Kyle Hall Uses Veteran Skills To Snare Second Career Late Model Stock Victory
16-Year-Old Racer Adds Another Win To Impressive Resume At Old Dominion Speedway
The 2007 racing season has been filled with many firsts for Kyle Hall. The 16-Year-Old racer stepped behind the wheel of his #69 Late Model Stock car for the first time, racing at Old Dominion Speedway (VA). Hall obtained his first LMSC victory in June, putting him in the record books as the youngest driver to win a Late Model Stock car event at the facility.
In a season with all top-10 finishes, it was only a matter of time before Hall hit victory circle again. That time was Saturday as Hall avoided a late race wreck to win his second Late Model Stock car race of his career.
Hall’s day started out with a decent showing during practice and qualifying. The speeds he turned weren’t exactly up to par with what he wanted, but they were within reason.
“In practice we were decent,” said Hall. “I wasn’t exactly too happy with it, but it was drivable and I didn’t want to push it and have a problem before the race.
“We went out for qualifying and the car felt good. We had the fastest first lap by three tenths. Unfortunately the second lap was dramatically slower, so that is one of the things we will need to work on in the future. We ended up qualifying seventh.”
In the race, Hall showed the patience of a seasoned veteran by not pushing the issue early in the 200-lap event. Instead, he settled in on the track and waited to move his way towards the top spot late in the event.
“On the start of the race everything was good,” said Hall. “We all got in line and was just driving around. The same guy that got into me a few races ago and got into someone last week was right behind me. He got a nose under my car so I let him go, not wanting to get wrecked again. I pretty much got hung out to dry and dropped back to 11th.
“I was back there with Franklin Butler, and I ended up just following him for over 100 laps. He knows what he is doing and has been racing for years. We just both saved our tires and later in the race we started working our way back up to the front. We got up to sixth and seventh, then he got tangled up with another car so I moved up to fifth.”
Hall ran up behind the two leaders and prepared for a final run to the top spot. Within 10 laps to go, contact between the two front cars handed the lead and the win to Hall without much effort.
“I was in third and running down the leaders when another caution came out, bunching us up,” explained Hall. “With six laps to go the leaders took each other out of the race, putting me in the lead. We had a green/white/checkered finish and I was able to stay in front for the win.
His second win, along with his multiple top-10 finishes during the season, has placed Hall second in track points with just one race remaining in the regular season at Old Dominion Speedway.
Kyle Hall will return to the seat of his #69 Late Model Stock Car for the next race at Old Dominion Speedway (VA) on Saturday, September 22nd.
Kyle Hall visited victory lane for the first time in his Late Model Stock Car earlier this season.
