ESTES TAKES TAZEWELL LATE MODEL WIN

April 20, 2013 - Despite the cool temperatures Tazewell Speedway fans were treated to some the best racing of the season.

Modified Street were first up in their 20 lap feature. Gary Blanken of Morristown was looking to score his third win in a row as he set fast time with a lap of 13.372 seconds, with Robbie Buchanan and Michael Boyd qualifying second and third. With the invert draw Boyd would take the pole position sharing the front row with Buchanan. Buchanan quickly jumped into the lead while Boyd got pressure from Blanken for second. On lap four Blanken spun on his own in turn two and would restart at the tail of the field. Buchanan would lead the field back to the restart followed by Boyd, David Clark, Brad Davis and Tony Horton. Davis and Horton would tangle on the front stretch on lap six sending both cars to the rear. This moved Blanken back up into fifth and he immediately started putting pressure on Clyde Overholt for the fourth spot. By lap nine Blanken had passed Overholt and moved passed Clark for third. With the laps winding down Blanken set his sights on Boyd. On lap ten Blanken dove low in turn four alongside Boyd but had to check up to avoid colliding with Boyd. Up front it was Robbie Buchanan in the Petty's Wrecker Service, Sign Center, Christian Construction, O.T.'s Frame and Body Shop, Robbie and Son Auto Sales Monte Carlo leading every lap for his first win of the season.

Modified Street Results
1. P21 Robbie Buchanan
2. 52 Michael Boyd
3. 1 David Clark
4. 4 Clyde Overholt
5. 88 Brad Davis
6. 5 Gary Blanken
7. 56 Tony Horton
8. 7 Jesse Helton
9. 56h Jordon Horton

The 4 Cylinder feature lined up by blind draw with last year's points champion Bubby Braden alongside Hayston Collett on the front row. Braden would take the early lead with Josh Fields, making his first appearance of the season, coming from the fourth starting spot to challenge for the lead. Fields would take the lead away from Braden on lap two. By lap three Chuck McMahan worked his way up from deep in the field into the third position and on lap five took over the second spot. Fields had built a comfortable lead in the early going but by lap eight McMahan was on his back bumper. On the last lap the duo made contact battling for the lead in turn four. Fields went sliding down the front stretch with McMahan holding on for his second victory of the season in Lowes Auto Parts, West Haven Speed Equipment, Jim Ford Auto sponsored Ford Mustang.

4 Cylinder Results
1. 99 Chuck McMahan
2. B7 Bubby Braden
3. 14 Chad Manning
4. 44J Jeromy Collins
5. 19 Travis Dawson
6. 38 James Collett Jr.
7. 11 Josh Fields
8. 72 Rufus Collett
9. 007 Hayston Collett
10. 13 John Collett
11. 21 Chris Reichert
12. 111 Randy Dyke

Greg Estes of Jonesville, VA set fast time in the Tazewell Late Models with a lap of 11.921 seconds with Mark Leach of Powell qualifying second. Estes jumped out to the lead quickly followed by Leach, Jason Trammell, Brent Hensley and Josh Henry. On lap four Leach slipped up high in turn two allowing Trammell to take over the second spot. Leach and Henry put on a show for the fans as they battled door to door and through lap traffic for the third position. On lap eighteen Leach would suffer steering problems ending his night. Up front Estes had no problems in picking up his first win of the season in the Powell Valley National Bank, Estes Construction, Boones BP, South-West Insurance, Vic Hill Racing Engine powered Warrior Race Car.

