The CARS Tour Throwback Classic at Hickory proved to be an event filled with high drama, especially in the Pro Late Model field. While some areas experienced significant calamity, the Late Model Stock Cars managed to maintain a level of excitement throughout the day, providing plenty of storylines beyond the final results.
The battle for the top spots in the Pro Late Model points standings was particularly intense. Kaden Honeycutt and Mason Walters battled closely, with the gap between them narrowing to just one point after navigating the chaotic opening laps. Honeycutt managed to recover from an early crash and secured a solid fourth-place finish, cutting the margin with Walters.
Beyond the on-track action, the event presented unique logistical challenges. Due to numerous cautions across both features, the field experienced an atypical situation where pace car laps led more time than actual race leaders. This resulted in 156 total laps run behind the pace car, prompting race officials to implement controlled fuel stops for both the Late Model Stock and Pro Late Model features.
The modified cars also saw significant action, with Keelan Harvick leading the charge and finishing seventh, closely followed by Luke Baldwin in tenth place. In the Late Model Stock feature, Parker Eatmon managed a tough race despite heavy damage, finishing 15th. Meanwhile, TJ DeCaire claimed a victory in the Pro Late Model feature, marking his first win on the CARS Tour, while Matt Gould also secured a win in the Late Model Stock division.
Source: Short Track Scene