HICKORY, N.C. — Sixteen-year-old Gio Ruggiero passed NASCAR Cup Series points leader William Byron in the last corner to win Thursday night’s Tar Heel 250 for the ASA STARS National Tour at Hickory Motor Speedway. Ruggiero, who led most of the second stage, talked about the final lap and the move that landed him in victory lane. “That’s not how I wanted to win the race,” Ruggiero said. For Byron, it’s his second-straight runner-up finish with the ASA STARS National Tour after also finishing second in the ECMD 150 at North Wilkesboro Speedway last Wednesday. Byron took the win in the first stage, while Jesse Love was the winner of stage two. Ty Majeski came out the best out of the three, with a fourth-place finish. Casey Roderick finished one lap down in 12th after going into the night as the points leader.

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