapil, winner of the season-opening race at Southern National Motorsports Park, qualified his No. 8 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats & ATVs Chevrolet sixth after working to build long-run speed in practice. When the 125-lap feature began, however, the handling turned to the tight side, causing Kvapil to fall into the top 10, unable to challenge at the front.
As the laps wound down, Kvapil's Chevrolet was still on the tight side, but he was able to drive back up into the top five in time for the run to the checkered flag, crossing the line in fifth.
Earnhardt Jr., driving the familiar No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats & ATVs Chevrolet, qualified 21st and set out to pace his way up the ladder. Staying near where he started for the first 40 laps, Earnhardt Jr. decided to make a move to gain positions during the 45-lap green-flag period and did so, driving up to the cusp of the top 10.
Locked in a battle with Landon Huffman, Earnhardt Jr. pushed on the low side of three-wide and was caught up in a logjam on the bottom of the track. The contact damaged the front bodywork of his Chevrolet, but not severely enough to slow his progress. Over the remaining laps, he worked his way back to 14th at the checkered flag in his first attempt at the coastal speedway.
Bobby McCarty won the race over Mini Tyrrell, with Connor Hall, Canadian rookie Treyten Lapcevich and Kvapil the rest of the top five.
The zMAX CARS Tour will next see action this Saturday at Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, N.C..
Carson Kvapil, driver No. 8 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats & ATVs Chevrolet team
"I thought the No. 8 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats & ATVs Chevrolet was fast all day but we just needed to turn a little better. We started tight and stayed there, and that made it so hard to pass on the bottom. I couldn't complete the pass because I was so tight in the center. Fifth isn't terrible, and we weren't terrible. The competition in the zMAX CARS Tour is so close. I can't thank Bryan (Shaffer) and the whole crew enough for their hard work and dedication every week. As always, big thanks to Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops and JR Motorsports for letting me drive this No. 8 car."
Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats & ATVs Chevrolet team
"I heard a lot about this track and was excited to get the opportunity to come here. It reminds me a lot of Myrtle Beach and East Carolina Speedway. The race was really fun and I definitely want to come back and give it a shot. It was a good night for the series and the track. We qualified bad, and I'm trying to figure out what the secret is to make these cars fast in qualifying. I was in the back and we sat there for about 40 laps until we decided to gain about 10 more positions. The car was good enough to get a top-10 or even a top-five. I was kind of stuck behind Landon (Huffman) on the bottom, and tried to hustle it. I got a little antsy, because going three-wide is never a good idea. We had a good car and I have to figure out how to qualify better. I'm having a blast and can't wait to do it again.”