Not even a pesky rain storm could dampen the spirits at Tazewell Speedway on Saturday night. Halfway through the qualifying session a strong storm cell moved over the track yet after an hour long delay the track was worked back into shape.In Limited Late Model action Thorn Hill’s Brian Shockley turned the fastest time in qualifying with a lap of 12.083 seconds. East Tennessee veteran Steve Smith of Powell would qualify second. Drawing the two on the invert draw would put Shockley on the pole for the thirty lap feature. With the drop of the green Smith took control with Shockley close in his tracks. In the early laps Smith started pulling away from Shockley yet by the tenth lap Shockley had reeled him back in.
By the halfway point Smith and Shockley began pulling away from the rest of the field. With a stout race car it looked like Smith was on the way to his first win of the season. On lap twenty-two Smith’s car began belching smoke and leaving fluid on the track as he exited turn four, bringing out the caution. Smith would retire from the event handing over the lead to Shockley. Leading the rest of the way Shockley would notch his first win of the season piloting the Team Seventeen Racing, Discount Parts City, Gust Construction, Top Notch Construction FastLane Sign & Graphics sponsored Rocket XR-1 Race car powered by a Vic Hill Racing Engine.
Limited Late Model
1. 17 Brian Shockley
2. 56J Jody Horton
3. 4 Clyde Overholt
4. 18 Michael Rutherford
5. 25 Eric Webber
6. 08 Bradley Strong
7. 3 Steve Smith
8. 29 Danny Helton
DNS 28 Jerry Williams
A stout field of twenty Sportsman Late Models were on hand with former Pure Street standout Michael Boyd of Morristown turning the fastest lap in time trials of 12.559 seconds. Former Modified Street champion Robbie Buchanan of Tazewell would start on the pole of the twenty lap race after Boyd drew the two on the invert draw.
With the flash of the green flag Boyd shot into the lead as the field exited turn two trailed by Sneedville’s Jason Sizemore. Buchanan and James Parrott of Rutledge. Setting a furious pace the leaders would catch the tail of the field by the eighth lap. Working and weaving through the lap traffic Boyd was able to put some distance between himself and Sizemore. In the closing laps Sizemore had closed in on the leader yet Boyd was able to hold off the challenge for his first Sportsman win of the year in the Boyd & Sons Trucking, Jeff Hurst Horse Transport, DPF Solutions, Warren Stinson DDS sponsored, DJ’s Performance Race Engine powered Rocket Race Car.
Sportsman
1. 3 Michael Boyd
2. 22 Jason Sizemore
3. 13 Robbie Buchanan
4. 10 James Parrott
5. 7 Jimmy Calloway
6. 10M Jerry Boling
7. 2 Steve Smith
8. 00 Chris Raines
9. 14 Odie Overholt
10. 76 Joe Bray
11. 24 Andy Wilder
12. E5 Roger England
13. 17 Logan Seal
14. 12 Matt Shockley
15. 28J Justin James
16. 1 Allen Dearing
17. 119 Josh Evans
18. 54 Mitchell Burke
19. 21 Bryan Howerton
DNS 33 Phillip Nichols
David Clark of Tazewell came into the night with a hot streak of three Modifed Street victories in a row at his home track. The night didn’t start off well as a shifter malfunction to Clark’s car kept him from turning in a qualifying attempt. Former Modified Street champion Brad Davis of Tazewell was quickest in time trials with a lap of 12.915 seconds and would start on the outside of the front row along another former champion, Tony Horton of Sneedville.
Davis would shove his way into the lead on the opening lap as Horton and Tyler Haynes of Pennington Gap, VA battled for second. By the fourth lap Davis had stretched out a half track lead over Horton, who was busy holding off Haynes and Clark. Two laps later Davis would spin on his own in turn four and bring out the caution. During the caution Haynes would give up his spot after diving pitside with a flat right front tire.
