The Late Model Stock Cars and Pro Late Models of the zMAX CARS Tour gathered at Tri-County Speedway on Friday for a crucial practice day ahead of Saturday’s SoundGear 225 event. The session proved competitive, with Mini Tyrell and TJ DeCaire emerging as the fastest cars on the track, setting the stage for the weekend competition.
TJ DeCaire secured the top spot in the final session of the day in his Pro Late Model. He noted that the track felt greasy, attributing the conditions to the supers that had been run recently and noting that adjustments were necessary due to warmer weather compared to previous years. Despite the challenges, DeCaire expressed confidence, expecting a strong performance in the upcoming race.
The day was spent testing various track conditions, with teams focusing on building speed on a track heavily caked with rubber from previous events. Other drivers like Kaden Honeycutt and Dylan Garner shared observations about how the track surface changed, noting that the rubber buildup affected how the cars felt and required different strategies for raw speed versus long runs.
The session also provided a significant opportunity for new drivers, including Carter Whalen, who made his CARS Tour debut in the No. 47 car. Whalen expressed optimism about the long run speed achieved, emphasizing that while they could use more outright speed, their consistency was a strong point. Overall, teams are adjusting to the track's dynamic nature, with officials planning to adhere to the advertised schedule as much as possible.
Source: Short Track Scene