Nashville Fairgrounds Music City Showdown Recap for Nelson Motorsports

Bassett, VA - April 13th, 2026

The inaugural CARS Tour race at Nashville Fairground Speedway concluded on Saturday night in front of a sold-out crowd of loyal race fans. For Carson Loftin, piloting the Castrol #22 Nelson Motorsports Late Model Stock, the event was a test of endurance and adaptability on a new track. Despite showing strong pace in practice and flashes of brilliance during qualifying, Carson faced challenges that could only be simulated under true racing conditions.

Strong Practice Speeds Set High Expectations

From the start of the race weekend, Carson Loftin demonstrated impressive speed during practice sessions. The #22 Toyota Camry led by crew chief Kyle Hood constantly got better throughout practice on Thursday, Friday, and even Saturday just before qualifying. The team worked hard to dial in the setup, focusing on balance and tire management, knowing the race would be a long 125 laps.

Carson’s performance in practice set team confidence high. The car responded well in short runs, and the driver was able to push hard without losing control for the long run that was made in the final round of practice on Saturday. At the conclusion of Saturday practice, the Nelson Motorsports #22 sat 6th overall on the combined speed charts from both practice sessions.

Qualifying: A Tale of Two Laps

Qualifying brought mixed results for Carson. His first qualifying lap was one of the best in the field, showcasing the raw speed they found from mocking up early in the day. Unfortunately, the second lap did not go as smoothly, which dropped him down to 18th on the starting grid. While this was not the ideal starting spot, it was still a solid position given the competitive field and the track’s unfamiliarity for many of the drivers.

Starting 18th meant Carson had to work his way through traffic in a hurry as the best opportunity to make up track position would be at the beginning of the race.

Race Start and Early Charge Forward

When the green flag dropped, Carson wasted no time. He quickly began making passes, sticking to the team's plan of gaining track position early before settling into a comfortable position. By the halfway break around lap 60, he had climbed up 7 spots to 11th place.

Carson reflected on this part of the race:

“We drove to 11th the first half, I felt like we were in a decent spot, but just trended free on the long run.”

This comment highlights a key challenge: while the car was fast in shorter runs and consistent in the mid part of a run, it began to lose balance over longer stretches. The term "trended free" means the car became loose, especially on corner exit, making it harder to maintain speed and control.

Halfway Break Adjustments and Challenges

The race featured only two yellow flags, making it a grueling test of endurance and strategy. At the halfway break, the team took the opportunity to refuel and make chassis adjustments aimed at improving the car’s balance for the long run.

After the pit stop, Carson briefly improved his position to 10th, showing the adjustments had some positive effect. However, as the race continued, the car again began to lose forward drive and slipped back to 14th place.

Carson explained the issue clearly:

“I just trended too free on the long runs and lacked forward drive.”

Lessons from the Nashville Debut

The 125-lap race at Nashville Fairground Speedway was a valuable learning experience for Carson Loftin and the Nelson Motorsports team. The long green-flag runs tested the car's capabilities while racing on a tire that's not normal for the CARS Tour. The F45* and ST3* combo will be used at multiple races this year at tracks like North Wilkesboro and Dominion, so gaining notes from Nashville will pay dividends in the overall season campaign.

Looking Ahead to Caraway Speedway

Carson Loftin is already looking forward to the next CARS Tour race on April 25th at Caraway Speedway. This track holds special significance for him, as he has extensive experience and success there in modified racing.

His familiarity with Caraway’s layout and conditions gives him confidence that he can build on from lessons learned at Nashville. The race weekend is scheduled for April 25th, with practice sessions on Friday. Qualifying and the race will take place on Saturday and will be broadcast live on FloRacing.

“I’m really looking forward to Caraway. It’s a track I know well, and I think we can have a great run there.”