NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — Rain hampered Tuesday’s opening day of racing activities during NASCAR All-Star week at North Wilkesboro Speedway, but one thing was clear to everyone there — asphalt late model racing is alive and well.
With two divisions of CARS Tour competitors and the ASA STARS National Tour on hand for practice leading into races for each of the three classes, a grand total of 143 cars (53 CARS Tour Pro Late Models, 38 CARS Tour Late Model Stocks, 52 ASA super late models) jammed the infield at the resurrected five-eighths-mile race track.
The field enjoyed a ton of star power from racing series from across the country, including all three NASCAR national touring series.
• Unfortunately, rain moved in during qualifying for the ASA race that was scheduled for Tuesday night. As a result, qualifying was rained out and the field for the ECMD 150 was set by combined practice times, with four provisionals also awarded. Unfortunately, heavier rain moved in and the event was postponed until Wednesday.
Six more drivers will earn their way into the ASA event through a last chance race that will precede CARS Tour qualifying on Wednesday afternoon.
The ASA race is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time to be followed by the Pro Late Models and the Late Model Stocks.
• With practice times combined determining the top three, a trio of NASCAR Cup Series drivers, who will compete in Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star race, will start in the top three positions Wednesday afternoon.
Daniel Suarez, who is also competing in the CARS Tour, will start on the pole, with Chase Elliott and William Byron following.
Late model stars Bubba Pollard and Matthew Craig fill the top five.
• Mini Tyrrell turned the fastest lap for Late Model Stock competitors at 19.679 seconds, while Craftsman Truck Series regular Corey Heim led the Pro Late Model field with a 19.268-second lap.
By contrast, Suarez was quickest in the ASA super late models with a lap of 18.934 seconds.
• The pits were not only packed with race cars but with familiar faces who were enjoying getting acquainted with North Wilkesboro Speedway. While many were first timers since the track has not run regularly since 1996, others were returning for the first time in 27 years.
• Other NASCAR national touring drivers on the track Tuesday were Carson Hocevar, Noah Gragson, Sammy Smith, Ty Majeski, Erik Jones, Grant Enfinger, Johnny Sauter, Chandler Smith, Ross Chastain, Kevin Harvick, Chase Briscoe, Harrison Burton, Tyler Ankrum, Jeb Burton, Brett Holmes, Kris Wright and Garrett Smithley.
• While many believed the large group of NASCAR drivers were hoping to gain experience at North Wilkesboro for the weekend’s Craftsman Truck Series and Cup Series events, but Kevin Harvick, who was running a Late Model Stock for the first time, refuted that thought.
“It’s so much different from the power perspective,” Harvick noted. “I’ll know where the bathroom is and how to get to the motorhome, and I’ll know the track.”
• Dale Earnhardt Jr., who was instrumental in the movement to renovate North Wilkesboro Speedway, was back in a Late Model Stock on Tuesday. He turned the sixth quickest lap during the second practice session. He finished third in last August’s CARS Tour race in the return of racing to the track.
Earnhardt’s JR Motorsports teammate, Carson Kvapil, won that race. Kvapil’s best practice lap was 19th on the board. Kvapil is the Late Model Stock point leader and reigning champion.
• ASA point leader Casey Roderick will start 13th on Wednesday.