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By Ronal Young/ Myracenews
Photo: NASCAR Regional
Caden Kvapil passed Corey Heim with 25 laps to go and survived a wild finish to win the Valley Star Credit Union 300 Late Model Stock race at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday night.
The win was the first for Kvapil at Martinsville in only his second career start at the .526 mile-oval and helped him secure not only the famous grandfather clock trophy but the Virginia Triple Crown by winning two of the big three races this season.
“I didn’t really ever think I was going to be in this position when I started Late Model Stock racing two years ago or Late Model racing in general about five years ago. I just never really could have dreamed of this. And coming here, I didn’t really have any expectations. Obviously, I thought I was going to be better than I was last year just as a driver. And just having the speed that we did all weekend, I really felt like from the first run that we had a chance at it. And everything just had to go our way, and we were fortunate enough that it did. So, to be able to win the clock and have one like my brother(Carson) now, it’s super awesome.”
Winning the 200-lap feature was a hard-earned victory for Kvapil, who had secured a fourth-place starting spot after a dominant performance in his heat race. Throughout the race’s opening half, he maintained a steady run inside the top five.
Up front, pole-sitter Trevor Ward and fan favorite Lee Pulliam fought intense battles for the lead during much of the first stage. When the break arrived, the leaders headed to pit road for fuel and four fresh tires. On the subsequent restart, Pulliam led the field back to green with Kvapil and Corey Heim running right behind him.
Kvapil made a quick move past Pulliam early in Stage 2, but Heim overtook him just a few laps later. The two drivers traded positions in a fierce duel throughout the remainder of the stage until Caden ultimately pulled ahead. Further back, Treyten Lapcevich steadily climbed through the field from his 11th starting position to join the lead group.
With 20 laps remaining, the final stage went green, and Kvapil swiftly pulled away while Heim and Lapcevich traded blows in a wild battle for second place. The action was halted with six laps to go when contact between Tristan McKee and Matt Cox on the frontstretch sent Cox hard into the wall.
On the green-white-checker restart, Kvapil launched back into the lead ahead of a charging Lapcevich and Heim. Lapcevich pushed hard, nudging his way under Kvapil in Turn 3 on the next lap. The top three briefly ran three-wide as they crossed the line for the white flag. However, after contact among the trio in Turn 2 on the final lap, Kvapil surged back out front, while Heim and Lapcevich banged doors to the checkered flag in a fierce race for second.
“It’s just so crazy, you never know what’s going to happen here,” Kvapil said. “I built such a big gap and was trying to get to the white flag and get this race over with. My spotter called yellow, and my heart kind of sank. I didn’t know what to expect. I knew we had the best car all night and I needed a good restart. It almost went south there. Luckily, we were able to get away at the white flag, clear myself in [turn] three and drive away with it. “
After the race Heim was obviously disappointed but complimentary of Kvapil.
“ I think [Kvapil] did a really good job. He could have, you know, lifted me up or spun me out whenever he wanted to, and he didn’t. So, once I got behind him, he sort of drug the brakes, so I couldn’t lift him up. But that’s just smart racing on his part, so I can’t really be mad at him. I’m frustrated because he was able to do that to me, but I’m not, like, mad at him for doing it, you know. So, they did a great job. They were super fast, so hats off to those guys.”
Lapecevich took the defeat in stride as he discussed the final restart.
“I feel like I did everything that I needed to do,” Lapcevich said. “I nailed the restart. I was side by side with Caden going into one. Got a heck of a run off of two and was clear of Corey. Got to Caden’s left rear and, you know, gave him a little bit of a nudge there, like I’m sure any of us would have done when there’s a clock right there in front of you. And we’re side by side down the front stretch, and Corey just absolutely tanks me into one. It’s disappointing for sure, but nothing we can do about it now.”
Lee Pulliam and Jared Fryar finished out the top five behind the lead trio of Kvapil, Heim, and Lapcevich.
Post race note: Lapecevich and Heim crashed in turn one after the checkered flag which later led to punches being thrown toward Corey Heim by Chad Bryant Racing crew members. MyRaceNews has chosen not to cover this confrontation but videos are available online.
