By Caleb Whisler, Staff Writer
It was a night of redemption on Saturday evening at Hickory Motor Speedway in the CARS Tour Super Late Model division for Brandon Setzer and his father, Dennis Setzer.
In the tour’s first visit to Hickory back in May, Setzer was battling for the race win with Raphael Lessard in the Cloer Constriction 300. On the white flag lap, Setzer nudged Lessard up the track in Turn One and Two, but Lessard was able to return the favor in Turns Three and Four. During the race, CARS Tour officials penalized Lessard for aggressive driving.
After the checkered fell, Setzer charged to confront Lessard, but was intercepted by his pit crew.
The following week, officials at CARS Tour suspended Brandon and his father from all CARS sanctioned and co-sanctioned events through November 14, 2018, and they were both fined $425 each.
After an appeal, the severity of the penalty was reduced, but Dennis Setzer was still suspended from the infield of the June 9 race at Anderson and tonight at Hickory.
Throughout the Super Late Model Throwback 276 race, Setzer ran in the top-five. For Setzer, the biggest challenges were Bubba Pollard and Preston Peltier. On a restart on lap 84, Setzer was able to pass Peltier to move up into the second position. On lap 106, Pollard fell off the pace due to battery and alternator issues.
In the closing laps of the race, Setzer had to hold off Chandler Smith to ultimately win the race.
“Super special to beat these guys at racing. Preston [Peltier] probably has 15 wins here in a Super and anytime you can beat Bubba Pollard, what does that say? It’s just unreal. In front of the hometown fans. Redemption over last time. Awesome. A lot of fun,” Setzer said in victory lane.
As his son crossed the finish line, Dennis Setzer sat in the stands attempting to go celebrate with his son. Ultimately, CARS Tour director Chris Ragle allowed Setzer through the crossover gate into the infield to celebrate with his son and race team in victory lane
Not only was the win at Hickory meaningful to the Setzer’s, it was also meaningful to many fans in attendance.
Smith finished second while Kodie Conner, Peltier and Jared Fryar rounded out the top-five in the SLM Throwback 276.
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