LUCAMA, N.C. :: Deac McCaskill wrapped up a championship season on home turf, finishing seventh in the Championship Auto Racing Series (CARS) Late Model Stock Tour’s season finale at Southern National Motorsports Park.
McCaskill finished second in last season’s CARS Late Model Stock Tour, coming up short in a thrilling three-way championship battle with eventual champion Brayton Haws and Myatt Snider. This season’s finale proved less climactic, as McCaskill enjoyed a 13-point advantage over Tommy Lemons, Jr. coming to Southern National.
“Last year, we had a good season. We just didn’t have luck on our side,” McCaskill said reflecting on the near-title in 2015. “This year was just really special to me. Coming back, what happened at Concord, for a fourth-place finish. What happened at Hickory was absolutely huge. That was probably one of the biggest wins of my career.”
In victory lane following the 125-lap finale, McCaskill was overcome by emotion reflecting on his championship season.
“It’s really special, man,” said McCaskill afterwards. “I got real emotional down here. It’s a tough deal. You’re traveling to all these different tracks. You’re not at one track every weekend. For us to keep up with that week in and week out, and be as competitive as we were – poles and leading laps and getting those bonus points.
Ironically, the “home track race” for McCaskill provided his worst finish of a remarkably consistent season. McCaskill placed among the top six finishers in every CARS Tour event this season before the finale, only missing the top five at Greenville-Pickens Speedway.
“Everybody thought I had it wrapped up coming here,” McCaskill said with a grin. “It just wasn’t meant to be for our finish tonight. I was nervous all week, I wanted to hurry up and get this over with. Now it’s over, we’re the champions, and we’re going to celebrate.”
The championship marks an incredible conclusion that has featured several ups and downs for McCaskill. Along with enjoying a successful on-track campaign, McCaskill has also helped launch his daughter, Ashlyn’s, racing career. Ashlyn scored a pair of wins in Southern National’s U-CAR division in her first full season of racing.
“As your daughter goes out there, and performs and wins, it gives you a whole new perspective on all these fathers out here who see their sons,” McCaskill said. “It’s so much fun. I’m glad she enjoys it. She was able to win two races, and we’re looking forward to coming out here for the [Thanksgiving] Classic and running her on that one.”
Meanwhile, Deac’s cousin Bradley McCaskill suffered serious burns in an accident at East Carolina Motor Speedway in June.
“What happened to Bradley was definitely a shock to us and the entire racing community,” Deac said about the incident. “Through a lot of prayer, he’s back healthy and has run a couple of races.”
“2016 was a very challenging year, but it was a very rewarding year as well.”
