A warm, but overcast day greeted the two dozen competitors of the CARS Response Energy LMSC Tour for their final day of practice before the Late Model feature of the U.S. Short Track Nationals at Bristol Motor Speedway. Series points leader Bobby McCarty looked to carry over his victory from the Cloer Construction 300 at Hickory Motor Speedway by finding speed during the afternoon practice sessions, but experience proved to be the key to establishing an early rhythm.
In the first session of the day, defending U.S. Short Track Nationals winner Myatt Snider rocketed to the top of the charts with a time of 15.109, while Lee Pulliam, whose past experience at Bristol includes a start in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, followed closely behind in second with a 15.145. Deac McCaskill was third fastest in the session while Justin Crider and Bradley McCaskill rounded out the Top 5.
Pulliam gained an advantage over Snider in the final practice session of the weekend, as he worked his way to the top of the board with a 15.166, while Ty Gibbs posted the second fastest time prior to making his first career start at Bristol. The final practice of the weekend proved to be the best one for McCarty, as he was third on the charts with a 15.209, while Snider and Layne Riggs finished the session in 4th and 5th respectively.
Pulliam also led the way in practice during the second practice session of the weekend on Friday, as a lap of 15.133 propelled the four-time Whelen All-American Series champion to the front of the field. CARS Response Energy LMSC Tour rookie Sam Mayer led the way in the opening practice with a 15.395, while Pulliam followed him closely behind with a 15.406, which tied him for second with Josh Berry.
Berry, who entered the U.S. Short Track Nationals sixth in points after missing the Mid-Atlantic Classic at Orange County Speedway, started out the weekend strong with a 3rd place run in the first practice session on Friday, but was unable to crack the Top 5 in any of the three following practice sessions. Berry was able to find some speed during final practice, where he placed 6th out of 24 cars with a time of 15.286.
Qualifying for the CARS Response Energy LMSC Tour is tentatively scheduled to begin at 4:50 p.m., which will be conducted group qualifying. The Late Model Feature of the U.S. Short Track Nationals will be contested over 100 laps and will begin shortly after the B-feature for the Compacts concludes.
Friday Practice #1
1. 9 Sam Mayer- 15.395
2. 5 Lee Pulliam- 15.406
3. 88 Josh Berry- 15.406
4. 99 Layne Riggs- 15.579
5. 2s Myatt Snider- 15.644
6. 02 Paul Nogradi- 15.653
7. 07 Bradley McCaskill- 15.667
8. 18 Ty Gibbs- 15.719
9. 22 Grayson Cullather- 15.789
10. 61 Justin Hicks- 15.798
11. 2 Cody Haskins- 15.801
12. 08 Deac McCaskill- 15.812
13. 96 Danny O’Quinn- 15.849
14. 32 Nik Williams- 15.891
15. 22m Bobby McCarty- 15.894
16. 9w Charlie Watson- 15.943
17. 7r Brandon Rogers- 16.101
18. 66 Austin Peters- 16.134
19. 4b Mike Chambers- 16.188
20. 26 Joey Trent- 16.195
21. 23 Terry Brooks Jr.- 16.300
22. 7 Justin Crider- no time
23. 74 Ronald Hill- no time
24. 77 Trevor Ward- no time
Friday Practice #2
1. 5 Lee Pulliam- 15.133
2. 99 Layne Riggs- 15.294
3. 08 Deac McCaskill- 15.310
4. 18 Ty Gibbs- 15.357
5. 07 Bradley McCaskill- 15.373
6. 9 Sam Mayer- 15.392
7. 22m Bobby McCarty- 15.439
8. 32 Nik Williams- 15.453
9. 88 Josh Berry- 15.490
10. 61 Justin Hicks- 15.500
11. 2p Myatt Snider- 15.501
12. 2 Cody Haskins- 15.526
13. 22 Grayson Cullather- 15.576
14. 7 Justin Crider- 15.590
15. 23 Terry Brooks Jr.- 15.653
16. 02 Paul Nogradi- 15.674
17. 96 Danny O’Quinn- 15.687
18. 9w Charlie Watson- 15.714
19. 7r Brandon Rogers- 15.944
20. 74 Ronald Hill- 16.002
21. 66 Austin Peters- 16.048
22. 26 Joey Trent- 16.065
23. 4b Mike Chambers- 16.353
24. 77 Trevor Ward- no time
Saturday Practice #1
1. 2s Myatt Snider- 15.109
2. 5 Lee Pulliam- 15.145
3. 08 Deac McCaskill- 15.276
4. 7 Justin Crider- 15.459
5. 07 Bradley McCaskill- 15.474
6. 18 Ty Gibbs- 15.480
7. 88 Josh Berry- 15.509
8. 22 Grayson Cullather- 15.523
9. 9 Sam Mayer- 15.534
10. 99 Layne Riggs- 15.540
11. 61 Justin Hicks- 15.558
12. 22m Bobby McCarty- 15.579
13. 74 Ronald Hill- 15.615
14. 02 Paul Nogradi- 15.638
15. 32 Nik Williams- 15.675
16. 2 Cody Haskins- 15.678
17. 9w Charlie Watson- 15.742
18. 96 Danny O’Quinn- 15.749
19. 23 Terry Brooks Jr.- 16.060
20. 7r Brandon Rogers- 16.163
21. 66 Austin Peters- 16.197
22. 26 Joey Trent- 16.211
23. 4b Mike Chambers- 16.445
24. 77 Trevor Ward- 16.464
Saturday Practice #2
1. 5 Lee Pulliam- 15.166
2. 18 Ty Gibbs- 15.208
3. 22m Bobby McCarty- 15.209
4. 2s Myatt Snider- 15.220
5. 99 Layne Riggs- 15.260
6. 88 Josh Berry- 15.286
7. 7 Justin Crider- 15.418
8. 08 Deac McCaskill- 15.471
9. 9 Sam Mayer- 15.474
10. 07 Bradley McCaskill- 15.557
11. 61 Justin Hicks- 15.570
12. 22 Grayson Cullather- 15.734
13. 32 Nik Williams- 15.748
14. 02 Paul Nogradi- 15.760
15. 9w Charlie Watson- 15.770
16. 23 Terry Brooks Jr. 15. 785
17. 2 Cody Haskins- 15.799
18. 74 Ronald Hill- 15.883
19. 96 Danny O’Quinn- 15.952
20. 77 Trevor Ward- 15.987
21. 26 Joey Trent- 16.190
22. 66 Austin Peters- 16.322
23. 7r Brandon Rogers- 16.338
24. 4b Mike Chambers- 16.379
