Saturday’s race at Hickory Motor Speedway presents a unique opportunity for zMAX CARS Pro Late Model Tour competitors.
Not only is it the only standalone event for the CARS PLM Tour this year, but a victory will lock the winning driver into the prestigious Throwback Classic at Hickory on August 2nd. A substantial purse increase for the Throwback Classic means Pro Late Model drivers will battle for a $30,000 paycheck in the crown jewel event.
The 100-lap feature will provide Pro Late Model teams a chance to build a notebook ahead of the Throwback Classic while they simultaneously battle one another for a checkered flag. Hickory’s abrasive surface, known for creating intense racing, is also going to challenge competitors throughout Saturday’s crucial event.
With six different drivers having visited Cook Out Victory Lane across six PLM Tour events, Saturday’s race at Hickory remains wide open. A win etches a driver into Hickory’s esteemed record books and gives them a solid head start over the competition in their pursuit for $30,000 next month.
Track Facts:
Track: Hickory Motor Speedway
Location: Asheboro, North Carolina
Length: .363 mile
Laps: 100 (PLM)
CARS PLM Tour races: 5
Hickory PLM winners: William Sawalich (2), Mike Hopkins (1), Cole Butcher (1), Kyle Campbell (1), Jimmy Renfrew Jr. (1)
The Road to the Throwback schedule
PLM Entry List (17 cars): #6 Brandon Lopez, #6M Ben Maier, #11 Dylan Cappello, #15 Rodney Dowless, #15H Jace Hale, #15C Sheflon Clay, #21 Mason Diaz, #24 Jade Avedisian, #29 Kevin Harvick, #35 Caden Kvapil, #43 Nick Loden, #47 Kaden Honeycutt, #51 Carson Ware, #61 Evan McKnight, #62 Keelan Harvick, #82 Taylor Hull, #97 Dylan Garner
PLM Standings:
- Ben Maier
- Brandon Lopez -6
- Dylan Garner -14
- Keelan Harvick -15
- Rodney Dowless -21
- Isaac Kitzmiller -29
- Brody Monahan -49
- Tristan McKee -54
- Tyler Reif -82
- Jade Avedisian -95
Harvick Cup rolls into Hickory
In the two races they have run together so far, Keelan Harvick maintains an advantage over his father and CARS Tour co-owner Kevin Harvick.
The first showdown between the two Harvicks saw Keelan take home a checkered flag at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway after Kevin was collected in a late-race accident while battling for the lead. Keelan then bested his father at Evergreen Speedway with a second place finish, all while Kevin settled for fourth.
Keelan and Kevin bring their eight-race father-son showdown over from the Spears CARS Tour West Pro Late Model Series to the East Coast with Saturday’s 100-lap race at Hickory Motor Speedway. While Keelan is making his first start at Hickory in a full-bodied car, Kevin is racing there for the first time since 2000.
The two Harvicks are primarily competing for bragging rights across their eight races together, but Saturday’s race carries extra long-term significance for Keelan. A victory or strong run in The Road to the Throwback could be crucial for Keelan if he looks to erase his 15-point deficit in the PLM Tour standings.
A guaranteed spot in next month’s Throwback Classic also brings prestige to the third round of the Harvick Cup, where Keelan will once again look to fend off Kevin and continue showcasing his burgeoning talent to the short track industry.
Brandon Lopez eager to attack Hickory after first PLM Tour win
For all the success Brandon Lopez has enjoyed as a car owner in the CARS PLM Tour, finally earning a victory behind the wheel at Caraway Speedway on Wednesday was special in many regards.
Although attrition enabled Lopez to cycle towards the front at the end of the Firecracker 265, he felt his No. 6 Pro Late Model possessed enough race pace to be competitive all year. Good fortune translated into a cathartic milestone for Lopez, one he knew was the byproduct of diligent, efficient work.
“It was more a sigh of a relief than overexcitement to get that first win out of the way,” Lopez said. “These past few years are my only racing experience ever. I never grew up in Legends, [Bandoleros], quarter midgets or anything like that. It felt good to be on the right side of luck [at Caraway] and be there at the end.”
In only a couple of years, Lopez and his stepbrother Dustin Bryson have transformed Bryson Lopez Racing into one of the most consistent programs on the PLM Tour. Aside from Lopez’ Caraway win, the organization has visited Cook Out Victory Lane on three occasions with reigning PLM Tour champion Kaden Honeycutt.
There are many aspects about Pro Late Model racing Lopez is still trying to ascertain, but he said the strengths of the program are reflected by the stellar results their drivers put up every week. With fast cars and a competitive roster of drivers, Lopez said the Caraway triumph is further evidence of his team’s upward trajectory.
Lopez would love to parlay Caraway into a locked-in position for next month’s Throwback Classic at Hickory Motor Speedway, but is treating Saturday’s race like any other. Even if he is unable to earn a second consecutive victory as a driver this weekend, Lopez would be more than satisfied to claim another checkered flag as an owner.
