Landon Shane Huffman initiated first contact and proceeded to engage in a back and forth slugfest with Connor Hall to end opening night for the Late Model Stock division at Hickory Motor Speedway.
Hall defeated Huffman in the first half of a Twin 40 and they were the centerpiece of the finale too, having to come back from ninth and eighth respectively due to an invert. Huffman vowed to make his car stronger in the second half and backed it up.
Meanwhile, Hall methodically worked his way through the field until reaching a leading Michael Bumgarner inside the final 20 laps. Hall was already loose under Bumgarner and washed up the track when he got a nudge from Huffman.
That sent Huffman up into Bumgarner, who himself just barely kept it off the backstretch wall.
Hall hit Huffman right back on the next lap and the two exchanged bump-and-runs for about 10 laps. Huffman emerged victorious this time.
“I knew I was going to have to mess with him a little bit there,” Huffman said. “I didn’t want to but rules reversed, he’d do it to me. Once it started, it didn’t end until I could keep him on the outside long enough just to get clear enough to drive away.”
For his part, Hall was of mixed opinion about the exchange.
“It was a good race,” Hall conceded. “Just too loose. I took the right rear right off it and they had a good car. I guess, I don’t know. I thought it was calm and got run into and the gloves were off at that point. He drove a hell of a race and I’m looking forward to coming back.”
Clark Houston completed the podium.
Opening Night Twin 40s No. 2
Hickory Motor Speedway
March 2, 2024
- Landon Shane Huffman
- Connor Hall
- Clark Houston
- Michael Bumgarner
- Annabeth Barnes-Crum
- Thomas Beane
- Skyler Chaney
- Toni Breidinger
- Lanie Buice
- Akinori Ogata
- Ryan Glenski
- Dexter Canipe III
