THE CONFIRMATION – zMAX CARS Tour Reverend 100/Window World 125 At North Wilkesboro

The zMAX CARS Tour’s first visit to North Wilkesboro Speedway, initially slated for May 14th and 15th, was rescheduled for this past Saturday, August 3rd, due to inclement weather. And proving that Mother Nature can be quite ornery at times, rain was again in the forecast keeping the chances of getting in the Pro Late Model Reverend 100 and the Late Model Stock Window World 125 still sort of a crap shoot. The series had no choice really but to roll the dice hoping that the odds of getting in this event increased throughout the day. They were in luck, as although there was a bit of delay that postponed the start briefly, they were able to get in the full rounds of qualifying and every lap of both events. Important for the racers as every championship point counts in the chase for a title, and a win at North Wilkesboro Speedway is obviously a huge bucket list achievement given the history and prestige of the track.

This event also comes on the heels of a very eventful Hickory Motor Speedway outing for the tour that had some serious points implications for both divisions. In that regard, it’ll be important for the top teams and drivers to capitalize on their gains, or for some, to put the past race behind them to work to regain some momentum. It won’t be easy at North Wilkesboro though, a track that demands extra from both the driver and machine. It’s a scenario however that one could say is almost manifest destiny. That because of the weather postponement from earlier in the year, the tour would come to North Wilkesboro Speedway on the heels of the race at Hickory. Two tracks just a shade away from each other that hold so much historical significance. Two tracks that have been creating history for over 73 years. North Wilkesboro Speedway, built in 1946 by Enoch Staley, became a short track racing mecca for the region. And Hickory Motor Speedway, built in 1951, literally did become the birthplace of the NASCAR stars, and ironically saw Enoch’s brother Gwyn Staley take the very first victory there. And now, 73 years later, the CARS Tour, a tour that is becoming the stepping stone into NASCAR’s premier series comes to these most historic and iconic speedways to make some history of their own. And at the end of Saturday night and into Sunday morning, that legacy saw a couple more unique pages added. Let’s take a closer look at the racing from the zMAX CARS Tour Reverend 100 and Window World 125 from North Wilkesboro Speedway.

zMAX CARS TOUR PRO LATE MODEL REVEREND 100

After a scary crash the last time out at North Wilkesboro, # 43 Nick Loden looks to rebound as he sets it on the pole with a fast time of 17.815 seconds. Starting alongside will be the # 6 of Tristan McKee followed by # 29 Spencer Davis, # 7T Tyler Church, and the # 44 of Conner Jones. zMAX CARS Tour flagman Brandon Willard eyes the fierce field over, approves what he sees, and we’re green at historic North Wilkesboro Speedway! McKee immediately rockets to the lead from the outside while Church takes over third. Jones gives way to Jake Bollman in the # 24 with Church now under fire from Davis. He’ll take it, as will Bollman, kicking Church to fifth. He tries his best to hang on to the tail end of the top five, but can’t do it as the # 20 of Corey Heim breaks through. Heim doesn’t stop there, now pouncing on Bollman with Jones back in the fray. Heim assumes fourth and brings Jones with him to fifth. The caution comes out on lap forty, giving drivers and teams a chance to come down pit road for select adjustments. Once all is said and done, McKee remains in the lead and chooses the outside for the restart with the rest of the top five reading as Loden, Davis, Heim, and Jones. Loden stumbles a bit on the restart, allowing Davis to take over second position. Loden regathers himself and slots into third with the # 89 of Dylan Fetcho making his new home in fifth. Bollman reasserts the # 24 Wilson Motorsports machine back in the fight, setting up and making the pass on Fetcho. Back up front, Heim starts to show more muscle, motoring by Loden for third. Bollman starts to get out of shape back in fifth, giving the spot to Fetcho once more. And now Loden goes into the outside wall in the middle of turns one and two! That brings out the SHITI Coolers Caution as Loden is thankfully okay, but the same can’t be said for his car.

