Mini Tyrrell Wins CARS Tour Wake County Showdown, Snaps Winless Streak

After a winless drought of more than 40 races, Mini Tyrrell returned to victory lane in the zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car Series Saturday night at Wake County Speedway.

Tyrrell led every lap of the Accent Imaging 125 at the Raleigh, North Carolina facility for his second career win in the Late Model Stock Car series, and his first since 2021 at Tri-County Motor Speedway.

On a night full of carnage and tempers with 27 machines crammed onto the tight Wake County Speedway quarter-mile, Tyrrell stayed out front and dominated proceedings after starting on the pole. The win is a monumental one, not just for Tyrrell but for his entire family-operated team as they return to victory lane.

“This one just speaks volumes for this race team,” said Tyrrell. “It’s been a while since we’ve been in victory lane, but I’m just so proud of my team. This one was hard-fought, well-deserved. We’ve been working so hard, we had such a great year last year, we just never could capitalize.

“I’m so happy, I’m so blessed that my family is here. My dad. I can’t say enough nice things about him. He works so hard every single day for me to be able to do this. Working with your best friend seven days a week isn’t easy, but we make due. He’d sell his liver if he had to, to get me here.”

The building blocks for Saturday’s win started one year ago. Despite the win in 2021, Tyrrell and his team struggled throughout the 2022 and 2023 seasons. The Virginia driver focused on consistent finishes to turn his career around in 2024, giving him momentum this year.

“We struggled for two years back-to-back really hard,” explained Tyrrell. “I was at a point in my career too, as a driver, what was I doing wrong? I guess I’m just washed up now.”

“Last year, I was like, look, I’m just gonna come into this season, finish in the top 10, and that’s going to be my goal every race. We did that, we finished with the most top 10s all season long. I just transferred that to this year.”

That perseverance paid off, snapping a 42-race winless drought in the zMAX CARS Tour.

“It definitely is like a big monkey falling off your back. These races are so hard. Just getting the pole this weekend was a win. That was incredible, because it’s just so tight, this field is so tight and every year just becomes more and more competition and more and more cars getting sent home. To be standing here this year, I’m so proud of myself, I’m so proud of my team.”

Connor Hall finished second, with Doug Barnes, Jr., Kade Brown and Landen Lewis rounding out the top five.

The next stop for the zMAX CARS Tour is a brand-new venue for the series, Cordele Motor Speedway in Cordele, Georgia. Both the Late Model Stock Cars and Pro Late Models will take part in the event on April 12, the series’ first visit to the Peach State.

-Photo credit: zMAX CARS Tour

Accent Imaging 125 Unofficial Results