NORTH WILKESBORO, NC :: Chris Hudspeth scored a victory at Caraway Speedway in his rookie season in Late Model Stock Car racing. Now, the 20-year-old who comes from a town rich in racing tradition has his sights set on victory in the brand new CARS Tour.

Hudspeth competed at Caraway Speedway in 2014, which was his rookie season in Late Model competition, scoring his lone victory on September 5th.  In 2013, he raced in Limited Late Models where he scored one victory, also at Caraway Speedway.  While he plans to run at Caraway and Hickory Motor Speedway, Hudspeth is most excited to compete in the Late Model Stock Car side of the brand new CARS Tour.

“I think we can win,” Hudspeth said.  “We’ve only run one year but we learned a lot just going to Myrtle Beach Speedway.  Tire management was huge there.”

Hudspeth says he initially plans to run a partial schedule in the CARS Late Model Stock Tour but, if he finds early success, he could make a run for the series championship.  He’s also planning on running partial schedules at Caraway Speedway in Sophia, North Carolina and Hickory Motor Speedway in Newton, North Carolina as well as the Valley Star Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway this October.

Hudspeth’s dream is to one day race in NASCAR.  Like many in the sport, racing is in his blood.  His grandfather, Dallas, raced and owned the now defunct Clingman Speedway in Lexington, North Carolina.  His father, Jeff, and uncle, Mickey, also raced.  Mickey Hudspeth made it as far up the racing ladder as ARCA before an accident at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1996 ended his racing career.

“My whole family’s been racing,” Hudspeth remarked.  “My grandpa owned a track back in the day.  My dad raced.  My uncle raced and made it as far as ARCA.”

Prior to racing in Late Models on asphalt, Chris Hudspeth raced four-cylinders at the Friendship Speedway dirt track in Elkin, North Carolina.  Now, Hudspeth is taking the next step in climbing the racing ladder with his move to the CARS Tour in his sophomore season in the Late Model Stock Car ranks.