McKee, Davis, Heim, Fetcho, and Jones are your new top five after the choose. Davis gets a great restart and runs McKee wide going into turn one! He’ll take the lead but McKee is strong as they battle side by side for the top spot! Give it back to McKee with the # 54 of Matt Craig getting around Jones for fifth. Heim is all over Davis, searching the racetrack for room. Davis hangs on, but Heim won’t quit, pestering Davis every chance he gets. He finally gets the run out of two as they take the white! Heim gets the run of a lifetime and finds the back bumper of McKee! He charges hard into three, but he’s a couple inches short of the bumper, giving McKee the room to win at North Wilkesboro! Heim crosses the line right on his rear end in second, Davis survives for third, Fetcho grabs an impressive fourth, and Craig completes the top five.

zMAX CARS TOUR LATE MODEL STOCK WINDOW WORLD 125

The # 03 of Brenden Queen continues his wave of North Wilkesboro success by notching the pole with a time of 18.111 seconds. Starting second will be the # 81 of Mini Tyrrell accompanied by # 8 Carson Kvapil in third, # 77 Treyten Lapcevich fourth, and # 15 Ryan Millington fifth. Willard eagerly peeks at the pack, likes the formation, and we’re racing! It’s an even start as they duel for the lead for two straight laps. And now they touch! Tyrrell is sideways but saves it as Queen will clear. Lapcevich will get around Kvapil on the outside and doesn’t stop there, hounding the inside line under Tyrrell. Tyrrell will shut the door as Mason Diaz in the # 45 breaks into the top five. The first SHITI Coolers Caution will fly early with the # 77G of Tyler Gregory hitting the outside wall, ending his night prematurely. Queen will get a good launch on the restart but there’s catastrophe behind! Lapcevich has a misstep, stacking up the field and causing a huge pile up! Among those involved are # 61 Justin Hicks, hometown hero # 4 Dylon Wilson, # 67 Cameron Bolin, # 23 Kade Brown, # 95 Jacob Heafner, # 28 Connor Mosack, # 88 Sammy Smith, # 17 Kaden Honeycutt, # 11 Buddy Isles Jr, and top points runners Connor Hall in the # 22 and Brent Crews in the # 29. All are able to walk away, with Hall and Crews salvaging their machines in order to gain as many points as possible. After a lengthy cleanup, we’re finally able to line back up for the restart. It’s Queen, Tyrrell, Lapcevich, Kvapil, and Diaz the top five.

Queen retains the spot after a short battle while Lapcevich will get around Tyrrell. It’s a dogfight behind as Diaz will muscle his way by a sideways Kvapil for fourth. Lapcevich begins to look on Queen, but it won’t be enough quite yet. Diaz is fast early and seems to be picking up speed as the run goes on, now picking off Tyrrell. Diaz begins to look on Lapcevich but that battle will be broken up by the competition caution, where, like the Pro race, allows drivers to come down pit road for adjustments. After all adjustments are made, we’re back green in no time with Queen getting a monster restart. Diaz proceeds to be a thorn in Lapcevich’s side and takes the spot. Kvapil squeezes by Tyrrell as Brandon Pierce in the # 2 slows, bringing the yellow out. Diaz stalls a bit on the restart, opening the flood gates for Lapcevich and Tyrrell. Diaz can’t stop the bleeding as he’s sliding all over the track, putting Kvapil in fourth and the # 22R of Gio Ruggiero in fifth. Diaz will finally find an opening in seventh while Lapcevich stalks Queen. He’s right up to the left rear quarter panel of Queen, but Queen is stuck to the outside like Velcro. Now Lapcevich gives him a shot! He gets the run and just barely clears Queen for the lead! Behind, Ruggiero is under fire from his Lee Pulliam Performance teammate # 55 Corey Heim. Heim powers around Ruggiero, now setting up Kvapil. Kvapil slips up coming out of two, allowing Heim by. Kvapil tries to cross over, but it doesn’t work as Diaz and the # 44 of Conner Jones make big contact on the frontstretch, shedding debris in the process and bringing out a caution. Queen gives Lapcevich a fight on the restart, but Lapcevich has the high line and will clear once again. He starts to gap the field but that gap will be erased as Pro Late Model winner Tristan McKee in the # 7M hits the wall in turns one and two. He’ll climb out as the night comes to a bittersweet end on the 14 year old’s birthday.

