Corey Heim has been declared the winner of the zMAX CARS Tour Window World 125 at North Wilkesboro Speedway, as officials have disqualified Treyten Lapcevich for an unapproved part.
“Following the ZMAX CARS Tour presented by SoundGear Late Model Stock Event at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Saturday night, Officials were made aware of an unapproved part on Treyten Lapcevich’s winning Late Model Stock Car No. 77,” reads the series statement.
“Upon further investigation with CARS Tour Technical Officials and the team’s owner, Chad Bryant, it has been verified that the unapproved part was indeed on the car throughout the event. Lapcevich’s team, Chad Bryant Racing, admitted to misinterpreting the rule as it is printed and CARS Tour Management accepted that explanation.
“As a result, Lapcevich has been disqualified and the finishing order will be amended to show second-place, Corey Heim, receiving the first-place payout. The purse distribution for the rest of the finishing order will be adjusted accordingly.”
??????: zMAX CARS Tour Officials have disqualified the No. 77 Late Model Stock of Treyten Lapcevich/Chad Bryant Racing, after discovering an unapproved part following the conclusion of the Window World 125.
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— CARS Tour (@CARSTour) August 6, 2024
Treyten Lapcevich shared his reaction to the disqualification on X following the announcement, insisting there was not a misinterpretation of the rules.
“The news today has obviously come as a shock and surprise which we never would have expected,” said Lapcevich. “I will say, we plan to fight this one out until the end.
“On Saturday, the tech director shook our hands and congratulated us, and on Monday we received a call stating the potential of our disqualification due to something another competitor raised a concern about. I’m at the shop every single day working alongside these guys, and I know what has gone into this. The press release reads as though we misinterpreted the rules, but I will assure everyone that that is a lie.”
The news today has obviously come as a shock and surprise which we never would have expected. I will say, we plan to fight this one out until the end. (1/3)
— Treyten Lapcevich (@TreytenL) August 6, 2024
This marks Heim’s third career victory with the CARS Tour, and his second in the series’ Late Model Stock division. Heim won the 2018 season finale at South Boston Speedway in the former CARS Super Late Model Tour, as well as a 2020 Late Model Stock event at Hickory Motor Speedway. The win is also Heim’s second at North Wilkesboro Speedway this year. In May, the Georgia driver won in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ visit to North Wilkesboro on the eve of the NASCAR All-Star Race.
The victory also marks the second year in a row Lee Pulliam Performance vehicles have won at North Wilkesboro Speedway with the CARS Tour. One year ago, Brenden Queen scored the victory in the Window World 125.
In a separate infraction, the CARS Tour also announced Connor Hall was issued a one-lap penalty for using a tire that was not impounded for the event.
The next event for the zMAX CARS Tour is August 16 at Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, North Carolina. This event was originally scheduled for August 9, but has been postponed one week due to the expected impacts of Tropical Storm Debby.
-Photo credit: Will Bellamy, Racing America
