SOUTH BOSTON, Va. — After passing late model heavy hitters such as Kaden Honeycutt and Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, it was Connor Hall standing in a victory lane overshadowed by fireworks at South Boston Speedway.
Hall charged through the field of the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 Saturday night (June 29) over the course of the 200-lap event after starting 32nd due to a tire change before the race. And with track temperatures cooling from 140 degrees during the day to under 100 degrees under the lights, that played a large factor in tire management.
Still, Hall never used his stuff up while passing 31 cars and taking the trophy in the first leg of the Virginia Triple Crown Series.
“It feels awesome,” Hall told Frontstretch. “It’s kind of a dream come true. I’ve won two of the three legs in the Triple Crown now, and I really, really want to win the Hampton Heat (Larry King Law’s Langley Speedway). “We’re going to go there and try to take care of business, but our eyes are set on the [Martinsville Speedway grandfather clock]. As good as this thing was tonight, we’re going to be in contention both races.”
“Honestly, this feels like a fairytale kind of night. How many nights are you going to win one of the biggest races of the year from the trunk? Don’t get me wrong, I think this is probably one of the best races I’ve driven in my life, but I don’t deserve any of the credit. All of my team and God get all the glory, and I’m just thankful to be the one in the seat.”
The Hampton, Va., native entered the top five shortly after the halfway break on lap 100. As drivers such as Honeycutt, pole winner Kyle Dudley and 2023 ValleyStar 300 winner Trevor Ward traded blows in the second half, Hall quietly snuck into contention.
However, Hall’s speed roared when he edged Ward for the lead just as the yellow flag came out for a pileup in turn 4 that involved top five fixtures Mason Bailey and Mike Looney.
When the race restarted with just over 30 laps to go, Hall briefly lost the lead to Ward, who looked as though he would be able to use the clean air to charge to the win. However, Hall tracked him back down, taking the lead with less than 20 laps remaining and never looking back.
While several of the leaders found speed in the middle groove of the 0.4-mile track, Ward had his tires on the apron to make his charge. When the…
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