Unnamed
Liam Kane

Kane Among Mountain Creek Winners

CATAWBA, N.C. — The Ed Watkins Marine Weekend of Speed concluded Sunday evening at Mountain Creek Speedway with five divisions of outlaw karts taking to the one-sixth mile clay oval.

Cameron Hyler dominated the Cadet A-main when he led wire-to-wire for his first win of the season. T.J. Pursley came home in second with Tucker Nash third. Jaxon Walawender and Carson Hammill were fourth and fifth.

Newcomer Liam Kane raced from ninth starting spot to win the Beginner Box Stock feature, beating Chase DeMarco to the checkered flag.

Lou Mattesen stretched the points lead even further leading flag-to-flag in the Yamaha 450 Stock division. His closest competitor, Tony Rhinehart kept Mattesen within his sights but not enough to pressure for a win. Rhinehart would hang on for second with Nick Hatton completing the top three.

Ed Watkins from Ed Watkins Marine had a lot to smile about in a 24-hour period. Besides serving as the race sponsor, Watkins’ weekend job is the gas-man for Bubba Wallace in the NASCAR Cup Series. Their team finished second at Daytona Saturday night and Watkins’ 11-year-old son Rhylen set quick time in Box Stocks and won his heat.

Come feature time, young Watkins would bring the Box Stock field to the green but engine troubles relegated the team to an eighth place finish. Gavin Marlin dominanted and won his very first Box Stock A-main with Karter Beattie a close second with Cole Thomas, third. 

Caden Kvapil has been hot this year on both dirt and pavement and found a free weekend to stop Colt Currie’s win streak at three in a row. Kvapil took down with win in the open class.