Tazewell Late Models Results
1. 31 Greg Estes
2. 90J Jason Trammell
3. B00 Josh Henry
4. 11 Anthony Arnwine
5. 56 Jody Horton
6. 70 Brent Hensley
7. 45 B.J. Morris
8. 22 Matthew Holt
9. G71 Billy Gordon
10. 17 Brian Shockley
11. 22 Mark Leach
12. 24Andy Wilder
DNS 21 Brian Howerton

The Sportsman Division was created this season for up and coming drivers as well as budget minded teams. Keith Chapman, a two-time winner this season, took quick time honors with a lap of 12.837 seconds. Justin Beeler, an up and coming racer from Knoxville, qualified second with James Parrott in third. The invert draw would put Parrott on the pole alongside Beeler. Beeler took the early lead followed by Parrott, Chapman, Jerry Hux and Johnny Bales. Parrott would spin on his own in turn four before the second lap was completed. On lap five Derrick Shockley got sideways coming out of turn two coming down right in the path of Parrott. Shockley's night was over yet Parrott was able to continue. Using the experience he has gained in the past two seasons, Beeler would lead every lap to score his first ever victory in the Thomas Beeler Construction, Lane's Lawn Care, Tazewell Chiropractic Center, J.T. Kerr Racing Equipment, H2O Plumbing, Competition Racing Equipment sponsored Stinger Race Car. In Victory Lane Beeler dedicated his first win to his mother who pass away three years ago.

Sportsman Results
1. 25 Justin Beeler
2. 97 Keith Chapman
3. 01 Jerry Hux
4. 29 Chris Raines
5. 8 Larry Moore
6. 10 James Parrott
7. 1 Johnny Bales
8. 2C Ryan Coppock
9. 46 Derrick Shockley

Coming into Saturday night's racing Steve Smith was looking to make it four in a row in the Pure Street division. He would set fast time and earn the pole position with the invert draw. At the drop of the green it looked like Smith would perform a four-peat as he jumped out to a comfortable lead over Jason Long, Daniel Carpenter, Jonathan Miracle and Justin James. On lap eleven bad luck would strike Smith as his car would belch smoke and oil down the back stretch and into turn three. This would give the lead over to Jason Long, the 2010 Pure Street Champion, who would lead the remaining laps for his first win of the season in the Cuz Customs, Morristown Towing and Automotive Monte Carlo.

Pure Street Results
1. 15 Jason Long
2.26 Jonathan Miracle
3. 12 J.J. Green
4. 2 Steve Smith
5. 92T Travis Crosby
6. C5 Daniel Carpenter
7. 11 Toby Turner
8. 28 Justin James
9. 5 Jason Saylor
10. 19 Scottie Atkins
DNS 11 Tim Stevens

The action didn't stop with the last feature of the evening. Last year's Classic Car points champion Shane Lockhart would start on the front row along with Eli Keck. Keck would move into the early followed by Lockhart, Daris Breeding, Charlie Tharp, and Joel Wolfenbarger. By lap four Tharp would charge his way into second. Keck and Tharp put on a show for the fans as they battled door to door for several laps of good clean racing. In the end it was Eli "Push Rod" Keck picking up his first win of the season in the Fat Boyz Racing, Maynardville Muffler Center, Inskip Barber Shop, Crossroad Motors, Eddie's Auto Parts, Hot Rod's Paint and Body sponsored Ford Sedan.

Classic Cars Results
1. 18 Eli Keck
2. 20 Charlie Tharp
3. 7 John Stevens
4. 1 Shane Lockhart
5. 44 Daris Breeding
6. 13 Joel Wolfenbarger
7. 3 Jason Beeler
8. 8 Greg McCloud

This Saturday night April 27th we proudly welcome back the World of Outlaws Late Model Series for the Outlaw Sizzler 50 sponsored by Tri-State Tire and Auto of Middlesboro, KY. The nation's best dirt late model drivers will try and tame the high banks of the Bad Fast Tazewell Speedway for the $10,000 prize. Also in action will be our Modified Street, Pure Street, 4 Cylinder and Classic Car divisions. Pit gates will open at 3:00. Main grandstands will open at 4:00. General admission will be $26. Pit admission will be $38. For more information visit www.TazewellSpeedway.net or www.WOOLMS.com.