It's been more than 600 days since Mini Tyrrell and the #81 Mini T's Fastest Grease In The East team raced at Orange County Speedway. After the Old North State Nationals shifted to South Carolina amidst coronavirus restrictions in 2020, the CARS Tour returns to the 3/8-mile track in Rougemont, N.C. with a $30,000 payday awaiting the winner.

"I'm excited to get back to Orange County Speedway for the Old North State Nationals," Mini said. The prize money and prestige of the 200-lap race brings a venerable lineup of drivers to the annual event. "There will be some great drivers and teams participating and I can't wait to try and win $30,000," he added.

A lot has changed for the driver in the 600-day span between visits to Rougemont. Consider that Mini was a 14-year-old rookie on the CARS Tour when the series last raced at Orange County. The now 16-year-old driver will make his 25th career CARS Tour start on Sunday, which is the 16th highest total in CARS Tour history. By the end of the 2021 season, Mini will move into the top-10 for all-time CARS Tour starts.

It's been more than a month since Mini has been at a racetrack. He started the season with a 17th place finish at Dillon Motor Speedway, and followed that with a 7th place effort at Hickory Motor Speedway. The Old North State Nationals begins a hectic stretch of 5 CARS Tour races in a span of 8 weeks through mid-June.

LOGISTICS:
● Event: CARS Tour Late Model (200 laps / 75 miles)
● Date/Time: April 25. Green flag: Approx 3:10 pm/et
● Location: Orange County Speedway. Rougemont, N.C.
● Layout: .375-mile oval
● Banking: 19 degrees (turns), 16 degrees (straights)

PAINT SCHEME:
The #81 Mini T's Fastest Grease In The East Late Model will be decked in a base white with red numbers at Orange County Speedway.

OC HISTORY:
In April 2019, Mini started 28th in the Old North State Nationals after gaining the final transfer spot in the Last Chance Qualifying race. He patiently worked his way through traffic to finish 8th. In August 2019, he qualifed a strong 5th but was swept up in a crash on lap 3. He came to pit road to repair the damage and rallied for an 11th place finish.

RANDOM STAT:
Layne Riggs and Bobby McCarty are the only drivers who've started every race during Mini's CARS Tour career, which began in November 2018.

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS:
Mini and the #81 team are thankful for support from Convenience Tire and Auto, Quaker State, Solid Rock Carriers, Absolutely Amish Structures, and BDL Motorsports. Thank you Rayvon Clark/Clark's Automotive Race Engines, Hedgecock Racing Enterprises, and Grafix Unlimited for your support.

MINI'S ON-TRACK SCHEDULE:
Friday, April 23
Practice: 3:00-4:00 pm, 4:15-4:45 pm, 5:00-6:00 pm
Saturday, April 24
Practice: 12:45-1:15 pm, 1:30-2:00 pm
Qualifying: 5:30 pm
Heat Races (25 Laps): 7:15 pm
Sunday, April 25
Green flag: Approx 3:05 pm
Watch: CARSTour.tv

CONNECT WITH MINI:
Website: www.minityrrell.com
Facebook: Mini Tyrrell
Twitter: @MiniTyrrell
Instagram: Mini Tyrrell

CONTACT TIMMY TYRRELL RACING:
Owner: Timmy Tyrrell