Lapcevich again gets the jump on the restart as Queen gives him a door slam! Lapcevich hangs on as Queen now washes up a bit. He’s able to gather it back up but there’s trouble behind as Jones spins into the outside turn three wall. We’re back green in no time though as Lapcevich gets a masterful restart and begins to walk away. Tyrrell dives under Queen while Ruggiero does the same on Kvapil. Queen holds serve while Ruggiero makes contact with Kvapil. Kvapil hangs on but has a minor tire rub, something he’ll have to manage for the last handful of laps. But it’s all Lapcevich up front, heading towards his first career win. However, Ruggiero starts to lay fluid! Diaz slides sideways in the wall, and Pierce goes around! And here comes Lapcevich at full speed! He dirt tracks through the corner, missing the Pierce machine by mere inches! The caution flies as Lapcevich’s heart rate has to be through the roof. There will be just four laps to go on the restart. Lapcevich leads Queen, Tyrrell, Heim, and Kvapil. Who rides the lift? Willard nervously looks them over, gives the thumbs up, and we’re green to settle it! Lapcevich immediately clears as the field goes crazy behind! Tyrrell gives Queen a shot as Queen now slides out of the groove! While they race like short track Talladega, it’s Treyten Lapcevich breaking through for his first career zMAX CARS Tour victory! Heim climbs to second amidst the chaos followed by Tyrrell, Kvapil, and Queen. Tyrrell and Queen have some words after the race but all is calmed down before it boils over. What a night!

MY TAKE

Tristan McKee scores his third victory on the zMAX CARS Tour, and it’s one that should have everyone on notice that this is a young driver coming into his own. It was also a bit of a birthday present for McKee as he got to celebrate his 14th in style while also giving notice that he is a threat to win even on the most challenging of tracks. For Treyten Lapcevich, it was also a statement of sorts. We talked to NASCAR’s 2023 Pinty’s Series Champion before the season began about his move from Canada’s premier racing series to the CARS Tour in 2024 and he told us how big it would be to be able to win against what he considered some of the best stock car racing talent in the world. He also knew that winning as a rookie on the tour would be a huge task. I doubt he thought that win would come at North Wilkesboro holding off the likes of Brenden Queen after Queen had again broken the Late Model Stock track record in qualifying for the second year in a row. And guys like Corey Heim, who’s a regular and multi-time winner in the Craftsman Truck Series, not to mention a hungry and determined Mini Tyrrell. Especially after several cautions at the end of the race leaving Treyten having to have the best restarts of his stock car racing career.

Ironic for Lapcevich as Treyten made a huge restart mistake earlier in the race that saw him miss a shift that stacked up a majority of the field. But that’s how stock car racing can be sometimes. It’s a sport that demands you learn from your mistakes. And so it became a event for Treyten that saw him make both the worst and best moves of the race. The best? A save for the ages after Gio Ruggerio layed oil on the track, causing Brandon Pierce to spin and leaving his machine helpless and motionless in turn three. Lapcevich also hit the oil, sending his car skidding nearly out of control as he approached the # 2, but somehow Treyten Lapcevich corrected out of it, only slightly grazing the wall with no damage.

In the end, this event was confirmation. First that the CARS Tour lives up to it’s name: Championship Auto Racing Series. It is indeed a series full of talent and champions. Tristan McKee is the youngest Late Model Stock champion in Orange County Speedway history and Treyten Lapcevich is the youngest NASCAR Pinty’s Series champion. Both of these young drivers proved their championship abilities Saturday night with dominating performances that showcased their tremendous talent, sending a message that they joined this tour not just to compete, but to win. For any short track racing fan keeping track, these are definitely two young drivers to keep your eyes on. Until next time, as always, See You At The Track!

(Race write ups by Joshua Weatherman. Intro and My Take written by Billy Weatherman. Copyright 2024 SHORT TRACK REPORT)