Carson Loftin Tops “Warrior 100 Field” at Caraway Speedway
Annabeth Crum Wins Late Model Stock 100 Lapper; Kevin Orlando Takes 603 Modified Win; Max Reaves Claims Carolina Pro Late Model Feature
(Sophia, NC): In most walks of life, “experience counts”. Modified racing is not to be considered in that comment.
In the 2024 season opener at Caraway Speedway, 15-year-old Carson Loftin showed his rear bumper to a “Daytona 500” winner, Ryan Newman, and a NASCAR Winston Cup Champion, Bobby Labonte, and took home the “SMARTY Trophy in the “Warrior 100” for the SMART Modified Tour presented by Pace-O-Matic.
Loftin took over the lead from early race leader, Matt Hirschman who had led most of the race when Hirschman had a rare pit stop problem and fell to the back of the field. Loftin took over on the following restart and never looked back in taking his second SMART Tour win in two weeks. Loftin won the “Peanut Patch 99” at Florence Motor Speedway on March 2nd. Newman finished second with Labonte, Jimmy Blewett, and Danny Bohn rounding out the top five. Jason Myers was sixth followed by Lyke Baldwin, Blake Barney, and Hirschman. Joey Coulter completed the top ten. The remainder of the rundown saw Will Lambrose in eleventh with Anthony Bello, Austin Kochenash, Jonathan Cash, Jimmy Wallace, Brandon Ward, Brian Loftin, Burt Myers, Gary Putnam, Tom Buzze, Daniel Yates, fast qualifier, Jake Crum, Jason Tutterow, Gary Young, Jr., Johnny Kay and Cody Norman.
Norman and Bello had led the field in Parade Laps to honor fellow racer, Zack Brewer. Brewer passed away unexpectedly last week. Zack’s wife, Kim, and daughter, Avery gave the command for drivers to fire their engines during pre-race ceremonies.
Jamie York won the early battle in qualifying setting fast time, but Annabeth Crum won the war with a solid win the 100-lap Late Model Stock Car feature on “Warrior Weekend”. The event marked the first race of the 59th season of racing at Caraway Speedway.
York set a quick pace early in the race with Dean Ward “keeping him honest” in second spot while Crum and Thomas Beane rode behind the leaders. A mid-race competition caution brought the field together. After the restart, Ward slipped up the track allowing most of the field to get by. Crum and Beane slowly tracked down York whose car had gotten extremely “loose”. Crum slipped past York on lap 80 with Beane making the same move a few laps later. Crum’s win was her first in a Late Model at Caraway.
Beane’s showing was his best at Caraway as well. York plans to chase the LMSC title at Caraway this year and his third-place finish puts him near the top in standings for the ten-race chase for the crown won last year by his dad, Jason York.
Camden Thomas, Ward, Brody Duggins, William Lester, Heath Causey, and Tristan McKee rounded out the field.
Kevin Orlando bumped his way past fast qualifier, Jacob Creed, on lap 30 and held off a closing Billy Gregg to take the win in the 40 lapper for the 602 Modifieds. Slate Myers finished third with Tony Manetti, Jack Baldwin, Creed, and Jaxson Casper completing the rundown.
Max Reaves showed the rest of the field his rear bumper while taking the win in the 100-lap feature for the visiting Carolina Pro Late Model series. Reaves led wire-to-wire to finish half a straightaway ahead of Carson Ware. Beckham Malone, Evan McKnight, Vito Cancilla, Alex Quarterly, Chase Janes, Jacob Courage, and Johnny Kay completed the rundown.
The 59th Season Opener for the other Caraway Speedway is set for next Sunday, March 17th, with racing for the Challengers, UCARS, Mod 4’s, Bootleggers and Renegades.
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Sources: Randy Myers/Caraway Speedway PR
