By Robert Walden
BULLS GAP, Tenn. (June 25) – The ever-popular “Fan Appreciation Night” continues to grow at Volunteer Speedway, as it’s the only opportunity of the year for fans to be able to go down into the infield pit area and onto the front straightaway to get up-close looks of the race cars and meet the drivers to receive goodies (bicycles, cash prizes, photos, key chains, driver race cards, buttons, hats, etc.) prior to the evening of racing. And this year’s edition attracted fans in record numbers, as the grandstands were near-packed for an exciting night of racing on the high banks of “The Gap.”
When the checkered flag waved on the 35-lap “Don Smith Ford” Super Late Model feature, Vic “The Thrill” Hill of Morristown parked in familiar real estate – victory lane – and pocketed $2,000 for his fifth consecutive win. Due to the track rule stating that any driver who has won at least three straight feature races can start no better than sixth, even though he set fast-time at 12.990-seconds (110.850 mph) in qualifying, for the second week in a row Hill was relegated to sixth on the starting grid.
From the front row, Kerry Jones and Mark Douglas led the 19-car field to the green. Jones and Douglas raced off into the first turn door-to-door, and behind them the pack fanned out two- and three-wide. Jones got out of shape (sideways) in turn two and Douglas shot-the-gap to take the lead. Completing the opening lap, Douglas was followed by Jones, Jeff Maupin, Herman Goddard and Rick Norris.
Working the second lap, Hill drove around the outside of Norris between turns one and two to grab the fifth spot, and on the opposite end of the track he passed Goddard to move into fourth in the running order. Up front, Jones was pressuring Douglas for the point, and in turn two on the third lap he sped past to pace the field.
While Jones had Douglas breathing down his neck challenging for the lead, Maupin also had his hands full trying to hold off Hill in a battle for third place. Racing off the second turn on the sixth circuit, Hill drove under Maupin for the position. And making quick work of Douglas, the following lap Hill moved up another spot into second with a pass in turn four. With the racing action “fast and furious” all around the track, on lap 9 the event’s first caution waved for a spin in turn two by Dale Ball after contact from behind by Clint Solomon.
The top five on the restart were Jones, Hill, Maupin, Douglas and Norris. With Hill applying pressure to Jones for the point, Travis Greer was also turning up the heat on Norris trying to move into fifth in the running order. Racing off turn two on lap 10, Greer dropped Norris back a spot. And getting a strong run to the inside of Jones heading into the third turn, Hill powered his way into the lead racing off the fourth turn onto the front straightaway. Douglas’ night ended on lap 13 when he slowed to a stop on the high-side of turn four, and the caution waved for the second time.
Back under green, Hill was setting sail out front. The action behind the lead trio of Hill, Jones and Maupin had the fans on the edge of their seats. Greer, Michael Jackson, Norris, Jerry Broyles, Lloyd Osborne, Michael Smith, Greg Burchett, and Tim Frye were engaging in heated battles for position, swapping sheet metal as they wrestled their machines around the high-banked, 4/10-mile oval.
Running down low and carrying his left-front wheel off the ground coming off the corners, Greer was hooked up and hauling. Greer and Jackson got together while racing hard in turn two, but both held on and never cracked the throttle. Greer reeled in Maupin to move into third on lap 15 with a pass behind turns three and four.
He quickly closed upon the rear bumper of Jones to challenge for the runner-up spot. Getting a strong run down the front straightaway into the first turn on lap 17, Greer stayed hard on the gas racing off turn two to grab the position from Jones. Maupin had a rear view mirror full of Jackson, and no longer able to hold him back, Jackson made the pass to move into fourth on lap 20 in turn two.
The yellow appeared for debris on the track in the first turn on lap 23, bunching the field up for a stretch run to the checkers. With Hill being a marked man, Greer hoped to be able to gun him down to win his first-ever Super Late Model feature. With five laps remaining, Greer was sticking the nose of his ride under Hill on both ends of the track racing off the corners, bringing the fans to their feet.
