Luke Baldwin Celebrates a win and a Championship at North Wilkesboro Speedway

Read Time:5 Minute, 50 Second

By Ronald Young

(North Wilkesboro,NC) Luke Baldwin won the “Battle” and the “War” on Saturday at North Wilkesboro Speedway by capturing the race win and championship in the Frontier 99 SMART Modified Tour race.

The win was the fourth of the season for the son of former Daytona 500 winning crew chief Tommy Baldwin and the 2nd year in a row the SS Racing team has captured the title.

Baldwin started the race in 6th position and ran among the leaders in the opening 30 lap stage of the race. He gained critical track position on the other title contenders as Ryan Newman fell back from his 2nd starting position and Paulie Hartwig III stalled outside the top 10.

Newman and Hartwig III were running outside the top-5 when the leaders came to pit road with 30 laps to go for tires and adjustments.

After pit stops Baldwin was able to navigate traffic and take the lead on lap 75. Newman and Hartwig III were not able to move through the field and found themselves back in 7th and 10th respectively.

Baldwin opened up a nice lead after a late race caution and the other title chasers could not match his pace. Newman wound up 3rd and Hartwig III was 7th

“It was on a rail at the end,” Baldwin said. “After the (pit) stop we made every right adjustment. We were banking on the track to go one way, and it went that way.”

“It’s huge,” Baldwin said about his win. “I think it’s definitely a weight off my shoulders. “I’ve been coming here for a while and struggling to find myself in victory lane. Finished second twice and third once. It’s been kind of frustrating because I love this racetrack. It’s super fun and we always have speed when we come here.”

NASCAR star Ryan Newman made a great charge at the end but came up short in capturing the tour title for the 2nd year in a row.

“Well, another caution would have gave me an opportunity,” Newman said. “Luke put his car in position. They made his car better at the tire stop. We did too but just ran out of track position.”

Youngster Paulie Hartwig III made a valiant effort to run near the front but battled handling issues all day.

“We fired off a little too tight and we were tight the whole race, Hartwig III said. “We avoided a lot of wrecks, and that was the most important part of it.”

Even though the day did not end as hoped the New Jersey driver was proud of his small team.

“I know we didn’t have a good finish but overall it was a really great year. We showed a lot of speed.”

In other action, Keelan Harvick triumphed over Luke Baldwin in the Northwest Automotive 100 CARS Tour Pro Late Model race after the two young guns battled side by side in the final laps. Baldwin led the first 90 laps before the 13-year-old took the lead, and they gave the crowd a show in the closing laps.

Baldwin claimed the Pro Late Model owner’s championship for Rick Ware Racing with his 2nd place run while Ben Maier took the driver’s title.

Caden Kvapil passed pole-sitter Landon S. Huffman in the final corner to earn his first Cars Tour Late Model Stock win.

In the LMSC title fight, Landon Lewis driving a car owned by Kevin Harvick secured the championship over Connor Hall who drives for Junior Motorsports.

zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car
Crossroads Harley-Davidson 125
Unofficial Results