Scott Bloomquist made the short trip over Clinch Mountain from his shop in Mooresburg, TN to tackle the high banks of Tazewell Speedway on Saturday night for the finale of the Schaeffer’s Southern National Series 2016 tour finale. Bloomquist would set fast time and lead every lap of the fifty-three feature for the $10,000 top prize and score his first Southern Nationals victory. Indiana’s Devin Gilpin would be crowned the series champion and take home $5,300 or his efforts.
Twenty-five drivers signed in with Bloomquist almost breaking his own track qualifying record with a blistering lap of 10.983 seconds in Group A with Craig Vosbergen of Perth, Australia turning in the fastest time in Group B with a lap of 11.285 seconds. Heat races would be won by Bloomquist, Canada’s Ricky Weiss, Vosbergen and Gilpin which set the top four starting spots.
From the drop of the green Bloomquist took the point as Vosbergen, Weiss, Gilpin and David Payne gave chase. The night would belong to the current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points leader as he lead every lap of the event in dominating fashion for his second big payday of the year at the 1/3 mile speedplant piloting the Crop Production Services, Reece Monument Company, Dyna-Gro Seed, Base Fuels, Lucas Oil, Sweet Mfg., Horton Coal, Hoosier Tires, Sorbera Chiropractic and Petroff Towing sponsored Bloomquist Race Car with power from a Durham Race Engine.
Schaffers Southern Nationals Series
1. 0 Scott Bloomquist
2. 8V Craig Vosbergen
3. 1G Devin Gilpin
4. 1 Vic Hill
5. 28 Jeff Wolfenbarger
6. 7 Donald McIntosh
7. 10 Chad Ogle
8. 50 Shanon Buckingham
9. 11 Tommy Bailey
10. 21M Robby Moses
11. 21K Dakotah Knuckles
12. 7S Brian Smith
13. 8 David Payne
14. 11B Stacy Voles
15. 7W Ricky Weiss
16. 31 Kenny Cobble
17. 21 Ivedent Lloyd
18. 63 Josh Collins
19. 45 Doug Smith
20. T0 Travis Fultz
21. 56H Jordon Horton
22. 7O Billy Ogle Jr
Matt Tharp survived a collision with a lap car and lead every lap to score the $1,000 to win Sportsman feature. Clyde Overholt of Tazewell would set quick time with a record-breaking lap of 11.866 seconds in qualifying to earn the pole for the twenty lap race. Starting on the outside of the front row Tharp used the preferred outside line to shove his way into the lead on the first lap. Behind him Overholt was left to fend off Cody Smith, Andy Ogle and Kyle Courtney. On lap nine Courtney, in only his second Sportsman start at The Taz, pulled alongside Ogle to challenge for fourth. Courtney would take over the spot two laps later.
The scariest moment of the race came on lap twelve as Brian Howerton got loose in turn four right in front of the leaders. Tharp and Overholt would both collide with Howerton’s car with Tharp suffering heavy right side body damage and Overholt going pit side with a flat right rear tire. After the track was cleared Tharp would be able to continue and Overholt would rejoin the field. On the restart the second generation driver known as The Luttrell Leadfoot would once again set sail for his second win of the season in the Satterfield Truck Service, Axis Custom Decals, Jovida Enterprises, DJ’s Performance Engine powered GRT Race Car.
Sportsman
1. 35 Matt Tharp
2. 11 Cody Smith
3. 50M Jonathan Miracle
4. 171 Kyle Courtney
5. 101B Bradley Lewelling
6. 3 Michael Boyd
7. 7 Matthew Smith
8. 25 Eric Webber
9. 28 Randy Davis
10. 54 Mitchell Burke
11. 68 Andy Ogle
12. 4 Clyde Overholt
13. 24 Andy Wilder
14. K5 Nick Kniat
15. 5 Josh Chesney
16. 21 Brian Howerton
17. 50 Rick Welch
18. 79 Josh Sneed
19. 3 Mark Philpot
20. 1 David Clark
21. 97 Aaron Guinn
22. 44 Kip Sawyer
Eddie Stewart of Manchester, KY went flag-to-flag in the $700 to win Super Stock feature for his second win of the season at Tazewell Speedway.
Super Stock
1. 119 Eddie Stewart
2. 88 Brad Davis
3. 36 Chris Rickety
4. 3 Austin Neely
5. 83 Cody Thompson
6. 56 Tony Horton
7. P21 Robbie Buchanan
8. 4J Jeffrey Melton
9. 66 Michael Woods
John Stevens of Wallins Creek, KY took the lead early over fast qualifier Logan Dukes to pace every lap of the Classic Car feature for his eleventh win and the $400 first prize.
Classic Car
1. 7 John Stevens
2. 19 Logan Dukes
3. 98 Justin Overton
4. 1 Josh Chesney
5. 11 Tim Stevens
6. 65 Michael Maiden
7. 17 Quincy Arnwine
8. W1 Billy Woods
9. 2 Brandon Muncey
Tazewell Speedway will be off this Saturday, August 6. Racing will resume on Saturday, August 13 for Vye Communications Night.
