Luke Baldwin Earns First CARS Tour Victory at Orange County

Luke Baldwin added a zMAX CARS Tour Pro Late Model win to his growing resume on Saturday night, winning the 100-lap feature at Orange County Speedway as part of the Folsom Fence Supply 250.

Baldwin piloted the No. 51 Rick Ware Racing entry to an impressive win, with Rick Ware in attendance. Ware made the trek from Charlotte and the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series event at zMAX Dragway, where Clay Millican is competing for the team, to Rougemont, North Carolina and watched Baldwin score the victory.

While the weathered surface at Orange County Speedway has been known at times to test drivers' tire management, Baldwin said he didn't spend much time riding around in Saturday's feature.

"I just drove the wheels off the thing, I feel like," said Baldwin in victory lane. "There wasn't much time where I was riding there. It was pretty free all the way throughout the race, but what's that tell you about a race car? We can be that sideways and still be that fast."

Baldwin took the lead from Tyler Reif on lap 55, shortly before Reif was collected in an incident with Keelan Harvick, ending his race. The victor tipped his cap to Reif for the thrilling battle for the lead.

"The race with Tyler was awesome. That was some of the most fun racing I've ever had in my life. We got a little roughed up at the start, but, you know, that's racing. We bounced back and man, I can't believe it.

"The first race in the car, you know, Rick giving me the opportunity, Rick, Robbie, my dad, everybody at Rick Ware Racing. Giving me this car to drive and letting me do what I need to do with it. It's special to happen here. He hauled tail from the drag strip today to get here and watch it, so it's really cool."

Most of Baldwin's successes to date have come in Modified competition, including three SMART Modified Tour victories. Saturday's win offers a glance at his potential in fendered race cars.

"I've had some decent runs in a full-fendered race car. I always managed to mess it up somehow. I tried to knock the fence down off of four one time when I had a 15-car-length lead. I tried to give it up and the race car was too strong, too good."

Jade Avedisian, the winner of the zMAX CARS Tour season opener at New River All American Speedway, finished second to Baldwin. Still very much a student of the game in pavement competition, she shared that she'll be eager to rewatch Saturday's race to see what changes could have led to a win.

"I feel like I just needed to maintain and work on my first 20 laps," said Avedisian. "I got next to them, but I never really had a run. I feel like maybe I burned my right-rear off just a tiny bit for the end. I've just got to go back and watch, see what I can do better."

Isaac Kitzmiller rounded out the podium, finishing third in the Rackley WAR No. 25. While he was credited with a third-place finish following T.J. DeCaire's disqualifcation at New River, he was happy to park on the frontstretch as the third-place car across the line on Saturday.

"We were a little free in the first half of the race. Then we came down pit road and made an adjustment, and it really helped me. I was able to get past the 6 there and I was able to set sail and get a podium."

Evan McKnight finished fourth, with Jarrett Butcher rounding out the top five.

The next stop for the zMAX CARS Tour is Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, North Carolina. Both divisions of Late Models will be in action on Saturday, May 3.

-Photo credit: CARS Tour

Folsom Fence Supply 250 Pro Late Model Unofficial Results