“[A win] would definitely prove to myself that I can do it even when a bunch of people don’t fall out of the race,” Lopez said. “It’s going to be hard to beat Kaden [Honeycutt] this weekend. He’s going to be in [our No.] 47, so he’s going to be tough competition for anybody that wants to beat him.”
Carson Ware back in the No. 51 for Rick Ware Racing
Over two months after earning his first CARS PLM Tour victory at Ace Speedway, Carson Ware still finds himself in disbelief over the accomplishment.
The speed Ware’s No. 51 Costa Oil Ford showed that evening was indicative of the energy his father Rick has exerted towards building a competitive Pro Late Model program. Now back in the car for Saturday’s The Road to the Throwback, Ware is determined to follow up his Ace triumph with another stellar outing at Hickory Motor Speedway.
“Our Rick Ware Racing guys have put a lot of effort into the CARS Tour this year,” Ware said. “We’ve been able to secure a couple of wins so far, so I’d say we’re pretty confident going into Hickory. I’ve been very anxious and eager to get back into the car because that Ace win was special. I’m having a blast driving these cars because they’ve got so much speed.”
Ware’s journey has taken him to several different racing disciplines across the United States. Along with possessing 15 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts on his resume, Ware is among the notable group of drivers who have won in Bowman Gray Stadium’s prestigious Modified division.
There has never been a time in his career where Ware has felt more confident in his ability to win races than with his father’s Pro Late Model team. Copious resources are being poured into the program, but Ware said his chemistry with veteran crew chief Troy Smith has been pivotal towards him optimizing the speed of his equipment.
With Luke Baldwin also having won in the No. 51 this year, Ware believes everything is proceeding as planned for their family operation to be competitive in the long-term. Bringing home his second PLM Tour checkered flag on Saturday to secure a spot in the Throwback Classic would reinforce the faith Ware has in the team and in himself.
“People are starting to realize that the highest quality of drivers are in the CARS Tour,” Ware said. “To lock myself into the [Throwback Classic] would be extravagant. It would be huge not only for me, but our entire team, given that it’s our first year in the CARS Tour as an organization. When we’re firing on all cylinders, anything is possible.”
Dylan Cappello set for first PLM Tour start of 2025
To prepare for his second career CARS PLM Tour start, Dylan Cappello has been listening carefully to Layne Riggs, the driver he crew chiefs for in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Although Riggs never won a CARS LMSC Tour event at Hickory Motor Speedway, he did log visits to the track’s esteemed victory lane in weekly competition. With no experience at Hickory to his name, Cappello said the input provided by Riggs has been invaluable towards acquiring a baseline understanding on how to navigate Hickory.
“I went out [to Hickory] to test and [Riggs] talked with me on the phone a lot,” Cappello said. “He gave me some pointers, told me some things to look for and the line to focus on. He’s been a big help and I’m sure he’ll be out there when I race [on Saturday] and [for the Throwback Classic]. He’ll be a huge help.”
A native of Peoria, Arizona, Cappello has an extensive background in both dirt and pavement racing on the West Coast. Modifieds are where Cappello particularly excelled at, but he would eventually find success in full-fendered cars with wins in Pro Late Models and the ARCA Menards Series West in 2023.
Being a full-time crew chief prevents Cappello from racing on a frequent basis, but he still finds time to get behind the wheel when he can. Cappello had planned to run the PLM Tour event at North Wilkesboro Speedway back in May with Tyler Trebilcock, but engine troubles in practice forced him to withdraw before qualifying.
Cappello is back in Trebilcock’s car for The Road to the Throwback, optimistic the notes from the tests and Riggs will translate into a successful night. Completing all the laps is Cappello’s primary goal for Saturday, who knows he is still capable of being a race-winning driver against those who compete on a full-time basis.
“You always question yourself when you don’t get to race a lot like I do,” Cappello said. “It would be a huge confidence boost to say I can still get behind the wheel whenever I can and still have speed. I want to go have a lot of fun, but if we can put this car in [Cook Out] Victory Lane at the end of the night, that would be the cherry on top.”
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Saturday’s standalone zMAX CARS Pro Late Model Tour event features a stacked schedule that also comprises Hickory Motor Speedway’s Bandolero, Legends and Vintage features. The 100-lap PLM Tour race is set to go green at 8 p.m. ET, with FloRacing providing live coverage of all the on-track action.
For more information on the zMAX CARS Late Model Stock Tour and the zMAX CARS Pro Late Model Tour, visit www.carsracingtour.com. Be sure to stay active and social with the tour by liking “CARS Tour” on Facebook, following @CARSTour on X (formerly known as Twitter) and scrolling through photos on Instagram cars_tour.
Additional series information can be obtained by calling the CARS Tour series office, located in Mooresville, NC, at 704-662-9212.
