Carson Kvapil dominates at North Wilkesboro

NORTH WILKESBORO, NC – Carson Kvapil picked up the victory in Wednesday night’s Window World 125 at North Wilkesboro Speedway in dominant fashion, holding off Mason Diaz and teammate Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in a shootout in the closing laps.

Kvapil qualified on the pole in the early morning hours on Wednesday and backed it up with a dominant effort all race, leading a race high 103 laps.  The race ultimately came down to a green-white-checkered finish, which Kvapil was able to survive, clearing Diaz before they got off turn two.

“From the drop of the green flag, I knew our car was really good,” Kvapil said in victory lane.  “I could just race for a lap and take it easy and conserve the gap.  I couldn’t have asked for a better car.  I was a little worried about Mason, I got a good start on him.  I knew he was going to be able to get to my back bumper in the center, and I felt like I was a little weak in the center in one and two.  He got in the left rear a little bit, but he raced me really clean and I’ll remember that and race him the same way.”

The victory was special to Kvapil as it was cheered on by a sold-out crowd.

“That was awesome man,” Kvapil said in victory lane.  “Just to have us cars on the racetrack is huge.  It’s been over 10 years and been years for Dale and other guys and fans, they’ve been wanting this place back.  We got it back for them and this is one of the biggest races of the year.  Just to win in front of all these fans, I’ve never seen fans like this for a Late Model race in all my life, so it’s huge.”

Kvapil will pad his points lead significantly as his primary championship challengers finished outside the top five.

Mason Diaz started in 20^th and methodically worked his way through the field over the course of 125 laps.  The two-time Southern National Motorsports Park track champion took his runner-up in stride.

“It was a challenging day, for sure,” Diaz said.  “Almost had him.  Really close.  I think starting 20^th kind of hurt us.  Saving tires was not an issue for us.  Properly going through the field while saving tires was a little bit of a struggle.  I think, if we could’ve saved a little more left rear tire, it would’ve gave us the drive we needed at the end of the race.  I had my one shot with that restart going into turn one, overdrove it, and got free going into the corner and that’s all it took.  I wish we would’ve came up one spot better but this was a strong run for this team.”

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. finished in third while Jonathan Shafer and Bobby McCarty rounded out the top five.

Earnhardt had been key to helping revive the facility, and his presence helped draw a sell-out crowd to the .625-mile track in the Brushy Mountains.  Earnhardt said before the race that he was excited to see North Wilkesboro filled to capacity on a Wednesday night, and said he hopes to run more Late Model Stock Car races.

Unofficial Results: 1.) Carson Kvapil; 2.) Mason Diaz; 3.) Dale Earnhardt, Jr.; 4.) Jonathan Shafer; 5.) Bobby McCarty; 6. Kaden Honeycutt; 7.) Zack Miracle; 8.) William Sawalich; 9. Stefan Parsons; 10.) Brandon Pierce; 11.) Jacob Heafner; 12.) Braden Rogers; 13.) Chase Burrow; 14.) Jared Fryar; 15.) Chad McCumbee; 16.) Connor Hall; 17.) Andrew Grady; 18.) Connor Mosack; 19.) Dylon Wilson; 20.) Conner Jones; 21.) Janson Marchbanks; 22.) Mini Tyrrell; 23.) Pat Rachels; 24.) Brenden Queen; 25.) Corey Heim; 26.) Katie Hettinger; 27.) Bryan Reedy; 28.) Hayden Swank; 29.) Mike Looney; 30.) Carter Langley

Carson Kvapil leading at North Wilkesboro Speedway. (Andy Marquis/Short Track SCENE photo)