KENLY, N.C. – Taylor Gray and Matt Craig took home $10,000 each for winning their respective races during Saturday’s CARS Solid Rock Carriers Tour opener at Southern National Motorsports Park.
Gray took top honors in the 150-lap late model stock portion of the event. He ran at or near the front most of the day before eventually taking the lead for the final time on lap 129 when he passed Deac McCaskill.
Tire management was crucial throughout the race, with drivers spending large portions of the race riding in packs in order to save their tires. Gray ended up saving his tires the best, besting McCaskill to score the victory, his second in the series.
JR Motorsports drivers Connor Mosack and Josh Berry were third and fourth, with Layne Riggs completing the top-five in the late model stock car feature.
In the super late model main event, defending CARS Super Late Model Tour champion Craig made a statement by leading from flag-to-flag to bank $5,000 for winning the race and another $5,000 as part of the Rowdy Manufacturing Super Challenge.
The victory is Craig’s second in as many weeks at Southern National Motorsports Park. He also won the super late model portion of the rescheduled Thanksgiving Classic last weekend.
Trevor Noles started from the pole, but gave up the lead on the opening lap to Craig. He finished second. Stephen Nasse was third, followed by Snowball Derby winner Travis Braden and Carson Kvapil.
The races were aired live via SPEED SPORT Network partner PitRow.TV.
The finishes:
Late Model Stocks: Taylor Gray, Deac McCaskill, Connor Mosack, Josh Berry, Layne Riggs, Mike Darne, Ronald Hill, Jonathan Findley, Jonathan Shafer, Bobby McCarty, Justin Johnson, Matt Cox, Jared Fryar, Craig Moore, Corey Heim, Brandon Pierce, Nolan Pope, Tyler Matthews, Chad McCumbee, Chris Chapman, Trevor Ward, Gage Painter, Tommy Lemons Jr., Mini Tyrrell.
Super Late Models: Matt Craig, Trevor Noles, Stephen Nasse, Travis Braden, Carson Kvapil, Kodie Conner, Mike Hopkins, Hudson Halder, Mike Speeny, Austin McDonald, Jeff Batten, Sammy Smith, Gabe Sommers, Bubba Pollard, Jeremy Barclay.