But Hill, driving the Landair Transport Inc./Peterson Fluid Systems/Klushman/Comp Cams/JE Pistons/Brodix/Hoosier Tire South/RaceQuest/Vic Hill Racing Engines/MacDaddy Motorsports/GRT Race Cars/No. 1 Grand Prix, held the hard-charging Greer off by six car lengths at the checkers for his fifth-straight victory. Finishing third through fifth, respectively, were Jones, Norris and Broyles.
Completing the top-10 at the finish were John Tweed, Burchett, Jackie Hughes, Jackson and Frye.
Bobby Mays led the 20-car “Ramey Ford” Limited Late Model field to the green after setting quick time, but Kerry Jones grabbed the lead racing off turn two on the opening lap. The stage was being set for the remaining of the race on the second lap, as Dave Burks of Abingdon, Va., worked under Mays in turn four to take over second place. Burks quickly disposed of Jones to grab the lead, bringing Mays along for the ride into second.
With Mays looking up high and also down low in attempting to overtake Burks for the point the entire race, the leader time-after-time slammed the door shut. Behind the lead duo, battles for position were taking place involving Jones, Brad Kenyon, Allen Champ, Skimp Henry, Scottie Thornton and Kip Pearson. A late race caution waved on lap 21 when Lee Tipton spun between turns one and two, also spinning to avoid Tipton were the cars chauffeured by Jeff Surber and Randy English.
Over the final four laps Mays tried his best to wrestle the lead from Burks, but Burks would not be denied his second feature win of the season as he held off Mays, Henry, Jones and Champ.
Stanley Donahoo grabbed the lead away from Danny James of Newport on lap 9 in the “Lawson Chevrolet” UMP (Open-Wheel) Modified feature and led to the checkers, apparently capturing his third win of the season. But at the scales following the race, Donahoo’s ride failed post race technical inspection, thus moving James up a position for his second victory this year. Finishing behind James were Bobby Edens, Chad Ogle, Wayne James and Jason Bowers.
Newport’s Shawn Henry jumped out to a big lead early in the 20-lap “Allied Home Mortgage” Mini Stock feature, but he had to hold off both Joey Allen and Kurt Owens down the stretch en route to recording his third win of the season. Kenny Absher and Stevie Wykle rounded out the top five at the checkers.
In the most exciting “Bachman Bernard” Hobby Stock feature of the season, you could have thrown a blanket over the top five when the checkered flag waved. R.J. Mayes of Rogersville held off Robert “Monk” Ledford, Todd Brooks, Mike Mays and Jon Cook to capture his second victory.
Scotty McMurray of Kingsport rolled to his first “Renegade” Front Wheel Drive victory over John Bays, Clinton Taylor, Michael Perry and Dana Ferrell.
The Carnesville, Ga.-based Fastrak Champions Series, Late Models running General Motors crate engines, will be making their first-ever appearance at Volunteer Speedway for $5,000-to-win events on Friday and Saturday, July 1-2. Racers are expected to be present from more than 10 different states over the two day period, competing for a total purse approaching $40,000.
Each night’s winner is guaranteed a $5,000 payday, and with contingency bonus monies to be paid out consisting of $1,000 for the Fairway Ford pole award and also another $1,000 awarded by Goodyear tires if the race winner is riding their rubber, it will be possible each night for the race winner to pocket $7,000.
On both Friday and Saturday, a complete Fastrak program consisting of qualifying, heat races, last chance consolation(s) and $5,000-to-win 75 lap features are scheduled. The Hobby Stocks will be the support class on Friday and the UMP (Open-Wheel) Modifieds on Saturday. A lucky fan each night in attendance will win $500, the “Fastrak Fan Award.”
Adult grandstand admission Friday is $12, and on Saturday $15. Pit admission and backside tier-parking nightly is $25. A huge fireworks show will illuminate the skies over “The Gap” on Saturday night.
The Super Late Model, Mini Stock and Front Wheel Drive divisions will take next weekend off. For more information on the July 1-2 racing program, contact the track at (423) 235-5020.
