Carson Brown Wins Super Late Model at Madison International Speedway
Carson Brown secured his first victory in a Super Late Model at Madison International Speedway during the ASA STARS competition on Friday night. This race marks the beginning of a two-race doubleheader in Wisconsin over the course of three days for the national Super Late Model touring series.
The decisive moment in the 250-lap Capital 250 came on Lap 158, when Brown overtook Gabe Sommers, who had led the race up to that point. Brown credited his successful maneuver to the skills he developed while racing Dirt Late Models for Anthony Campi Racing.
“I really focused on running the top,” Brown explained to Short Track Scene post-race. “Recently, they’ve been applying traction compound, which has significantly improved grip. As a dirt racer, I’m comfortable up there, and I found a way to take advantage of it better than others. Staying up top helped us avoid trouble, and we felt confident with the traction compound.”
Brown further emphasized how his dirt racing background enhances his ability to manage aggression and car control late in the race. “Running on slick dirt has improved my throttle control,” he noted. “I felt like I could charge into turns more aggressively than my competitors, which came naturally to me.”
Meanwhile, championship leader Cole Butcher achieved a second-place finish, largely benefiting from avoiding a crash involving third-place driver Luke Fenhaus, who encountered axle trouble. “I saw a tire flying off, didn’t know what was going on,” Butcher recounted. “I managed to maneuver low and escape without damage, which was fortunate.”
Ty Fredrickson, the son of Midwest Tour veteran Dan Fredrickson, also stood out with a third-place finish. “We made solid adjustments during the second stage, and I had a great long-run car,” he said. “While I couldn’t overtake the 81 car on the last restart, I’m satisfied with our performance and ready to push for more at Slinger on Sunday.”
With this win, Brown slightly closes the gap on Butcher in the championship standings, although Butcher remains focused on race victories rather than points. “I really don’t care about the standings—winning races is my priority,” he stated. “We’ve had some struggles recently, but now we’re looking forward to our next challenge at Slinger.”
