East Burke High student competes at Florence Motor Speedway

This has been a busy week for Burke County race car driver Landon S. Huffman, and he'll end it with a full weekend schedule, pulling double duty in the No. 28 Chevrolets fielded by Pinnacle Racing Group.

The 17-year-old from Connelly Springs started his senior year at East Burke High School on Monday ahead of two races this weekend. The double-duty weekend will see him make his CARS Tour debut at Florence Motor Speedway in South Carolina on Friday night before returning to his home track of Hickory Motor Speedway for the Bobby Isaac Memorial race on Saturday night. Huffman is scheduled to head down to Florence on Thursday morning to begin preparations for his CARS debut in the 125-lapper in the late model stock car division.



Thursday's schedule includes five hours of open practice from noon to 5 p.m. while Friday's slate includes another practice from 12:15-12:35 p.

m., final practice from 1:05-1:25 p.m.

, qualifying at 4:45 p.m. and the Cook Out 225 at 8:45 p.

m. "I've been looking forward to this weekend for a while," Huffman said. "(I'm) making my CARS Tour debut on Friday at Florence Motor Speedway, then heading to Hickory Motor Speedway on Saturday for the Bobby Isaac Memorial.

It definitely makes for a busy week at the shop getting both cars ready, but (crew chief) Steven (Civitarese) has everything in good shape. "Competing in the CARS Tour with the best late model drivers in the county has been my goal all year and I'm beyond thankful to PRG for giving me this opportunity and all the support from (primary sponsor) Knight's Companies, as well. Florence is one of my favorite tracks and having Knight's Companies there to watch just motivates me that much more to have a successful first outing in the CARS Tour.

" Before the late model stock car feature at Florence, the CARS Tour will hold a 100-lap pro late model race at 7:30 p.m. with a field that includes 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick.

Saturday's action at Hickory is highlighted by the 150-lap late model feature of the 50th annual Bobby Isaac Memorial. Late models will practice from 2:40-2:55 p.m.

and again from 3:35-3:50 p.m. Qualifying for all divisions begins at 5 p.

m. Racing begins at 7 p.m.

with a 50-lap limited late model race, followed by a 15-lap school bus race, a 35-lap super truck race, the 150-lap late model race, a 30-lap street stock race and a 100-lap Carolina Pro Late Model race. Huffman already has a couple wins under his belt at Hickory this season and will seek another in the track's biggest race of the year on Saturday. Justin Epley can be reached at jepley@morganton.

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