MOORESVILLE, N.C. – This Saturday’s Radley Chevrolet 125 at Dominion Raceway officially kicks off the second half of the season for CARS Late Model Stock Tour competitors.
While the tight championship battle might be the main chatter, there’s plenty of individual headlines entering this weekend’s race.
The defending race winner from a season ago, Jonathan Findley, considers Dominion Raceway his home track. Mini Tyrrell and Daniel Silvestri also call Dominion home and are expected to run well against the rest of the CARS Tour field.
If that stands true, fans could be treated to another possible first-time series winner.
This year Silvestri made the transition to the CARS Late Model Stock Tour to compete for R&S Racecars Rookie of the Year honors. Before his time with the Tour began, the Virginia native cut his teeth at Dominion in the late model stock division with Sellers Racing.
Silvestri finished second in the 2020 championship standings, ending the season with one win, 12 top fives, and 14 top tens, in 16 starts. He hopes that his past success will transfer to a present-day win and become the second rookie to score a win this season.
Tyrrell scored a sixth-place finish at Langley Speedway two weeks ago. It was Tyrrell’s best CARS Tour finish dating back to Aug. 29, 2020, which was also at Langley. Now headed to his home track, Tyrrell’s strong performance couldn’t have come at a better time.
Last season the Virginia native scored a career best finish of second at Dominion Raceway. From a good finish two weeks ago, to a visit to his home track Saturday night, this could be the perfect storm Tyrrell and his family-owned team have worked towards for the last three seasons.
Another competitor who could break into victory lane for the first time is Tyler Matthews, who is returning to CARS Tour action for his third race of the season. The Richland, N.C., driver teamed up with former series championship car owner Lee McCall for a limited schedule this season – and it has paid off in a big way.
The combination has scored two podium finishes in both races they’ve competed in, averaging a 2.5 finish. During both of the races, Matthews led laps and had a legitimate chance of taking home the hardware. Matthews and McCall, based on their statistical numbers alone this season, have to be a considered a threat at Dominion.
Other drivers on the entry list include defending series champion Jared Fryar, the Tour’s most recent winner Kaden Honeycutt, Layne Riggs, Deac McCaskill, Timothy Peters, Bobby McCarty, Mason Diaz, Craig Moore, Brandon Pierce, Joe Valento, Justin Johnson, Sam Butler, Mike Looney, Connor Jones, Johnathan Shafer, Terry Carroll, Sam Yarbrough, Alex Malycke, Rusty Skewes and Grant Thompson.
Fans unable to attend in person will be able to watch live via SPEED SPORT TV affiliate Pit Row TV.