On April 12, 2025, Cordele Motor Speedway thrummed with raw energy, its 3/8-mile oval bathed in Georgia’s humid night air. Fans leaned forward, eyes locked on Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s everyman hero, as he fired up his No. 8 for the CARS Tour’s first dance at Cordele. This wasn’t just a race—it was Jr.’s heart on display, his fight to keep short tracks alive. But when the dust settled, it was JR Motorsports’ Connor Hall, not Dale Jr., who conquered the night, outrunning 21-year-old phenom Mini Tyrrell in a finish that left everyone breathless.
With no NASCAR races scheduled for the Hall of Famer, the only place where he was going to race this season was in the Late Models. Well, it’s fair to say that those in the grandstands surely got their money’s worth at the inaugural race at Cordele. Although watching Dale Jr. in action on the track was huge, it was the thrilling battle between Hall and Tyrrell for the win that stood out the most.
Short track chaos gets the better of Dale Jr. at Cordele Motor Speedway
Dale Jr.’s day started strong. He qualified eighth, a spark of hope for a competitive run. “He keeps moving forward; to P8,” Matt Weaver posted on X mid-race, capturing the crowd’s growing excitement. But that hope turned to heartbreak on a late race restart as the yellow fever kept on interrupting green lap runs. The No. 8 JRM Chevy had a good launch on the restart with 8 laps to go, but Carson Loftin stacked up the entire inside lane, and Jr. just rammed into the back of the #22 car. The JRM co-owner finished the race in 21st spot.
As Junior’s night faded, the spotlight swung to Connor Hall and 21-year-old Mini Tyrrell. Their duel was electric, a clash of grit and raw talent. Tyrrell started the race on the pole and led 80 laps, and this is what forced Hall into finding a different strategy to get past him on the Georgia track. He opted to run the high line until he got into the back bumper of Mini’s cars, and from there on, the two drivers tussled all the way to the finish line.
“I’m really glad we did. It was just a completely different race car once we moved up. I was just pretty committed to the bottom with how many lower-grip race tracks we try to manage tires at. Usually, it’s straight in on the bottom; straight off on the bottom is what is best. Mini was definitely making some time up there, so once I got clear, I was like, yeah, I should probably try this. Fortunately, it worked out for us.” Connor Hall said after the race.
Dale Jr pulled in late and this damage is why pic.twitter.com/NzjCyrXvvB
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) April 13, 2025
“For me, this season is just about execution and becoming, and I know I’m not a rookie, but I don’t feel like I’ve gained that super savvy veteran status,” Hall said before joining JRM’s Late Model program this season. The two-time NASCAR Weekly Series National Champion is keen on adding the CARS Tour title to his bag, and the win at Cordele is a step in the right direction.
“I’m so thankful to Dale and his family, Kelley and L.W. [Miller] for giving me the opportunity to drive this race car. This is all I’ve ever wanted to do. I’m trying to make the most of it… This one’s pretty big. I feel like we really had to earn that one 15 times. I was really happy to see the checkered flag.” He added.
While Jr. didn’t have the finish he was hoping for, he seems to be making all the right moves off the race track. And his latest move might
Dale Jr. is doing everything to keep his vision afloat
Only recently, NASCAR’s throwback weekend became a huge topic of discussion. A few drivers like Chase Elliott, William Byron and Bubba Wallace felt that the throwback schemes had lost their luster. But, there was a swift backlash from the NASCAR community along with veteran drivers like Kevin Harvick. While the Darlington throwback is going through its transition phase, Dale Jr.’s zMAX CARS Tour are staging their biggest ever race.
The Throwback Classic presented by Flo Racing at the Hickory Motor Speedway will feature the biggest purse in pavement late model racing history. $50,000 will be awarded to the winner of the late model race, and the starters will receive $2,500, whereas the Pro late model winner will bag $30,00 and those starting the race will be handed $1,500. In total, the entire event’s purse will feature a purse of more than $200,000.
“I’m excited. It’s got the potential to grow into something better. Hickory is a great historic racetrack, and we need it to embrace what this event could become. And hopefully everything goes really well, and when the race is over and everything’s done, everybody’s pleased with the whole thing.” Dale Earnhardt Jr. said in an interview. Perhaps NASCAR should take notice of this and do something about the payout offered to drivers in the Xfinity and Truck series races.
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