East Tennessee Late Model veteran Anthony White made his way back into Victory Lane at Tazewell Speedway by leading every lap of the rain shortened United Crate Racing Alliance feature on Saturday night. The last time the Clinton, TN driver won at the high-banked 1/3 speed plant was back in October 2006 with the now defunct Tennessee Thunder Dirt Car Series.
Twenty-two Crate Late Models signed in for the first ever visit by the UCRA at Tazewell Speedway. Multi-time track champion and current Late Model points leader Jason Trammell of Knoxville earned the pole for the feature by being quickest in qualifying and winning his respective heat race. White and Jimmy Elliot of Cleveland would win their heats to start second and third in the main event.
With the drop of the green flag Trammell and White drag raced through the first two turns and down the back stretch with White shoving his way into the lead using the outside groove. Behind them Elliot, Philip Thompson of Morristown and Mack McCarter of Gatlinburg jockeyed for the third spot. The first caution would fly on lap seven as the car of Alabama’s Rod Carroll slowed at the top of turn two. On the restart Thompson began pressuring Trammell for second as Elliott and McCarter raced door to door. The yellow flag would fly again on lap ten as Ruben Mayfield’s car came to a stop on the track. Two laps later McCarter would bring out the caution for heavy right damage to his machine. During the caution period current UCRA points leader Jason Manley of Loudon, who started tenth, would drop pitside with mechanical woes.
As the field stacked up for the Dixie Double File restart Trammell would take the preferred outside line in the second row with Thompson on the inside. Going back to green Thompson held his own on the low groove until Trammell slid up out of the groove in turn three allowing Thompson to slip by. Lynn Leach of Clinton would bring out the yellow flag on lap nineteen which allowed the field to bunch back up. On the ensuing restart Trammell wrestled second back from Thompson and began trying to track down White. The yellow would come out on lap twenty-six as Greg Huskey of Knoxville took a wild spin down the front stretch. During the caution a few rain drops began falling on the track.
With the feature past the halfway mark the drivers in the field knew they might have to make a last minute dash for better positions before the rain moved in. Trammell and Thompson once again lined up side by side in the second row on the Dixie double-file restart. Taking the green flag White began pulling away as Trammell held on to second. As the field roared out of turn two Thompson moved to the inside of Trammell. At the end of the back stretch Thompson would make contact with Trammell sending him into the outside wall and bringing out the caution. During the caution period heavier rain moved in causing UCRA and track officials to call the race with twenty-seven laps in the books. Anthony White would lead every lap to score the win with Thompson, Elliott and upper east Tennessee hot shoes Josh Henry of Newport and Jordon Horton of Sneedville rounding out the top five.
White picked up the win and the $2,500 check piloting the Stone Plus, Burchfield Drywall, Creative Fabrications, Competition Racing Equipment, Clinton Muffler, Outlaw Racing Parts sponsored Longhorn Racing Chassis powered by a Phantom Race Engine.
UCRA Crate Late Models
1. 2X Anthony White
2. 24 Philip Thompson
3. J39 Jimmy Elliot
4. B00 Josh Henry
5. 57 Jordon Horton
6. 88 Chris Chandler
7. 15 Bryson Dennis
8. 29 Rusty Ballenger
9. 171 Kyle Courtney
10. 7 Marty Calloway
11. 61 Greg Huskey
12. 7X Mark Sexton
13. 17 Chip Brindle
14. 22 Lynn Leach
15. 97 Jason Trammell
16. 11 Cody Smith
17. 32 Jason Manley
18. 71 Mack McCarter
19. 00 Ruben Maxfield
20. 44 Rod Carroll
21. J0 John Ownby
DNS 41 Richard Bailey
Before the rains shortened the night’s events Austin Atkins of Morristown notched his first Tazewell Speedway Super Stock feature win. Extra money was on the line as there was a bounty for any driver that could beat points leader Brad Davis. During time trials Davis’ car hit the outside wall in turn two causing heavy right side damage. Since Davis would not be able to start in the feature the bounty has been moved to next week.
Earning the fastest time in qualifying Atkins would line up on the inside of the front row alongside Robbie Buchanan of Tazewell, who was debuting a brand new race car. The pair would race side by side on the opening lap yet just as they completed the first lap contact between the two would send Buchanan spinning in turn two and pitside with a flat right front tire. Buchanan would tag on to the tail of the field after changing the tire.
On the restart Atkins started pulling away from the second place car of Jonesville, Virginia’s Greg Estes. By the fifth lap Atkins had built up a full straight lead over Estes. Leading every lap Atkins would capture his first Tazewell Speedway Super Stock feature win in the We’s Garage, 1st Class Recovery, Evans Lawn Service, Ace Heating & Cooling, Hopson Racing & Fabrication, #1 Bail Bonding, Mountainview Elk’s Lodge, Kodak Trade Center sponsored Monte Carlo with power from a DJ’s Performance Race Engine.
Super Stock
1. 14 Austin Atkins
2. 31 Greg Estes
3. 83 Cody Thompson
4. P21 Robbie Buchanan
5. 56 Tony Horton
6. 58 Kevin Smith
7. 20 Scottie Atkins
8. C4 Logan Cobb
9. 39 Chris Hickman
DNS 88 Brad Davis
Joey Allen of Cosby took the lead away from Newport’s Kurt Owens on the sixth lap of the 4 Cylinder feature to his first win of the season in the Norton’s Body Shop, Allen Railroad Contracting, New Vision Graphics Ford Mustang.
4 Cylinder
1. 00 Joey Allen
2. 7UP Kurt Owens
3. 22 Chris Reichert
4. 72 Rufus Collett
5. 14 Johnny Coggins
6. 72 Walter Walsh
7. 5 Terry Broshears
DNS 13 Jamie James
With rain ending Saturday night’s racing action Sportsman and Classic Car will have full make-up features this Saturday night May 27th.
