Heartbreak at Wake County Speedway for Carson Loftin

Bassett, VA - April1st, 2026

Carson Loftin showed impressive speed all weekend at Wake County Speedway, driving the Towne Bank sponsored Nelson Motorsports #22 Toyota. Despite a strong showing in practice, qualifying did not go as planned. The 175-lap race started with promise, but an unexpected electrical issue forced a long pit stop that took him out of contention to find Victory Lane for the first time in his Late Model Stock career.

Strong Practice Performance and Qualifying Challenges

Carson Loftin entered the weekend with momentum, maintaining in the top 5 speeds during practice. His pace showed the potential for a strong race day. Unfortunately, qualifying did not reflect this where his comfort level ended in practice. A few mishaps during qualifying dropped him to 17th on the starting grid. This setback meant Carson would have to work hard to move up through the field during the long race.

A Promising Start Halted by an Unexpected Electrical Issue

When the green flag dropped for the 175-lap race, Carson wasted no time. He began picking off competitors one by one, demonstrating the speed that had been evident in practice. By lap 30, he had climbed to 13th place, positioning himself well for a strong finish.

Just as momentum was building, disaster struck. Under a yellow flag, the car suddenly shut off and would not restart. This forced Carson to bring the car to pit lane where the Nelson Motorsports crew immediately began diagnosing the problem. After a thorough check, the team identified a faulty master power switch as the cause. This issue cost valuable time and dashed hopes for another top 5 finish to start the season.

Despite the setback, the crew worked efficiently to repair the electrical problem. Once back on the track, Carson’s speed was impressive. He matched the pace of the race leaders, showing no signs of slowing down. Unfortunately, being 35 laps down due to the lengthy repair meant a strong finish was out of reach.

A Heartbreaking but Safe Finish

The race itself was chaotic, with multiple wrecks and incidents throughout. Carson was fortunate to avoid involvement in these incidents. The only damage to the #22 Toyota was a caved-in back bumper, caused by a push four-wheeler during the electrical issue. Despite the heartbreak, finishing the race without any damage and lots of speed was a small victory.

"I feel like we were going to put ourselves in a really good spot to contend for a win in the end and just had bad luck, but I'm super proud of these Nelson Motorsports guys. I feel like we had a really good car there."

Looking Ahead to Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway

The next stop for the CARS Tour is Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. This event marks the first time the series will race at this historic track. The race weekend is scheduled for April 11th, with practice sessions on Thursday and Friday. Qualifying and the race will take place on Saturday and will be broadcast live on FloRacing.

This new venue presents fresh challenges and opportunities for Carson Loftin and the Nelson Motorsports team. After the tough break at Wake County, they will be eager to show their speed on a new track that Carson had never seen before.