“DON SMITH FORD” SUPER LATE MODEL (35 laps)
1. Vic Hill #1-Morristown, TN
2. Travis Greer #11g-Marion, VA
3. Kerry Jones #6-Bristol, TN
4. Rick Norris #15-Kingsport, TN
5. Jerry Broyles #72-Jonesborough, TN
6. John Tweed #1t-Greeneville, TN
7. Greg Burchett #17-Church Hill, TN
8. Jackie Hughes #27-Johnson City, TN
9. Michael Jackson #Q3-Greeneville, TN
10. Tim Frye #03-Bulls Gap, TN
11. Terry Costner #16-Morristown, TN
12. Jeff Maupin #32w-Greeneville, TN
13. Lloyd Osborne #11-Johnson City, TN
14. Michael Smith #4-Rogersville, TN
15. Mark Douglas #52-Knoxville, TN
16. Clint Solomon #30-Mosheim, TN
17. Dale Ball #2-Johnson City, TN
18. Terry Owens #83-Morristown, TN
19. Herman Goddard #22-Knoxville, TN
“RAMEY FORD” LIMITED LATE MODEL (25 laps)
1) Dave Burks #B1; 2) Bobby Mays #19; 3) Skimp Henry #25; 4) Kerry Jones #14; 5) Allen Champ #11c; 6) Kip Pearson #00; 7) Shane Roberts #17s; 8) Scottie Thornton #T15; 9) Brad Kenyon #98; 10) Wayne Clayton #41; 11) Lee Tipton #2; 12) Jeff Surber #31j; 13) Stephen Martin #46; 14) Randy English #02; 15) Danny Burks #73; 16) Keith Bills #36; 17) Ernie Stuart #31; 18) Hank Hall #117; 19) Brad Partin #1; 20) Kelly Glass #01
“LAWSON CHEVROLET” UMP MODIFIED (25 laps)
1) Danny James #J4; 2) Bobby Edens #71; 3) Chad Ogle #10; 4) Wayne James #4; 5) Jason Bowers #22r; 6) Shannon Emery #95; 7) Sammy Fugate #2; 8) Jamie Harrison #51; 9) Chris Brady #77; 10) Dempsey Harold Jr. #09; 11) Jerry Broyles #72; 12) Brad Dyer #17; 13) Logan Hickey #16; 14) David Wright #39 – Did Not Pass Post Race Inspection: Stanley Donahoo #00
“ALLIED HOME MORTGAGE” MINI STOCK (20 laps)
1) Shawn Henry #25; 2) Joey Allen #A00; 3) Kurt Owens #7up; 4) Kenny Absher #11; 5) Stevie Wykle #97; 6) Allen Carrier #57; 7) James Feathers #27; 8) Ernie Stubblefield #21; 9) Jonathan Ward #77; 10) Frank Dice #44; 11) William Travis #36; 12) Runah Henry #39; 13) Scottie Thornton #T15; 14) Brent Hensley #70 – Did Not Start: Randy Lane #7
“BACHMAN BERNARD” HOBBY STOCK (15 laps)
1) R.J. Mayes #6m; 2) Robert “Monk” Ledford #41; 3) Todd Brooks #1; 4) Mike Mays #30; 5) Jon Cook #0z; 6) Troy Thompson #T12; 7) Dustin Shaver #7; 8) Dale Reed #52; 9) Mark Hawkins #44; 10) Nasty Jones #13; 11) Patrick Flannary #38; 12) Emery Harvey Jr. #74; 13) Chad Garretson #82; 14) Thomas Hutson #4; 15) Chris Gregg #73; 16) Hugh “Wishbone” Scalf #56; 17) Mark Atkins #m20; 18) Lynn Sauceman #7
“RENEGADE” FRONT WHEEL DRIVE (10 laps)
1) Scotty McMurray #18; 2) John Bays #77; 3) Clinton Taylor #22; 4) Michael Perry #69; 5) Dana Ferrell #0$; 6) William Knight #00; 7) Robert Darnell #38; 8) Terry McMurray #19; 9) Kevin Darnell #29; 10) Eddie Smith #8 – DNS: Charlie Gillenwater #10
Volunteer Speedway: (423) 235-5020 www.volunteerspeedway.com
BULLS GAP, Tenn. (June 25) – The ever-popular “Fan Appreciation Night” continues to grow at Volunteer Speedway, as it’s the only opportunity of the year for fans to be able to go down into the infield pit area and onto the front straightaway to get up-close looks of the race cars and meet the drivers to receive goodies (bicycles, cash prizes, photos, key chains, driver race cards, buttons, hats, etc.) prior to the evening of racing. And this year’s edition attracted fans in record numbers, as the grandstands were near-packed for an exciting night of racing on the high banks of “The Gap.”
