Connor Hall swept both ends of a Twin 40 in the second week of the season at Hickory Motor Speedway.
The reigning NASCAR Weekly Series national champion has opened the season in his No. 77 family car with three wins in four races at the Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars with a runner-up in his long defeat on Opening Night. That’s in addition to a fourth win last weekend at Florence Motor Speedway.
This time, Hall led all 40 laps from the pole in the opener and came all the way back from a ninth-place invert to win the night cap driving his just for fun car in addition to his full-time slate on the CARS Tour with Nelson Motortsports.
The start of the main event was a scramble with Charlie Watson driving from third to the lead. Hall methodically worked his way forward, needed to trade paint with Katie Hettiger a couple of times, but caught Watson by halfway.
Three laps later, he took the lead and never looked back.
“Everything was crazy at the beginning but it got shuffled out and then I was able to go to work,” Hall said. “We had an incredible car today and I feel very fortunate to get to go to the races with the people I do every weekend.”
Watson and Lee Tissot completed the podium, which was notable for two veterans that don’t get to race as much these days but enjoyed good nights.
“I wasn’t as good off 4,” Watson said. “We don’t race as much, especially as much as Connor and those boys. Connor is good and had a good car tonight. Ain’t no shame in losing to them. We’ll test some more and that’s why we’re here tonight to test for our customers and see what makes it better.
“We’ll do it again.”
Tissot echoed those sentiments.
“These guys are all good and I haven’t driven a Late Model in five years,” he said. “I just want to thank Travis Byrd for putting me in this car for the heck of it. We had a good run in the first race, fell back but hit the invert and we held on to finish third.”
“I wasn’t as good off 4,” Watson said. “We don’t race as much, especially as much as Connor and those boys. Connor is good and had a good car tonight. Aint no shame in losing to them. We’ll test some more and that’s why we’re here tonight to test for our customers and see what makes it better.
“We’ll do it again.”
Tissot echoed those sentiments.
“These guys are all good and I haven’t driven a Late Model in five years,” he said. “I just want to thank Travis Byrd for putting me in this car for the heck of it. We had a good run in the first race, fell back but hit the invert and we held on to finish third.”
After winning the opener, Hall said his car didn’t quite feel right, even after winning the pole.
“We tried to save tires at the end,” Hall said. “Matched pace with the (Skylar Chaney). We didn’t feel as good as I wanted to after qualifying so I made a stop at the old Chad Bryant Racing trailer to get it right. Hats off to them and my guys.”
Fellow CARS Tour regular and former Hickory champion Landon Huffman was also in the event with finishes of 12th and ninth. Katie Hettinger scored a pair of fifth place finishes.
Hickory Twin 40 No. 1
Connor Hall
Skyler Chaney
Thomas Beane
Michael Bumgarner
Katie Hettinger
Clark Houston
Charlie Watson
Lee Tissot
Daniel Wilk
Sam Butler
Blayne Harrison
Landon Huffman
Toni Breidinger
Jonathan Philyaw
Daniel Dean
Mark Johnson
Hickory Twin 40 No. 2
Connor Hall
Charlie Watson
Lee Tissot
Clark Houston
Katie Hettinger
Michael Bumgarner
Thomas Beane
Blayne Harrison
Landon Huffman
Sam Butler
Mark Johnson
Toni Breidinger
Jonathan Philyaw
Daniel Dean
Skyler Chaney
Daniel Wilk
