HICKORY, N.C. — It was only fitting that the Tar Heel 250 presented by Appalachian Sucker Punch came down to two drivers from the state of North Carolina at Hickory Motor Speedway.
When the dust settled, Caden Kvapil won for the first time in an epic late race battle with Carson Brown.
Brown was seeking to become the first driver in ASA STARS National Tour history to win three consecutive races. Brown had pocketed wins at New Smyrna and Five Flags and was seeking a third at Hickory.
The starting lineup was set by the rulebook due to the rain that plagued the afternoon. Carson Brown started where he finished the most recent STARS event on the point.
Brown led much of the first half of the race, winning both stage one and stage two to continue his early-season dominance. Brown held off all challengers until Caden Kvapil made his way to second and mounted a challenge, with the two North Carolinians trading the lead three times in the final 11 laps.
Kvapil came from 22nd, making him the furthest any driver has come to win an ASA STARS National Tour race. It was the 11th start for the North Carolina driver who had posted a few top fives before his first win at Hickory.
Behind the front two saw Kyle Steckley in third, Chase Pinsonneault tied his career-best and placed fourth, and William Sawalich was fifth.
The finish:
Caden Kvapil, Carson Brown, Kyle Stecklly, Chase Pinsonneault, William Sawalich, Derek Thorn, Tristan McKee, Spencer Davis, Matthew Craig, Cory Hall, Colby Howard, Isaac Kitzmiller, Stephen Nasse, Nick Tucker, Jade Avedisian, Derek Kraus, Jett Noland, Brandon Lopez, Vito Cincilla, Carson Ware, Casey Roderick, Justin Crider, George Phillips, Conner Jones, Bubba Pollard.
