With a second consecutive NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly national championship well within reach, it was becoming inevitable Connor Hall would make a leap into one of NASCAR’s three premier national series.
Hall, 27, will do so on Saturday night when he drives for McNally-Hilgemann Racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ Clean Harbor 250 at Richmond Raceway. The green flag drops at 7:30 p.m. for the race, which will air on Fox Sports 1.
“It’s dream come true to race in a (NASCAR) national series,” said Hall, who will be competing at Richmond Raceway for the first time. “I’ve driven Richmond on the (McNally-Hilgemann) simulator, and it fits me good as a driver because it fits well with what we do on the Late Model side.
“We should do good.”
Hall has been more than good on the Late Model side. Driving for Nelson Motorsports, he leads the CARS Tour and is in first place for the Virginia Triple Crown after two of three races, in addition to his seemingly commanding lead in pursuit of that second consecutive national crown.
It figures all of that success would draw attention from a national series owner. It didn’t hurt that highly regarded Chad Bryant, who has mentored and guided Hall through much of his Late Model touring career, set up his meeting with Bill McNally.
McNally owns the truck of Christian Eckes, who currently tops the Truck Series standings, so Hall will be debuting with a top-notch team. Eckes is one of a number of friends Hall is turning to for advice on what to expect in Saturday’s truck race.
Another advisor is Nick Payne, the spotter for Tyler Reddick, who sits third in the NASCAR Cup standings.
“Nick spotted for me early in my career, before he got big and famous,” Hall said. “In addition to the (McNally-Hilgemann) simulator, I’ve had pit-stop practice with the team, so I feel confident.”
Hall, a Hampton native, is the second former champion from Langley Speedway to make his debut in the Truck Series in the past three months. Brenden “Butterbean” Queen of Chesapeake surged from 29th in the field in the final 100-plus laps to finish fourth in the Wright Brand 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina.
That earned Queen a feature from NASCAR.com, launching a blitz of publicity for the two drivers that hasn’t abated. Hall struck next, winning a thrilling three-way finish in the CARS Tour race at Langley Speedway that prompted a flurry of posts on X from Dale Earnhardt Jr. and other well-known NASCAR names.
Queen drew more national attention by winning the Hampton Heat 200 at Langley, a race in which Earnhardt finished fifth. Now Hall, featured on NASCAR.com after landing the Richmond ride with McNally-Hilgemann, has a shot at more national acclaim.
His goal is to finish at least in the top 10, but, more than that, he wants to impress the McNally-Hilgemann team in his biggest race to date.
“I think if we go out and execute, get on and off pit road successfully and not be taken out by penalties, I’ll make the most of this opportunity,” Hall said. “It’s all about limiting mistakes.”
Marty O’Brien, mjobrien@dailypress.com
