Chase Elliott, William Byron raced on the Hickory Motor Speedway short track
Tonight, the ASA Stars National Tour unloads in Hickory, North Carolina for the Tar Heal 250. NASCAR stars Chase Elliott, William Byron, Carson Hocevar, Ty Majeski and Jesse Lover are in the field at the 3/8-mile asphalt short track of Hickory Motor Speedway.
View Hickory Motor Speedway results below.
Following a redraw, William Byron and Matthew Craig set the front row. 250 laps of late model racing are up next…
Tar Heal 250
Race Report
Green flag, they run side by side into turn one and off turn two. Craig noses ahead on the outside into turn three. As they return to turn one, Craig takes the lead away via the outside lane.
Lap 3, Giovanni Ruggiero looks inside of Byron for 2nd. Byron holds him off via the outside lane.
Lap 16, Byron works inside of Craig in the battle for the lead. After a lap of the side by side battle, Byron takes the lead away. Ruggiero follows him through on the inside to take 2nd away.
Lap 25, Matthew Craig is stuck on the outside lane as the field drives by. He’s fallen outside the top 10 with handling issues. Craig heads to the pit lane under green to change a flat right rear tire.
Lap 75, Byron is slicing through the field.
Lap 100, the caution for the race break is out. The field is frozen as teams head to the pit lane for tires and adjustements.
Stage 2
Green flag on stage 2, Byron and Ruggiero run side by side at the front of the field. Ruggiero wins the battle via the inside lane.
Lap 120, Caden Kvapil is forced to return to the pit lane under green as a tool is hanging from his car after the pit stop.
Lap 123, Cole Butcher works under Byron for 2nd.
89 to go, Bubba Pollard works to the outside of Butcher. He drives by on the outside lane and takes 2nd away!
78 to go, Michael Hinde spins, caution. Drivers head for the pit lane.
Green, Ruggiero and Butcher run side by side at the front of the field. A lap later, Butcher completes the pass via the outside lane.
66 to go, Ruggiero works inside of Butcher for the lead. Ruggiero wins the battle as Butcher is hung on the outside lane, Jesse Love takes 2nd and Byron takes 3rd. Butcher remains stuck on the outside lane as the train works by on the inside.
63 to go, Love works to the right rear of Ruggiero. Love takes the lead away!
57 to go, Bubba Pollard comes to a stop was an issue in turn three! The caution is out.
Green, Jesse Love gets the jump on Byron. Love to the lead via the outside lane!
50 to go, the final race break caution is out.
Stage 3
Love and most of the leader stay out. Ruggiero, Hocevar, Elliott and others head for the pit lane.
Green flag on stage three, Love clears Byron before turn one. Byron fights back to his inside off turn two, Love holds him off via the outside lane into turn three.
Casey Roderick runs wide off turn two. He bounces off the wall and bangs doors with Jackson Boone. Roderick picks up heavy damage as the entire rear decklid is hanging loose.
47 to go, caution.
Green, Love and Byron run side by side into turn one. Love holds the lead into turn three. Majeski leans on the rear bumper of Byron for 2nd, Byron holds him off.
44 to go, Blaine Rocha is around, caution.
Green, Love and Byron run side by side once more. As they return to turn one, Love holds the lead on the outside.
35 to go
35 to go, Love is running a defensive line on the outside. Byron peaks to the inside.
34 to go, Byron gets into the bumper of Love into turn three! Love chases it up the track, Byron to the lead!
15 to go, Byron leads Ruggiero by 0.6 seconds.
10 to go, Byron works heavy lap traffic. Ruggiero has closed the gap to just a car length.
9 to go, Blaine Rocha comes to a stop on the apron, caution.
Green, Byron and Ruggiero bang doors into turn one! Ruggiero jacks Byron up all the way down the backstretch! Byron holds the lead.
Jesse Love gets loose in turn four, as he checks up Chase Elliott gets into the back of him and Jesse Love is around, caution.
Green, Ruggiero leans on Byron into turn 1! Byron holds him off. Ruggiero gets into him once more in turn four! Byron holds him once more.
9 to go, Butcher leans on the bumper of Ruggiero. They form three wide for the lead off the corner.
7 to go, Ruggiero leans on Byron another time off turn two! Smoke billows as they rub.
5 to go, Byron finally clears Ruggiero.
3 to go, Byron leads Ruggiero by just a car length.
2 to go, Byron moves to the outside lane as he’s on defense.
1 to go, Ruggiero drives it deep to the inside in turn three. He bangs doors with Byron and shoves him wide off turn four! They run side by side to the line!
Ruggiero wins by inches!
Hickory Motor Speedway Results
ASA Stars
May 25, 2023
The following includes on track action for the ASA Stars:
ASA Stars
Practice
Final Practice : 1. Jesse Love (14.503); 2. Matt Craig; 3. William Byron; 4. Ty Majeski; 5. Chase Elliott; 6. Casey Rodrick; 7. Cole Butcher; 8. Blaine Rocha; 9. Stephen Nasse; 10. Bubba Pollard;
11. Jackson Boone; 12. Kodie Conner; 13. Michael Hinde; 14. Billy VanMetter; 15. Jett Noland; 16. Giovanni Ruggiero; 17. Carson Hocevar; 18. Jake Finch; 19. Tyler Tanner; 20. Austin Nason;
21. Albert Francis; 22. Caden Kvapil; 23. Ross Strmiska; 24. Dustin Smith; 25. Tony Elrod;
ASA Stars
Qualifying
Qualifying : 1. Matt Craig (14.495); 2. Giovanni Ruggiero; 3. Kodie Conner; 4. Casey Roderick; 5. Caden Kvapil; 6. William Byron; 7. Jesse Love; 8. Cole Butcher; 9. Ty Majeski; 10. Chase Elliott;
11. Stephen Nasse; 12. Carson Hocevar; 13. Blaine Rocha; 14. Bubba Pollard; 15. Austin Nason; 16. Michael Hinde; 17. Jackson Boone; 18. Albery Francis; 19. Jake Finch; 20. Jett Noland;
21. Ross Strmiska; 22. Billy VanMeter; 23. Dustin Smith; 24. Tyler Tanner; 25. Tony Elrod;
ASA Stars
Feature
250 Laps | $15,000 to win
Pos | Driver
1. Giovanni Ruggiero
2. William Byron
3. Cole Butcher
4. Ty Majeski
5. Caden Kvapil
6. Chase Elliott
7. Stephen Nasse
8. Austin Nason
9. Jett Noland
10. Michael Hinde
11. Jesse Love
12. Casey Roderick
13. Ross Strmiska
14. Billy VanMeter
15. Matthew Craig
16. Albert Francis
17. Dustin Smith
18. Tyler Tanner
19. Jackson Boone
20. Blaine Rocha
21. Tyler Tanner
22. Kodie Conner
23. Bubba Pollard
24. Jake Finch
25. Tony Elrod
