2023 was no ordinary year as the Cars Tour found itself in the hands of some heavy-hitting new owners. Dale Earnhardt Jr, as he remarked, “This is a dream come true for me,” was at the helm, and he had some illustrious company – Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, and Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks. As the season unfolded, it seemed like a successful inaugural year under the watchful eyes of Earnhardt. But just when we thought it was all smooth sailing, the Cars Tour hit a bumpy stretch during the North Carolina stop at Tricounty Speedway.
As the laps dwindled, tempers flared, and fists started flying. Law enforcement had to step into the pitlane. Jr, who once dreamt of this moment, was now left lamenting, calling the whole drama “embarrassing.”
Amidst Twitter’s post-race roar, Dale Earnhardt Jr. addresses disappointing pro series fracas
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The Brasstown racing track was set to witness the penultimate Cars Tour race, and the pro-late model series promised action in full throttle. The No. 96 car clinched a hard-earned victory as Caden Kvapil found himself at the back of the pack not once, but twice during the race. It was during the dwindling laps that he received a lifeline, courtesy of the last-lap showdown between Ashton Higgins and Gavan Boschele.
This dramatic crash handed Kvapil the miracle he needed, allowing him to triumph and park his Chevy in the winner’s circle. Yet, these dwindling lap shenanigans didn’t just add adrenaline to the race; they also set the stage for two explosive fights that left Dale Earnhardt Jr. shaking his head in disappointment.
In a recent episode of his podcast, Earnhardt Jr. didn’t pull any punches as he voiced his thoughts. “The pro race was embarrassing,” he declared, giving his candid perspective. “I want things to be sensational, I want there to be some controversy. I am okay with drivers going over that line and maybe being a bit aggressive. But a lot of what I saw was egregious and just too much, right? [In] The last lap, the guy just got dumped.”
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Earnhardt Jr. continued, “I was more like disappointed and embarrassed by the pro series. […] You just have to try to get to the drivers, have a conversation with them. Tell them, ‘Look man, we can’t have this.’ It’s even worse when it spills over into the pits. You got grown people fighting like kids, shouting over the roofs of racecars at each other. It’s a really bad look.“
As the dust settled from the event, Twitter exploded with fervent discussions. Amidst the chaos, a tweet surfaced, overshadowing Caden’s win, and it wasn’t exactly a bouquet of roses. The user laid into Kvapil, claiming that his actions throughout the season, particularly his tussles with the No. 81 car battling for the race lead, should have gotten him booted from the series.
The user also implied that because it was Dale Earnhardt’s car, Kvapil was getting special treatment. But in reality, the 16-year-old is a driver for Highlands Motorsports. In response, Jr. simply cut through the noise, tweeting, “Not my car,” effectively putting an end to the debate.
Not my car
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) October 24, 2023
Sparks fly as leaders showdown takes championship race to the edge at Tri-County
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As the season approached its grand finale, the battle for the championship was reaching a boiling point, and the drama at Tri-County Motor Speedway only added fuel to the fire. Caden Kvapil, the man leading the charge in the standings with three wins to his name, including the recent Tri-County victory, was a few steps closer to championship glory. Hot on his heels, just 18 points behind, was the No. 81 of Katie Hettinger.
Tri-County was set to be a pivotal moment in the championship race as a turning point in the night’s events, stemmed from a dramatic incident between Kvapil and Hettinger as they battled for the lead.
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Hettinger, who had led the most laps in the feature race, was determined to reclaim the lead from Kvapil on the outside line after losing it during a restart. It was a high-stakes moment, and as the two drivers went wheel-to-wheel, Kvapil’s car got slightly loose under Hettinger’s, resulting in contact. The collision sent Hettinger’s car into a spin, collecting several other cars in the ensuing chaos.
Things got 🌶️ spicy 🌶️ between @CadenKvapil and @katiehettracing during the @CARSTour event tonight at @racetrico 😳 pic.twitter.com/ecyUfppSxg
— NASCAR Roots (@NASCARRoots) October 21, 2023
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At the end of the day, it was a disappointment for Hettinger, who had to retire after such a successful day. With the finale of the season just around the corner who are you placing your bets on?