NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — The CARS Tour doubleheader at North Wilkesboro Speedway did not disappoint, as Brenden Queen thrilled in the late model stock division and Augie Grill took the first elevator ride of the week in the pro late model class.
Polesitter Queen and outside front row starter Jared Fryar led the field to the Window World 125 green flag on Wednesday night.
SOUND ON 🔊
— SPEED SPORT (@SPEEDSPORT) May 17, 2023
We have 38 late model stocks ON TRACK! Brenden Queen leads the way from pole position 👀 pic.twitter.com/lTBhciHH4z
The first caution occurred on lap 12, as Tate Fogleman’s car hood detached from his No. 87 entry. Queen and Fryar continued to lead on the restart, but four laps later, defending champion Carson Kvapil pushed his way into the lead in his No. 8 JR Motorsports entry.
Most drivers elected to take a trip to pit road during the controlled caution on lap 30, with the exception of Layne Riggs, Ronnie Bassett Jr., Chase Briscoe and two others who stayed out. Following the restart, a massive pileup on the frontstretch collected several cars — including Landon Pembelton, Daniel Suarez, William Sawalich, Brad Keselowki and Chase Burrows, among others — and brought out the red flag.
Riggs maintained the lead on the restart, with Bassett Jr. in tow.
On lap 45, Connor Jones caused a stir by making contact with Earnhardt. Five laps later, Kevin Harvick shoved Jones into the wall in turn one. As the race ran its course, involving several minor cautions, Riggs slipped from the lead as Queen made a resurgence.
Chad McCumbee made a bold move for eighth on lap 68, as he split Connor Hall and Kevin Harvick to go three-wide. He continued his charge forward on lap 73, eventually stealing seventh from Earnhardt Jr. With 48 laps to go, Queen led Briscoe, Kaden Honeycutt, Riggs and Jacob Heafner. There were 30 cars left on track.
Another controlled caution occurred with 35 laps to go, setting up the stage for a barnburner in the final stage.
The field filed in behind the pace car, Tyler Ankrum and Ryan Millington leading.
On the restart, Jared Fryer launched past Ankrum as the cars flew through turn one, with Millington surging into the lead. Kvapil settled into third, with Queen and Honeycutt sitting stealthily in the top five. After making a swift move past Kvapil, Queen nudged the rear end of Fryer, then slid to the inside of the No. 14 to take second.
A caution flag waved with 29 laps to go for Heafner, who spun sideways going into turn one in his No. 95 entry.
On the restart, Queen led Millington, Fryar and Kvapil. Honeycutt was on the move fast, sliding past the No. 8 JR Motorsports driver to take fourth. Meanwhile, in the mid-pack, Ross Chastain made his way into the conversation as he challenged Earnhardt Jr. for 17th.
Back at the front, Riggs passed Kvapil with 15 laps to go, stealing fifth. The downtrend continued for Kvapil, who lost another position to Hall’s No. 11 entry with 12 laps to go.
Mason Diaz and Daniel Suarez made contact with six laps to go, rubbing panels for a spot outside the top 10.
With five laps to go, Queen had visibly gapped Millington on the .625-mile oval in his No. 03 entry. His last lap around North Wilkesboro Speedway was picture-perfect, as he took the checkered flag by 5.7 seconds over Millington.
“As a driver, you dream of winning races like Martinsville and the Thanksgiving Classic and this race is one of those. It might be bigger, honestly,” Queen said. “This is just huge. I knew when I got the pole, I had my work cut out. When I was in here a couple hours ago, I didn’t think it was our race by any means. I mean, anything can happen.
“We could just get off of turn four so much better than those guys … I was driving with fingers crossed, like just get it to the checkers.”
Fryar, Hall and Honeycutt completed the top five at the finish line. Other notable finishes include Harvick in 11th, Keselowski in 12th, Suarez in 15th, Earnhardt in 16th and Chastain in 19th.
Pro Late Model Results (75 Laps)
Earlier in the evening, the pro late models enjoyed a 75-lap run at the .625-mile oval.
The best performance of the night easily belonged to Grill, who started the race from the pole and was the first to the checkered flag. The two-time Snowball Derby winner expertly maneuvered his No. 43G entry around the facility, keeping full-time NASCAR Truck Series driver Corey Heim at bay during the Crossroads Harley Davidson 75.
Grill was the first driver to take an elevator ride at North Wilkesboro Speedway this week.
First elevator ride on Wednesday night at North Wilkesboro Speedway belongs to @CARSTour Pro Late Model driver Augie Grill 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/wT8MJ1hThD
— SPEED SPORT (@SPEEDSPORT) May 17, 2023
Heim finished second, while Connor Zilisch finished third. Tristan McKee and Katie Hettinger completed the top five.
The finishes:
Late Model Stock: Brenden Queen, Ryan Millington, Jared Fryar, Connor Hall, Kaden Honeycutt, Layne Riggs, Chad McCumbee, Carson Kvapil, Zack Miracle, Chase Briscoe, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Mason Diaz, Ronnie Bassett Jr., Daniel Suarez, Dale Earnhardt JR., Conner Jones, Brandon Pierce, Ross Chastain, Cameron Bolin, Landon Huffman, Carson Brown, Tate Fogleman, Tyler Ankrum, Jason Kitzmiller, Dylon Wilson, Bryant Barnhill, Bobby McCarty, Josh Dickens, Jacob Heafner, William Sawalich, Mini Tyrrell, Chase Burrow, Landon Pembleton, Deac McCaskill, Connor Zilisch, Andrew Grady.
Pro Late Model: Augie Grill, Corey Heim, Connor Zilisch, Tristan McKee, Katie Hettinger, Brent Crews, Jeb Burton, Caden Kvapil, Trevor Sanborn, Mike Hopkins, Dylan Cappello, Jackson Boone, John Bolen, Ashton Higgins, Seth Christensen, Bret Holmes, Cason Hocevar, Tyler Church, George Phillips, Rodney Sandstorm, Tyler Gregory, Kyle Campbell, Michael Lichtfeld, Luke Baldwin, Dustin Smith, T.J. DeCaire, Lee Tissot, Luke Morey, Joshua Horniman, Rusty Skews, Matt Craig, Garrett Smithley, Brett Suggs, Justin Whitaker, Josh Lowder, Logan Jones, Nick Loden, Austin MacDonald, Dawson Sutton, Bryan Kruczek.