All Aboard the TK Train: Krawczyk Wins in Richmond
North Star Racing | Richmond Raceway | Race Recap
All aboard the TK Train.
Tyler Krawczyk returned to Richmond Raceway and once again proved that the Virginia short track is one of his best, taking the checkered flag after a strong 250-lap performance.
Krawczyk led 81 laps and stayed near the front throughout the night before pulling away from Cory Mott to score the victory by 0.947 seconds.
Behind them, Zach Thomas Johnson completed the podium, while Alex Rogers and Matthew Boston Wheeler rounded out the top five.
Richmond also produced several different contenders throughout the night. Cory Mott and Vince Mitchell captured the stage victories, Mitchell led a race-high 94 laps, and championship leader Nic Vasquez endured a difficult final stage before finishing 12th.
🚂 All Aboard the TK Train
When Richmond reached its deciding stretch, Tyler Krawczyk was exactly where he needed to be.
Krawczyk started seventh and methodically worked his way toward the front. By the end of the 250-lap race, the No. 48 had led 81 laps and established itself as the car to beat when it mattered most.
Krawczyk crossed the finish line 0.947 seconds ahead of Cory Mott to secure the victory.
It was a complete night for Krawczyk. He collected 16 stage points before finishing the job with the race victory, earning a race-high 72 total points.
Richmond continues to be a special place for Krawczyk, and this time the TK Train left town carrying the trophy.
🏆 Stage 1: Cory Mott Strikes First
Cory Mott opened the night by establishing himself as one of Richmond’s biggest threats.
Mott captured the Stage 1 victory after leading 22 of the opening 60 laps.
Tyler Krawczyk finished second in the stage, followed by Alex Rogers, Caleb Sheets and Nic Vasquez.
It was only the beginning of an excellent night for Mott.
🏆 Stage 2: Vince Mitchell Dominates
If there was one driver who appeared capable of taking control of Richmond, it was Vince Mitchell.
Mitchell dominated Stage 2, leading 46 of 60 laps on his way to the stage victory.
Cory Mott finished second, Alex Rogers took third and Krawczyk remained in the hunt with a fourth-place stage finish.
Mitchell’s speed wasn’t limited to the second stage. He went on to lead a race-high 94 laps, more than any other driver in the field.
Unfortunately for Mitchell, leading the most laps didn’t translate into the finish his speed suggested. He eventually came home eighth.
🔥 Krawczyk Takes Control When It Matters
Mitchell may have led the most laps, but Krawczyk led the ones that mattered most.
After remaining in contention through both stages, Krawczyk emerged as the driver to beat during the final portion of the race.
He ultimately led 81 of the 250 laps and kept Mott behind him through the closing stretch.
When the checkered flag fell, Krawczyk had completed one of his strongest performances of the season.
Margin of victory: 0.947 seconds.
📈 Cory Mott Nearly Completes the Perfect Night
Cory Mott came remarkably close to sweeping the biggest prizes Richmond had to offer.
After winning Stage 1, Mott continued running near the front and led 36 laps during the race.
He ultimately finished second to Krawczyk, but the runner-up result combined with his stage victory made Mott one of the highest-scoring drivers of the night.
Mott collected 54 total points, including a race-high 19 stage points.
With Mott continuing to show more speed as the season progresses, Richmond may be another sign that the No. 54 is becoming a serious threat every week.
🥉 Zach Thomas Johnson Continues His Strong Run
Zach Thomas Johnson didn’t dominate Richmond, but he was there when it counted.
Johnson started 18th and worked his way through the field to finish third, just 1.177 seconds behind Krawczyk.
Moving from 18th to third made Johnson one of the night’s biggest movers and gave him another important result in the championship battle.
At a track where maintaining track position can be incredibly difficult, Johnson’s charge through the field was one of the strongest performances of the race.
🔥 Alex Rogers Charges to Fourth
Alex Rogers continues to make the most of his appearances.
Rogers started ninth, scored points in both stages and finished fourth.
He earned 16 stage points and 49 total points on the night, putting together another performance that showed why he can be a factor whenever he’s in the field.
⭐ Matthew Boston Wheeler Breaks Into the Top Five
One of the biggest surprises of Richmond came from Matthew Boston Wheeler.
Starting 13th, Wheeler steadily moved forward and brought the car home in fifth place.
Wheeler finished all 250 laps and recorded just one incident point, combining speed with one of the cleaner performances in the field.
📉 Difficult Finish for Championship Leader Nic Vasquez
Nic Vasquez looked poised for another strong night early.
Vasquez finished fifth in Stage 1 and sixth in Stage 2, collecting 11 stage points along the way.
But the final portion of the race didn’t go according to plan.
Vasquez slipped to 12th at the finish, one lap behind the leaders.
It was an unusually quiet finish for a driver who has spent much of the season at or near the front, although the stage points helped limit some of the damage.
📊 Richmond Top 10
- Tyler Krawczyk — 81 laps led
- Cory Mott — 36 laps led
- Zach Thomas Johnson
- Alex Rogers
- Matthew Boston Wheeler
- Steven Carlile
- Haden Higginbotham — 1 lap led
- Vince Mitchell — 94 laps led
- Mitch Clark
- Joe Gibbons
🏆 Driver of the Race: Tyler Krawczyk
There were several legitimate contenders for Driver of the Race.
Vince Mitchell led a race-high 94 laps. Cory Mott won Stage 1 and finished second. Zach Thomas Johnson charged from 18th to third.
But there can only be one choice.
Tyler Krawczyk.
Krawczyk started seventh, scored points in both stages, led 81 laps and finished the job with the race victory.
When Richmond reached its most important laps, nobody could get around the No. 48.
All aboard. The TK Train is rolling.
🔑 What Richmond Told Us
Richmond showed that the battle behind the championship leader may be getting even more interesting.
Krawczyk has race-winning speed. Cory Mott continues trending upward. Zach Thomas Johnson remains one of the most consistent threats near the front, and Alex Rogers once again showed tremendous pace.
Meanwhile, Vince Mitchell’s 94 laps led demonstrated that he’s capable of controlling a race even when the final result doesn’t tell the whole story.
And for Vasquez, Richmond served as a reminder that even the championship leader isn’t immune to a difficult night.
📊 Fan Poll
Who impressed you the most at Richmond?
- 🚂 Tyler Krawczyk — Winner and 81 laps led
- 🔥 Cory Mott — Stage 1 winner and runner-up
- 📈 Zach Thomas Johnson — 18th to 3rd
- ⚡ Vince Mitchell — Stage 2 winner and race-high 94 laps led
- 🚀 Alex Rogers — Fourth-place finish and another strong run
Richmond is in the books, and this time there was no stopping the No. 48. All aboard the TK Train — Tyler Krawczyk is a North Star Racing winner.