When the checkered flag waved on the 35-lap “Don Smith Ford” Super Late Model feature, Vic “The Thrill” Hill of Morristown parked in familiar real estate – victory lane – and pocketed $2,000 for his fifth consecutive win. Due to the track rule stating that any driver who has won at least three straight feature races can start no better than sixth, even though he set fast-time at 12.990-seconds (110.850 mph) in qualifying, for the second week in a row Hill was relegated to sixth on the starting grid.
From the front row, Kerry Jones and Mark Douglas led the 19-car field to the green. Jones and Douglas raced off into the first turn door-to-door, and behind them the pack fanned out two- and three-wide. Jones got out of shape (sideways) in turn two and Douglas shot-the-gap to take the lead. Completing the opening lap, Douglas was followed by Jones, Jeff Maupin, Herman Goddard and Rick Norris.
Working the second lap, Hill drove around the outside of Norris between turns one and two to grab the fifth spot, and on the opposite end of the track he passed Goddard to move into fourth in the running order. Up front, Jones was pressuring Douglas for the point, and in turn two on the third lap he sped past to pace the field.
While Jones had Douglas breathing down his neck challenging for the lead, Maupin also had his hands full trying to hold off Hill in a battle for third place. Racing off the second turn on the sixth circuit, Hill drove under Maupin for the position. And making quick work of Douglas, the following lap Hill moved up another spot into second with a pass in turn four. With the racing action “fast and furious” all around the track, on lap 9 the event’s first caution waved for a spin in turn two by Dale Ball after contact from behind by Clint Solomon.
The top five on the restart were Jones, Hill, Maupin, Douglas and Norris. With Hill applying pressure to Jones for the point, Travis Greer was also turning up the heat on Norris trying to move into fifth in the running order. Racing off turn two on lap 10, Greer dropped Norris back a spot. And getting a strong run to the inside of Jones heading into the third turn, Hill powered his way into the lead racing off the fourth turn onto the front straightaway. Douglas’ night ended on lap 13 when he slowed to a stop on the high-side of turn four, and the caution waved for the second time.
Back under green, Hill was setting sail out front. The action behind the lead trio of Hill, Jones and Maupin had the fans on the edge of their seats. Greer, Michael Jackson, Norris, Jerry Broyles, Lloyd Osborne, Michael Smith, Greg Burchett, and Tim Frye were engaging in heated battles for position, swapping sheet metal as they wrestled their machines around the high-banked, 4/10-mile oval.
Running down low and carrying his left-front wheel off the ground coming off the corners, Greer was hooked up and hauling. Greer and Jackson got together while racing hard in turn two, but both held on and never cracked the throttle. Greer reeled in Maupin to move into third on lap 15 with a pass behind turns three and four.
He quickly closed upon the rear bumper of Jones to challenge for the runner-up spot. Getting a strong run down the front straightaway into the first turn on lap 17, Greer stayed hard on the gas racing off turn two to grab the position from Jones. Maupin had a rear view mirror full of Jackson, and no longer able to hold him back, Jackson made the pass to move into fourth on lap 20 in turn two.
The yellow appeared for debris on the track in the first turn on lap 23, bunching the field up for a stretch run to the checkers. With Hill being a marked man, Greer hoped to be able to gun him down to win his first-ever Super Late Model feature. With five laps remaining, Greer was sticking the nose of his ride under Hill on both ends of the track racing off the corners, bringing the fans to their feet.
