SALISBURY, N.C. – Four-time track champion Tom Hubert held off Carson Kvapil to secure his second Open division win of the year on Wednesday night at Millbridge Speedway.
Matt Francis (Intermediate), Biscuit Williams (Box Stock) and Jayden Cordell (Beginner Box Stock) also won in their respective classes during the 11th week of action at the sixth-mile dirt oval.
Hubert took the top spot from polesitter Nick O’Dell with a turn-two slide job on the third revolution of the 20-lap feature, never looking back despite some pressure from Kvapil during the second half.
Following a caution at halfway, Hubert fended off several challenges from Kvapil – who was working against the inside berm – by powering around the outside. He ultimately ran away down the stretch to a 1.821-second victory over the elder Kvapil brother at the checkered flag.
The win was Hubert’s first victory at Millbridge since April 3, which was the third race of the season.
“Tonight, it just took a couple laps before my tires really came in, but once the kart got underneath me we were really quick,” Hubert noted. “The track was pretty nice, finally. The last couple of weeks, it’s been pretty rough, but tonight the weather cooperated and gave us a nice surface to race on.
“I might have started pushing my luck a little bit at the end, but we gathered it up and hung on.”
Dylan Smith, subbing for Joey Robinson, completed the podium ahead of Caden Kvapil and Andrew Wehrli, who made his first appearance since the QRC Speed51 Open in May on Wednesday night.
Francis led the final six laps of the 20-lap Intermediate feature after staying committed to the bottom lane of the sixth-mile oval throughout the race. He kept working over polesitter and race-long leader Gavan Boschele, who was using the top groove, until sliding him for the win in turn two on lap 15.
From there, Francis ran off to an eight tenth of a second victory over Boschele. Sam Corry, Aidan Turner and CJ Sweatt finished third through fifth, respectively.
“I was determined to make the inside work,” said Francis. “I knew Gavan was up top and I just had to go where he wasn’t. Oh my gosh, that was a fun race. It was pretty wild, but when we got close to five to go, I finally just pitched it in there and shut the door.”
Williams won his third consecutive Box Stock feature in a hotly-contested affair that saw six lead changes in the first 10 laps before Williams pulled away down the closing stretch.
The 11-year-old pulled away on a seven-lap sprint to the finish and beat Aiden Price to the finish line by .596 seconds. He led the last 16 laps in succession, despite trading sliders with Price on the 10th round.
“That was fun, but it was a really hard race,” said an exhausted Williams. “Aiden wasn’t giving in, and I wasn’t going to let him have it. That (lap-five) restart where we got him … I knew that was my chance.”
Coen McDaniel completed the podium, ahead of Ryan Zima and fast qualifier Cassidy Keitt.
Cordell, a flat-kart regular at Millbridge, picked up his first mini outlaw victory in the 15-lap Beginner Box Stock A-Feature by leading all 15 laps from the outside pole.
He was never headed and took the checkered flag in front by one second, with Kolson Nelson, Jaxon Merrifield, Grayson Price and Tyler Buzze completing the top five.
“It was a good night,” said Cordell. “It feels really good to get my first win here with a wing overhead.”
Landon Trent became the first two-time Beginner Box Stock B-Feature winner in 11 races this season with a power move on lap seven. He passed Brody Measmer and led the rest of the way for the victory.
To view complete race results, advance to the next page.