One week after the toughest race in zMAX CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour history at Ace Speedway, many of those competitors will compete again in Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina.
On the outskirts of town lies Wake County Speedway, a quarter-mile bullring that has been a staple of the Southeast short track community since 1962. As the smallest track on the CARS LMSC Tour schedule, there is little margin for error between visiting the Cook Out victory lane and ending the night early on pit road.
Wake County’s tight track layout presents numerous challenges for a field of LMSC Tour riders still recovering from last Friday’s chaotic evening. A win at Saturday’s Drive for Puryear 125 will require patience and discipline on one of the region’s toughest short tracks.
Route data:
rail: Wake County Speedway
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Length: 0.25 miles
Round: 125
CARS LMSC Tour Races: 3
Wake County LMSC Winners: Sam Mayer (1), Deac McCaskill (1), Carson Kvapil (1)
Wake County Speedway Schedule
LMSC participant list (19 cars): #03 Brenden Queen, #05 Mason Bailey, #08 Deac McCaskill, #08H Carson Haislip, #1J Clay Jones, #2 Brandon Pierce, #8 Caden Kvapil, #11 Buddy Isles Jr., #15 Ryan Millington, #22 Connor Hall, #23 Kade Brown, #29 Brent Crews, #50 Daniel Vuncannon, #55 Isabella Robusto, #55H Holden Haddock, #57 Landon Huffman, #62 Landen Lewis, #77 Treyten Lapcevich, #81 Mini Tyrrell
LMSC score:
- Connor Hall
- Brenden Queen -11
- Brent Crews -15
- Mini Tyrell -34
- Ryan Millington -47
- Treyten Lapcevich -58
- Carson Kvapil -60
- Bobby McCarty-86
- Chad McCumbee -120
- Ronnie Bassett Jr. -124
Dale Jr. and Kip Childress describe the process breakdown that led to Wilkesboro’s disqualification: CARS Tour Wake County Participant List and Storylines
Brent Crews starts fight for the LMSC title
In his rookie season on the CARS LMSC Tour, Brent Crews has the most wins of any driver with three and is just 15 points behind championship leader Connor Hall.
While Crews wasn’t necessarily surprised by his immediate success, he admitted it was rewarding to be able to shine against strong competition each week. He attributes the consistency to the strong cars provided by Kevin Harvick Inc., as well as his own ability to master so many different short tracks in the Southeast.
“I know this team is going to have fast race cars, so it’s on me to get those results and be consistent,” Crews said. “We’ve done a good job of that, and we need to keep at it. This series is so difficult and probably the most competitive I’ve ever been in. To have a team like (KHI) behind me and be able to fight for a championship is a great opportunity.”
Known for his experience on road courses and dirt tracks, Crews wanted to prove he could also handle oval courses and saw the LMSC Tour as an ideal way to hone those skills. After making occasional appearances in both CARS Tour divisions over the past two years, Crews felt ready to tackle a full slate of Late Model Stock racing in 2024.
With Toyota Racing Development by his side, Crews believes his time on the LMSC Tour puts him on the right path to one day succeed in the NASCAR Cup Series. The only surprising aspect of the series for Crews is the aggressive nature of the field, which was evident in his recent win on Friday at Ace Speedway.
Crews expects the status quo to remain when the LMSC Tour heads to Wake County Speedway on Saturday night. The last few weeks have shown Crews the limits of aggressive driving on the LMSC Tour, which only underscores his desire to ride consistently and avoid putting himself in any unfavorable situations as the year draws to a close.
“I want to win the championship, but I’m not going to stare at it,” Crews said. “I’m here to win races and keep the car in one piece. I don’t want to put myself in a situation where I’m driving too hard for the lead, spinning someone out and falling behind. The championship can be won or lost in a day, which is what makes it so difficult to win these races.”
Carson Haislip hopes to wow his home crowd in his CARS Tour debut
One of Wake County Speedway’s most promising young Late Model Stock drivers will try his luck against the best in his discipline on Saturday.
Carson Haislip, who has two Late Model Stock wins in Wake County this year, is optimistic about delivering a strong performance in his CARS LMSC Tour debut. Despite the strong field, Haislip said the hard work he and his crew continually put in will be evident when the green flag is waved.
“I know Alex Fleming will build me a super fast race car like he always does,” Haislip said. “(The team) has been working their asses off the last few days and I know they’ll continue to do so. If I can drive (the car) to victory lane, I know it’s a reward for them. It’s super cool to have the support of all these guys.”
In his early years, Haislip earned a reputation as one of the most efficient drivers in Wake County’s Legends class. After earning three wins in his rookie year, Haislip managed two consecutive nine-win seasons, both of which resulted in championships.
The competitive Legends division in Wake County, which typically averages over 20 cars per race, has taught Haislip many lessons that he believes have honed his racing talent. Adapting to a Late Model Stock was easier for Haislip because of these hectic events, and Legends are comparatively much harder to drive.
Haislip’s mindset for the Drive for Puryear 125 is split between going for a win and logging all the laps. Haislip wants nothing more than to celebrate with the Wake County crowd on Saturday, but he said a key element to a strong finish is actively learning from his competitors.
“Saturday night is going to be different,” Haislip said. “I’m no longer racing against eight cars a week, but against some of the best in the country. I want to learn and find out how these other people drive. I’ve never raced against any of them and I don’t know their racing skills, so I want to adapt to that.”
Local hero Clay Jones wants to win on Saturday
Four-time Wake County Speedway track champion Clay Jones is looking to add another accomplishment to his resume at the facility on Saturday: a CARS LMSC Tour victory.
Jones teams up again with veteran car owner Jency Markham to beat the LMSC Tour regulars in front of a sold-out crowd in Wake County. The passionate atmosphere that always prevails at the weekly shows in Wake County is one of the main reasons Jones continues to race at the facility.
“We’re really excited,” Jones said. “We were there last Saturday for testing and it went really well. We learned a few things and got faster while we were there. Wake County keeps the stands full and puts on great shows. There’s a great energy in that place and it’s a great atmosphere.”
Last year’s Drive for Puryear 125 in Wake County was Jones’ LMSC Tour debut after previously competing in several Super Late Model races under the CARS Tour banner. He earned the pole and led 42 laps in Markham’s No. 1 Chevrolet before falling to ninth place by the end of the evening.
Jones believes he and Markham are better prepared for the 125 laps at Wake County compared to their first appearance. The early speed he showed in 2023 proved to Jones that he can win an LMSC Tour event in Markham’s car, but he knows Saturday’s execution will have to be perfect in every way if he wants to beat the series’ regulars.
A stellar weekly season in Wake County, where Jones currently holds a narrow lead in the points standings, has also boosted his confidence ahead of the arrival of the LMSC Tour. Combined with the progress he has made testing Markham’s car, Jones believes everything is going well for him to score a popular win among Wake County fans.
“A win would be great not only for me, but for all my guys and the fans of Wake County itself,” Jones said. “To have a local guy who competes every week win one of the biggest shows of the year against all the NASCAR guys would drive crazy around here.”