But Hill, driving the Landair Transport Inc./Peterson Fluid Systems/Klushman/Comp Cams/JE Pistons/Brodix/Hoosier Tire South/RaceQuest/Vic Hill Racing Engines/MacDaddy Motorsports/GRT Race Cars/No. 1 Grand Prix, held the hard-charging Greer off by six car lengths at the checkers for his fifth-straight victory. Finishing third through fifth, respectively, were Jones, Norris and Broyles.
Completing the top-10 at the finish were John Tweed, Burchett, Jackie Hughes, Jackson and Frye.
Bobby Mays led the 20-car “Ramey Ford” Limited Late Model field to the green after setting quick time, but Kerry Jones grabbed the lead racing off turn two on the opening lap. The stage was being set for the remaining of the race on the second lap, as Dave Burks of Abingdon, Va., worked under Mays in turn four to take over second place. Burks quickly disposed of Jones to grab the lead, bringing Mays along for the ride into second.
With Mays looking up high and also down low in attempting to overtake Burks for the point the entire race, the leader time-after-time slammed the door shut. Behind the lead duo, battles for position were taking place involving Jones, Brad Kenyon, Allen Champ, Skimp Henry, Scottie Thornton and Kip Pearson. A late race caution waved on lap 21 when Lee Tipton spun between turns one and two, also spinning to avoid Tipton were the cars chauffeured by Jeff Surber and Randy English.
Over the final four laps Mays tried his best to wrestle the lead from Burks, but Burks would not be denied his second feature win of the season as he held off Mays, Henry, Jones and Champ.
Stanley Donahoo grabbed the lead away from Danny James of Newport on lap 9 in the “Lawson Chevrolet” UMP (Open-Wheel) Modified feature and led to the checkers, apparently capturing his third win of the season. But at the scales following the race, Donahoo’s ride failed post race technical inspection, thus moving James up a position for his second victory this year. Finishing behind James were Bobby Edens, Chad Ogle, Wayne James and Jason Bowers.
Newport’s Shawn Henry jumped out to a big lead early in the 20-lap “Allied Home Mortgage” Mini Stock feature, but he had to hold off both Joey Allen and Kurt Owens down the stretch en route to recording his third win of the season. Kenny Absher and Stevie Wykle rounded out the top five at the checkers.
In the most exciting “Bachman Bernard” Hobby Stock feature of the season, you could have thrown a blanket over the top five when the checkered flag waved. R.J. Mayes of Rogersville held off Robert “Monk” Ledford, Todd Brooks, Mike Mays and Jon Cook to capture his second victory.
Scotty McMurray of Kingsport rolled to his first “Renegade” Front Wheel Drive victory over John Bays, Clinton Taylor, Michael Perry and Dana Ferrell.
The Carnesville, Ga.-based Fastrak Champions Series, Late Models running General Motors crate engines, will be making their first-ever appearance at Volunteer Speedway for $5,000-to-win events on Friday and Saturday, July 1-2. Racers are expected to be present from more than 10 different states over the two day period, competing for a total purse approaching $40,000.
Each night’s winner is guaranteed a $5,000 payday, and with contingency bonus monies to be paid out consisting of $1,000 for the Fairway Ford pole award and also another $1,000 awarded by Goodyear tires if the race winner is riding their rubber, it will be possible each night for the race winner to pocket $7,000.
On both Friday and Saturday, a complete Fastrak program consisting of qualifying, heat races, last chance consolation(s) and $5,000-to-win 75 lap features are scheduled. The Hobby Stocks will be the support class on Friday and the UMP (Open-Wheel) Modifieds on Saturday. A lucky fan each night in attendance will win $500, the “Fastrak Fan Award.”
Adult grandstand admission Friday is $12, and on Saturday $15. Pit admission and backside tier-parking nightly is $25. A huge fireworks show will illuminate the skies over “The Gap” on Saturday night.
The Super Late Model, Mini Stock and Front Wheel Drive divisions will take next weekend off. For more information on the July 1-2 racing program, contact the track at (423) 235-5020.