With the field reset Horton would inherit the lead with Clark, who started on the tail of the field, lining up in second. On the restart Clark would muscle his way past Horton for the lead in turn two. Seeking redemption for not being able to qualify, Clark pulled away from Horton and lead the rest of the way for his fourth win in a row at Tazewell Speedway and fifth overall win of the season behind the wheel of the Big Cheese Motorsports, Slim & Trim Weight Loss Center, Earl Heating & Air, Kiddieland Daycare Center, Sams Trucking, Gatos Tacos, Courtney’s Lawn Care, Clyde Overholt Racing sponsored Camaro with power from a Phantom Race Engine
Modified Street
1. 13 David Clark
2. 56 Tony Horton
3. 10 Bubba Long
4. 88 Brad Davis
5. XP21 Bob Petty
6. 11 Tyler Haynes
A season high seventeen Classic Cars signed in with points leader Hayston Collett of Harlan, KY posting the fastest time in qualifying with a lap of 14.500 seconds. After Collett’s own car developed problems in hot laps former Classic Car champion John Stevens switched cars with Collett. Drawing the one on the invert draw Collett would start on the pole of the feature alongside Maynardville’s Richie Overhoser. After three failed attempts at a double-file start the field was lined up single file. Collett would take the early lead followed by Overholser, Josh Chesney of Maynardville and Knoxville’s Lee Merritt.
Throughout the event Overholser and Chesney would stay in striking distance of Collett yet neither one could catch the leader. Collett would lead every lap and capture his third win of the season driving the Red Eyes Racing, Anna Mae’s Vapor sponsored, Eagle Race Engine powered Classic Car sedan.
Classic Car
1. 7 Hayston Collett
2. 88 Richie overholser
3. 18 Josh Chesney
4. 14 Lee Merritt
5. J16 Adam Engel
6. 515 Michael Milsap
7. 17A Quincy Arnwine
8. 3 John Stevens
9. 8 Eli Keck
10. 16 Will Carey
11. 20 Shane Taylor
12. 15 Rusty Welch
13. 11 Tim Bounds
14. 69 Jesse Hickman
15. 22 Hunter Graybeal
DNS 78 Joe Keck
In 4 Cylinder action Cosby’s Joey Allen posted the quickest time in qualifying and drew the pole for the 20 lap feature, lining up beside Caryville’s Shane Bullock on the front row. Using the outside line Bullock would shove his way into the lead on the back stretch on the opening lap with Allen and Hayston Collett giving chase. In the opening laps the top three cars ran nose-to-tail and had caught the tail of the field by the fifth lap. On lap seven as Bullock would make contact with a slower car sending the leader spinning on the front stretch. The caution would be charged to the lap car and Bullock was allowed to keep his position.
On the restart Chuck McMahan of Dandridge, who started eleventh and had worked his way up to fourth, began challenging the leaders. On lap twelve Bullock’s car slid up in turn three, allowing Allen to pull alongside. The pair would make contact and Allen would work his way into the top spot. Allen would lead the rest of the way for his second win of the season in the Allen’s Railroad Contracting, Norton’s Body Shop, New Vision Graphics Ford Mustang.
4 Cylinder
1. 49 Joey Allen
2. 21 Hayston Collett
3. 2B Shane Bullock
4. 13 Terry Boshears
5. 5 Samuel Fox
6. 4 Jacob Callebs
7. 99 Chuck McMahan
8. 3rdMan Walter Walsh
9. 3 Nick Murrell
DNS 21 Skeeter Ward
DNS 72 Rufus Collett
In the Street Stock make-up feature Mohawk’s Logan Cobb would use his outside front row starting spot to his advantage and take the early lead over Greg Harville of Tazewell. By the midway point of the race Cobb had extended his lead to over five car lengths. The young driver would go flag-to flag for his first win of the season.
In time trials for the second feature Cobb would turn record the fastest lap yet draw the three on the invert. This would put Sharps Chapel’s James Weaver on the pole alongside Dustin Harville of Tazewell. Weaver would take the lead on the opening lap and set a fast pace while points leader Brad Sturgill and Donovan Long followed in his tracks. On lap five Weaver would spin on his own in turn four, bringing out the caution and handing the lead over to Sturgill. On the restart Cobb began pestering Long for the second spot. Two laps later Long’s car would bobble on the back stretch which allowed Cobb to slide by in the runner-up position. With the laps winding down Cobb muscled his way past Sturgill and capture his second win of the night.
Street Stock Make-Up
1. C4 Logan Cobb
2. 5 Greg Harville
3. 55S Brad Sturgill
4. 15L Donovan Long
5. 15H Dustin Harville
DNS 7 Chris Hickman
Second Street Stock feature
1. C4 Logan Cobb
2. 20S James Weaver
3. 55S Brad Sturgill
4. 15L Donovan Long
5. 2 Brandon Muncy
6. 28 Ryan Bailey
DNS 15h Dustin Harville
DNS 5 Greg Harville
DNS 7 Chris Hickman
DNS 14 Coty Henderson
