From Track & Staff Reports
Photo by: Corey Latham/RACE22.com

Newton, NC(September 10, 2012) — After Saturday rains forced postponement of the races at Hickory Motor Speedway, track management made the decision to move the racing program to Sunday afternoon.

With weather not an issue, the evenings racing went off without a hitch as 15 Late Model Stock Cars made the trip back to Hickory Motor Speedway for the second day in a row to get in a 100-lap special race. The days racing was being sponsored by Zloop and prior to the start of racing action, representatives from Zloop and Hickory Motor Speedway announced a new series for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, Late Model Stock Cars for next season.

The series to be called the Zloop Big 10 Challenge series will feature a championship within a championship for 2013 competitors on the historic 3/8 mile speedway. The races will feature extended laps, extra purse and the crowning of a champion from the series of races.

With the big news of the evening out of the way, it was time for the stars of the Late Model Stock Car division to get down to business and young Pietro Fittipaldi set fast time for the evenings 100-lap race. Fittipaldi, who has been strong all season was looking to break into the win column for the first time this season, but the guy who had won the most races, Austin McDaniel wasn’t ready to give up his perch atop the division just yet.

McDaniel came into the night with seven wins on the season and if not for a cut tire late in the Bobby Isaac Memorial a week ago, the young driver would likely have had eight already. McDaniel didn’t let Fittipaldi have much time in the spotlight when the green flag dropped as he stole the lead early with Fittipaldi in tow. However, no one would get much of shot at McDaniel, who dominated the race through it’s only caution to pick up win number eight on the season.

The young driver would also clinch the track championship in the Late Model Stock Car division with his win ahead of Fittipaldi, Josh Wimbish, Jesse LeFevers and Mackena Bell, who completed the top five finishers. Matt Piercy, Jeremy Sorel, Tyler Hill, Adam Long and Hal Martin completed the top ten in the 15-car field.

Results:
1 – Austin McDaniel #12
2 – Pietro Fittipaldi #1
3 – Josh Wimbish #51
4 – Jesse LeFevers #43
5 – Mackena Bell #4
6 – Matt Piercy #11
7 – Jeremy Sorel #77
8 – Tyler Hill #28
9 – Adam Long #3
10 – Hal Martin #16
11 – Justin Boston #15
12 – Brodie Kostecki #40
13 – Logan Sparks #6L
14 – Grant Wimbish #57
15 – Trey Gibson #2