Connor Hall Paces Practice Day at Carteret County's Christmas Clash

On the eve of the Christmas Clash at Bobby Watson's Carteret County Speedway, Late Model teams took the track for practice ahead of the $10,000-to-win Limited Late Model event taking place Saturday, December 14.

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Tristan McKee set the fastest time in the first round of practice, at 16.319 seconds around the 4/10-mile oval located in Swansboro, North Carolina. Connor Hall set the quickest lap of the day during the second and final round of practice, clocking in at 16.317 seconds.

Despite multiple wins in his career at Carteret County, and the fastest time of the day, Hall is still searching for speed going into Saturday's race.

“I wish I could say I felt better,” Hall told Short Track Scene's Andy Marquis after the first practice session. “All the motor package rules and whatnot have thrown us for a little bit of a loop. We’re not used to having to run this motor with this much weight on the right. It’s thrown our balance off a little bit from where we normally unload.

"We’re just kind of dealing with a little bit of a learning curve. Haven’t been here in two years, different rule package, trying to get the car to handle better and produce the best racecar we can for tomorrow. I don’t think we’re out of the hunt but I don’t think we’re by any means a shoo-in.”

Dylan Newsome, a two-time track champion at Carteret County Speedway, was third-fastest, followed by Charlie Watson and another two-time track champion in Chris Burns.

Late Models return to the track at Noon on Saturday for qualifying. The top 20 drivers will lock their spots into the 130-lap Christmas Clash feature in that qualifying session. The remaining drivers will compete in a Last Chance Qualifier, with the top four transferring and one more driver receiving a provisional to complete the 25-car field.

Legends competitors were also on track Friday ahead of their feature as part of Saturday's Christmas Clash, with Scotty Benford setting fast time.

Racing begins at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday with the Last Chance races for Limited Late Models and Legends. The Crown Vic feature will follow at approximately 3 p.m. ET, with the Legends then racing for 50 laps ahead of the Christmas Clash 130-lap Limited Late Model main event.

Fans can watch the Christmas Clash live on RacingAmerica.TV. Click here to subscribe and tune in to Saturday's raicng.

-Photo credit: Andy Marquis, Short Track Scene

Christmas Clash Combined Friday Practice Results