- Nelson Motorsports
- Mar 2
- 3 min read
Carson Loftin Races from 17th to 5th at Southern National Motorsports Park CARS Tour Opener
Bassett, VA - March 2nd, 2026
Carson Loftin’s performance at the Southern National Motorsports Park during the CARS Tour opener on Saturday was a clear display of skill, patience, and confidence in the equipment that Nelson Motorsports had prepared for him. Starting from 17th, Loftin steadily climbed through the field in a 125-lap race, ultimately finishing in a strong 5th place. His ability to maintain consistent speed and make smart decisions on the track made him one of the fastest cars during the long runs.
Starting Position and Early Strategy
Carson Loftin began the race in 17th place after qualifying with his Towne Bank #22 Toyota Camry for Nelson Motorsports. While this was not the ideal starting spot, Loftin remained confident in his car’s performance. He focused on pacing himself during the early laps, knowing that patience would be key to moving forward in the field.
By lap 43, Loftin had already broken into the top 10. This steady progress was a result of careful driving and a car that improved as the race went on. His approach avoided unnecessary risks early, allowing him to conserve his car’s potential for the later stages.
Climbing Into the Top Five
Loftin’s steady climb continued, and by lap 87, he had reached the top five. This was a critical point in the race where maintaining speed and managing tire wear became essential. According to Loftin, the car felt better as the laps passed, which helped him keep pace with the leaders.
His ability to stay consistent and avoid mistakes during this phase showed the strength of his team’s preparation, especially considering they had limited practice time on Saturday. The effort put into the car’s setup clearly paid off.
The Late-Race Restart Challenge
One of the most exciting moments came with a late-race restart, where Loftin lined up on the outside of the front row with about 10 laps remaining. This was his first time running near the top of the track all night, and he knew it was a chance he couldn’t pass up.
Loftin explained that the track favored the bottom groove, making it difficult to gain ground on the outside. Although he tried to be aggressive, he ended up getting “hung out” on the outside line and dropped back a few positions, finishing 5th.
This moment highlighted the challenge of track position and lane choice on a bottom-dominant track like Southern National Motorsports Park. Loftin’s decision to take the outside was bold, but the track conditions favored those who stayed low.
Insights from Carson Loftin
When asked about starting deeper in the field, Loftin shared:
“After qualifying 17th, I still felt really confident in our car. I knew we had the speed and race pace, so my main focus was just being patient and pacing myself early in the race so we’d have something at the end. As the race went on the car kept getting better and we were able to slowly work our way forward. Looking back, there are definitely a couple things I wish I could’ve done a little differently that might’ve put us in a better position to contend for the win, but overall it was a solid night going from 17th up to 5th. It says a lot about the effort and preparation this whole team put in with a limited practice on Saturday.”
Regarding the late restart and his choice to take the outside line, he said:
“When I lined up on the front row for that second to last restart with about 10 to go, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. It was actually my first time up top all night, and on a track that’s so bottom dominant, it’s tough to get anything going up there. I probably could’ve been a little more aggressive, but I ended up getting hung out on the outside and fell back to fifth.”
What This Race Means for Loftin and the Team
This race demonstrated Loftin’s ability to stay disciplined as a driver on demanding track surfaces while overcoming a deep starting position to still deliver a strong finish.
The experience gained from this race will be valuable for future events on similar tracks such as Anderson Motor Speedway, Langley Speedway, and other high-wear tracks. Loftin’s reflections on what he could have done differently indicate a driver eager to learn and improve.
Next On the Schedule
The next CARS Tour race is scheduled for March 28th at the bullring of Wake County Speedway. Carson and the entire Nelson Motorsports team are looking to build off the strong start to the year with another big run in Raleigh.
