The heat races for the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 delivered a night of intense action, featuring multiple spins, late passes, and even post-race confrontations.
In the opening heat, Trevor Ward secured the victory, passing the fastest qualifier, Tristan McKee, with three laps remaining. McKee, who had led the first 22 laps, fell back to third after what appeared to be an engine issue. The second heat was marked by chaos when Peyton Sellers spun off the front nose of Ryan Wilson on lap three, before being hit by Craig Moore. Despite the incident, Sellers survived the attrition to finish seventh.
The final two heats saw strong performances. Dillon Hartville took the win in Heat Three after leading every lap. Caden Kvapil maintained his momentum to win the fourth and final heat race. Meanwhile, Lee Pulliam claimed the victory in Heat Two, passing Corey Heim on the outside with five laps to go, earning him a front-row start for the main event.
The night’s drama extended beyond the track when Chase Burrow and Brad Housewright engaged in a physical altercation in the garage after Burrow was sent to the rear. Housewright confronted Burrow following the heat, leading to crews getting involved and several people fighting on the ground until officials intervened.
Source: Short Track Scene