Austin McDaniel Claims Late Model Victory At Hickory

Austin McDaniel and his crew celebrate in victory lane after winning the Late Model feature at Hickory Motor Speedway Saturday night. Photo by Sherri Stearns

Austin McDaniel drove his way to victory lane Saturday night at Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory, NC in the 100-lap Zloop Racing Challenge for the Bojangles’ Late Models during Paramount Auto Group Night at the Races.

Other winners of the evening included Brandon Setzer in the Paramount KIA Limited Late Models, Kevin Townsend in the Street Stocks, and Charlie Neill in the WrenchRags Renegades. Due to rain the K & P Construction Four-Cylinders race was postponed and will be held as a double feature later in the season.

Matt Piercy started the 100-lap Zloop Challenge from the pole position, but was over taken early by Austin McDaniel. The first caution flag of the night was waved when Jake Madrid spun in turn four. McDaniel held the lead on the restart. With eight more cautions throughout the event McDaniel kept the lead, fending off Grant Wimbish. After being involved in two cautions, Piercy moved his way back up to third place in the closing laps. McDaniel was the first to come to the finish line winning the fifth round of the Zloop Racing Challenge. He was followed across the line by Wimbish, Piercy, Shane Lee and Christian Calvo.

Matt Piercy (25), Jack Madrid (4) and Grant Wimbish (57) avoid trouble that involved Jacob Harrell (67) during the Bojangles Late Model feature. Photo by Sherri Stearns

The Paramount KIA Limited Late Models saw a new winner this season when Brandon Setzer drove to victory lane after starting from the pole position. The first caution came out when Sheflon Clay and Kaleb Pressley made contact on lap 11. Following a lap 15 restart, Setzer held the lead and grabbed his first divisional win at Hickory Motor Speedway. Shane Lee finished second, with Landon Huffman third, Monty Cox fourth, and Christian PaHud in fifth.

Kevin Townsend brought the Street Stock field to the green flag from the pole position. Due to the pressing weather the race was called just over half way through at 18 laps. Townsend grabbed the checkered flag and was followed to the finish line by Jonathon Smith, Kevin Eby, Marshal Sutton and Mark Whitten.

Charlie Neill captured the pole for the 20-lap WrenchRags Renegades event. The first caution of the night was displayed on lap two when Carroll McKinney and Shawn Hayes made contact on the backstretch. Neill maintained the lead at the restart and remained out front until taking the checkered flag. Kenneth Roberts finished second, Darren Dickenson was third, Carroll McKinney fourth and Greg Austin finished fifth.

The No. 4 of Adam Beaver was to bring the field to green during the K&P Construction Four-Cylinder Racing event Saturday night but due to the rain the race was postponed and will later be made up in a double feature the date is still to be announced.

Action will resume at Hickory Motor Speedway on May 25 for what is sure to be an action packed night, including appearances by the Bojangles Late Models, the Paramount KIA Limited Late Models, Gold King Super Trucks, Street Stocks, and the WrenchRags Renegades and the Sportsman Racing Classics. For more info, visit hickorymotorspeedway.com.

Hickory Motor Speedway – Hickory, NC
Race Results – May 11, 2013