Hickory Motor Speedway could prove to be the biggest race on the Championship Auto Racing Series (CARS) so far.
Hickory will play host to the season finale in November and already proves to be a mecca in short track racing. Once a venue that hosted racing in NASCAR’s top leagues, Hickory (North Carolina) now finds its biggest race, until now, being held on Easter weekend.
This weekend’s CARS Tour races feature fields that are as big, in quantity, as almost any race in short track racing this season so far. Both the Late Model Stock Car and Super Late Model fields will feature over 30 cars and the CARS Tour will actually send cars home after last chance qualifiers. They have already sent cars home but that was only on the Late Model Stock Car of the season opening race at Southern National Motorsports Park (North Carolina).
Hickory often features the largest fields in the Southeast on a regular basis. The Pro All Stars Series (PASS) holds their largest southern Super Late Model race at Hickory on Easter and the Late Model Stock Car side of things sees cars fielded by JR Motorsports, Rev Racing and many more. Many of the CARS Tour regulars on the Late Model Stock Car side are Hickory Motor Speedway veterans.
For drivers such as Preston Peltier (Super Late Model) and Dylon Wilson (Late Model Stock Car), Hickory is a homecoming event.
Peltier recently scored the victory in the Easter Bunny 150 for the third time in his career. He is running the CARS Tour race at Hickory, his first.
Hickory Motor Speedway has a reputation as a tough bullring. Known for tire ware, the 125 lap races will see strategy triumph over raw speed. For that reason, Brayton Haws, a former Hickory winner and series points leader, enters as the favorite with crew chief Lee McCall turning the wrenches.
This race will be the biggest challenge yet for Myatt Snider. Snider has finished in third in both races this season and appears destined to be a championship challenger.
However, other drivers threaten to challenge this weekend, such as Justin Crider and RD Smith. Smith won the season opening race at Hickory only to be disqualified over shock rebound. He’s as confident as ever that he can win this weekend and he will race with quality equipment from David Gilliland Racing.
Jamey Caudill could be a darkhorse. He’s been a factor in both Late Model races.
On the Super Late Model side, it stands to reason that Cole Timm could again triumph. However, with Preston Peltier entered, everyone faces their toughest challenge yet.
If you don’t already have plans to be at Hickory Motor Speedway on Saturday night, you should make plans because this race, at one of America’s most exciting venues, is one you do not want to miss.
RACE22.com will have “Up to the Minute” coverage presented by Five Star Race Car Bodies from the CARS Tour Catawba Valley 250 at Hickory Motor Speedway on Twitter. In addition to RACE22.com’s coverage, RACEFEEDX.com will have live streaming video coverage of the race.