“DON SMITH FORD” SUPER LATE MODEL (35 laps)
1. Vic Hill #1-Morristown, TN
2. Travis Greer #11g-Marion, VA
3. Kerry Jones #6-Bristol, TN
4. Rick Norris #15-Kingsport, TN
5. Jerry Broyles #72-Jonesborough, TN
6. John Tweed #1t-Greeneville, TN
7. Greg Burchett #17-Church Hill, TN
8. Jackie Hughes #27-Johnson City, TN
9. Michael Jackson #Q3-Greeneville, TN
10. Tim Frye #03-Bulls Gap, TN
11. Terry Costner #16-Morristown, TN
12. Jeff Maupin #32w-Greeneville, TN
13. Lloyd Osborne #11-Johnson City, TN
14. Michael Smith #4-Rogersville, TN
15. Mark Douglas #52-Knoxville, TN
16. Clint Solomon #30-Mosheim, TN
17. Dale Ball #2-Johnson City, TN
18. Terry Owens #83-Morristown, TN
19. Herman Goddard #22-Knoxville, TN
“RAMEY FORD” LIMITED LATE MODEL (25 laps)
1) Dave Burks #B1; 2) Bobby Mays #19; 3) Skimp Henry #25; 4) Kerry Jones #14; 5) Allen Champ #11c; 6) Kip Pearson #00; 7) Shane Roberts #17s; 8) Scottie Thornton #T15; 9) Brad Kenyon #98; 10) Wayne Clayton #41; 11) Lee Tipton #2; 12) Jeff Surber #31j; 13) Stephen Martin #46; 14) Randy English #02; 15) Danny Burks #73; 16) Keith Bills #36; 17) Ernie Stuart #31; 18) Hank Hall #117; 19) Brad Partin #1; 20) Kelly Glass #01
“LAWSON CHEVROLET” UMP MODIFIED (25 laps)
1) Danny James #J4; 2) Bobby Edens #71; 3) Chad Ogle #10; 4) Wayne James #4; 5) Jason Bowers #22r; 6) Shannon Emery #95; 7) Sammy Fugate #2; 8) Jamie Harrison #51; 9) Chris Brady #77; 10) Dempsey Harold Jr. #09; 11) Jerry Broyles #72; 12) Brad Dyer #17; 13) Logan Hickey #16; 14) David Wright #39 – Did Not Pass Post Race Inspection: Stanley Donahoo #00
“ALLIED HOME MORTGAGE” MINI STOCK (20 laps)
1) Shawn Henry #25; 2) Joey Allen #A00; 3) Kurt Owens #7up; 4) Kenny Absher #11; 5) Stevie Wykle #97; 6) Allen Carrier #57; 7) James Feathers #27; 8) Ernie Stubblefield #21; 9) Jonathan Ward #77; 10) Frank Dice #44; 11) William Travis #36; 12) Runah Henry #39; 13) Scottie Thornton #T15; 14) Brent Hensley #70 – Did Not Start: Randy Lane #7
“BACHMAN BERNARD” HOBBY STOCK (15 laps)
1) R.J. Mayes #6m; 2) Robert “Monk” Ledford #41; 3) Todd Brooks #1; 4) Mike Mays #30; 5) Jon Cook #0z; 6) Troy Thompson #T12; 7) Dustin Shaver #7; 8) Dale Reed #52; 9) Mark Hawkins #44; 10) Nasty Jones #13; 11) Patrick Flannary #38; 12) Emery Harvey Jr. #74; 13) Chad Garretson #82; 14) Thomas Hutson #4; 15) Chris Gregg #73; 16) Hugh “Wishbone” Scalf #56; 17) Mark Atkins #m20; 18) Lynn Sauceman #7
“RENEGADE” FRONT WHEEL DRIVE (10 laps)
1) Scotty McMurray #18; 2) John Bays #77; 3) Clinton Taylor #22; 4) Michael Perry #69; 5) Dana Ferrell #0$; 6) William Knight #00; 7) Robert Darnell #38; 8) Terry McMurray #19; 9) Kevin Darnell #29; 10) Eddie Smith #8 – DNS: Charlie Gillenwater #10
Volunteer Speedway: (423) 235-5020 www.volunteerspeedway.com
