With
the heat index over 100 degrees the fans slowly filed in to
witness the finale of the 2010 Southern Nationals promoted by
Ray Cook. The race cars hit the track to help prepare the racing
surface which gave way to qualifications.
The Southern Nationals took to the track for qualifying first
with Chris Madden getting the fast time with a lap of 11.118
seconds. The Modified Street class was next and Brad Davis put
his car on the pole with a lap of 13.344 seconds. The Classics
followed the Modified Street Class and Phillip Shockley grabbed
the pole with a time of 14.389 seconds.
The Modified Street class opened the racing action with Brad
Davis jumping to the lead with Robbie Buchanon in tow. The Hortons,
Tony and Jordon were fighting for third. Caution was displayed
on lap 3 for a Richie Carey spin. After the restart, Davis was
hooked up and began to drive away but on lap 8 Leonard Bray
making his first start of the season spun in turn two bringing
out another caution. On the lap 9 restart the top three remained
the same. Tony Horton pressured Buchanon on the low side but
could not clear all the while holding Jordon at bay. On lap
13 an incident involving Allen Holt and Craig Moore on the back
stretch left Moore's car on its top. Both drivers were unhurt
and were able to exchange a few words. The field lined up again
for a restart with the top three still unchanged. Buchanon fell
off the pace on the restart moving Tony Horton up to second
with son Jordon behind him in third. On lap 16 Clyde Overholt
spun in turn two making the field restart once again. Tony got
close to Davis but could not make a pass. "Diamond "
Davis took home his first win of 2010 over a hungry Tony and
Jordon Horton. After the race Brad Davis machine was protested
and took to the cage for technical inspection. Results unofficial.
Modified Street Results:
1 88 Brad Davis
2 56 Tony Horton
3 56H Jordan Horton
4 54 Larry Burke
5 1 Ritchie Carey
6 17 Leonard Bray
7 20 Scott Adkins
8 4 Clyde Overholt
9 P21 Robbie Buchanaan
10 24 Allen Holt
11 6 Craig Moore
12 9 Darrell Saylor
13 66 Punk Henson
Next was the Southern National Feature with Chris Madden and
Billy Ogle Jr. on the front row. Into turn one they charged
with the advantage going to Madden. Ogle slid back to third
behind Jonathan Davenport. Ogle went on the attack in an attempt
to grab second but Davenport was holding his line keeping Ogle
just behind. A caution on lap 12 lined up the ultra fast field
for another restart. Madden moved ahead but the field was slowed
by a spin from Ross Bailes. Just behind the leaders Shane Clanton
and Rick Rogers were making passes trying to get to the front.
Madden loved the high side and was keeping the field in his
dust as Ogle was trying once again to get second by dropping
to the low side of Davenport. Vic Hill liked the low side too
and began pressuring Rogers for fifth. Madden sliced through
traffic well and stayed out front with Davenport still as his
shadow. On lap 42 Davenport took the point away from Madden
in lap traffic and stayed ahead until the last two laps. The
last two laps were as exciting as any race ever seen at the
Taz as Madden and Davenport traded the point several times in
the final two laps. Davenport not only won the race and $ 5,300
but he took home the Southern National series championship.
Madden took second and Ogle third. There was no doubt that the
fans got the most out of the admission tonight as most were
on their feet throughout the final laps of the great feature
race.
Southern Nationals Results:
1 49 John Davenport
2 44 Chris Madden
3 201 Billy Ogle Jr
4 25 Shane Clanton
5 44 Rick Rogers
6 1 Vic Hill
7 4T Tommy Kerr
8 B2 Brian Booze
9 44 Clint Smith
10 28 Jeff Wolfenbarger
11 5 Bryan Hendrix
12 10 Chad Ogle
13 93 Donald Breasher
14 2X John Henderson
15 3 Mike Collins
16 4 Mike Smith
17 87 Ross Bailes
18 O9 Johnny Persley Jr
19 11 Tommy Bailey
20 14 Terry Wolfenbarger
21 3 Steve Smith
22 O Jeff Maupin
23 18m Jeff Smith
24 26 Tony Knowles
25 35 Dennis Barton
26 7 Brian Smith
The Classics were led into turn one by Phillip Shockley and
Logan Dukes. Shockley led lap one but Robbie Sands and Joe Keck
was coming up through the field. On lap 8 Sands was at the rear
of Shockley's car but the high side was quick enough to keep
him ahead until lap 11. Shockley slipped and spun and gave the
lead to Sands. Logan Dukes and Joe Keck were second and third.
The front three remained the same as the laps counted away but
no one on this night would pass "The Rocket" as he
remained up front and took his second win.
Classic Car Results:
1. 17 Robbie Sands
2. 6 Logan Dukes
3. 8 Joe Keck
4. 5 Phillip Sands
5. 28 Adam Engel
6. 13 Adam Hicks
7. 4 Tom Conaway
8. 34 Phillip Shockley
9. 31 Robert Estes
10. 60 Bobby Bohana
11. 2 Ron Rudder
12. 88 Joel Wolfenbarger
Jonathan Miracle and Justin James led the Pure Street field
to the green. Miracle and Kevin Smith began a good battle early
on with Jason Long watching from third place. On lap 6 Justin
James spun in turn 2 bringing out a caution. Miracle rolled
on to the checkered flag with Kevin Smith all over his rear
quarter. Finishing third was Jason Long.
Pure Street Results:
1 41 Johnathan Miracle
2 58 Kevin Smith
3 15 Jason Long
4 12 Michael Daniels
5 28 Buster Cupp
6 27 Gary Harville
7 R2 Brian Osbon
8 28 Justin James
9 77 John Stevens
In the four cylinder feature Joey Allen slid into the lead and
kept it until the very end of the race. Allen thought that there
was a yellow light on display as the race was ending letting
Chuck McMahan by. McMahan took the controversial win over Allen
and Kurt Owens.
Four Cylinder Results:
1 99 Chuck McMahan
2 A00 Joey Allen
3 7Up Kurt Owens
4 97 Steve Wykle
5 A27 Allan Hollaway
6 B7 Bubby Braden
7 2 Mark Wallace
8 28 Anthony Guy
In what will go down as one of the finest Super Late Model races
ever seen at the Tazewell Speedway, Jonathan Davenport took
home a big win and the Southern Nationals title. The fans got
to see a great race and the rest of the program featured exciting
races also. On July 31st the Speedway will host another regular
weekly racing program. One week after that on August 7th the
night will once again belong to the kids as it will be a night
of 10,000 nickels. They will be placed on the front stretch
for the kids to pick up as many as they can as quickly as they
can. Tazewell Speedway thanks all that support the Speedway
on a weekly basis. In addition, the Southern Nationals announced
that they will be back to the Taz in 2011.
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