After taking last weekend off drivers and fans of Tazewell Speedway were ready to get back to racing at the World’s Fastest 1/3 Mile Dirt Track.While an early afternoon rain storm tried to hamper the night’s festivities, track owner Gary Hall and his crew chased away the rain and worked the entire afternoon to get the track ready for racing. The hard work and dedication paid off as the crowd on hand witnessed the return of some fan favorite drivers, some drivers making their Tazewell Speedway debuts, a first time winner and some of the best racing of the season. It was also a big night for the drivers as they raced for double points and the points leaders in each class were awarded Mid Season Points Champion trophies.
Josh Collins of Powell was itching to get back to his winning ways after starting his own racing team last month. Greg Estes of Jonesville. VA, in only his second race in a new Longhorn Racing Chassis, would set fast time with a lap of 11.755 seconds. Drawing the pole position Estes would share the front row of the thirty lap feature with Collins. With the preferred outside line Collins shot into the lead followed closely by Estes, Steve Smith of Powell, Matthew Holt of Thorn Hill and Brian Shockley, also from Thorn Hill. With only a few cautions slowing the field Estes was looking for any advantage to slip by Collins for the lead. Behind them there was lots of hard racing going on. Sneedville native Jordon Horton, who started eighth, worked his way toward the front while holding off the challenge from his older brother Jody Horton. Jason Trammell of Knoxville, who missed qualifying with mechanical issues, was the hardest charger of the night working his way through the field after starting eleventh. Trammell would pass both Hortons and on lap twenty-six would slip past Smith to take over third.
Meanwhile up front Collins was holding court leading every lap of the feature for his third win of the season in his P&P Cole, Stealth Racing Carburetors, Wallace Auto Sales, Permanent Cosmetics by Brandi sponsored Warrior Race Car with power from a B&B Race Engine. Collins was also awarded the Tazewell Late Model Mid Season Points Leader trophy.
Tazewell Late Models
1. 63 Josh Collins
2. 31 Greg Estes
3. 90 Jason Trammell
4. 3 Steve Smith
5. 56H Jordon Horton
6. 56J Jody Horton
7. 17 Brian Shockley
8. 22 Mathhew Holt
9. 54 Mitchell Burke
10. 22 Taran Hurst
11. 11 Anthony Arnwine
Tazewell native Clyde Overholt turned the fastest lap among sixteen Sportsman entries with a lap of 12.132 seconds. Anthony Burchett of Harrogate, who qualified second, would use the outside line to shove his way into the lead in turn two on the first lap. Behind him Overholt, Matt Tharp of Luttrel, and fellow Tazewell drivers Jonathan Miracle and David Clark jockeyed for position. Miracle would drop out late in the race with overheating woes.
Out front Burchett would lead every lap for his third feature win of the seaosn in his Hancock Home Health, Discount Parts City, Blevins and Associates Construction, Monster Energy Drink, DJ’s Performance Race Engine powered Warrior Race Car. Overholt was awarded the Mid Season Points Leader trophy.
Sportsman
1. 18 Anthony Burchett
2. 4 Clyde Overholt
3. 35 Matt Tharp
4. 1 David Clark
5. XXX Josh Chesney
6. 3 Michael Boyd
7. 97 Aaron Guinn
8. 21 Bryan Howerton
9. 53 Floyd Branham
10. 50 Jonathan Miracle
11. 22 Anthony Liford
12. 29 Chris Raines
13. 144 Chris Barton
DNS 24 Andy Wilder
DNS 15 Wade Howerton
DNS 77 Steve Carr
After Tazewell Speedway officials announced earlier in the week that the Super Stocks would go to the Fall Brawl rules the division attracted it largest car count of the season for a regular race. Former Modified Street champion Brad Davisof Tazewell was fastest among fifteen drivers with a lap of 13.176 seconds. Kurt Owens of Newport, making his first Tazewell Speedway Super Stock start of the year, would qualify second. Davis would lead the field as they stormed into turn one with Owens right on his back bumper. As they went into turn four Owens would tag the outside wall and slide back to sixth. Jamie Whitt of Wise, VA and Chris Rickett would battle door to door for second.
The first caution would fly on lap three as Austin Atkins of Morristown spun on his own in turn two. On the restart Whitt would slip back a few spots allowing Rickett to take over the second spot. Owens would climb his way back into third and set his sights on Rickett. The duo would tangle on lap seven as they battled side by side with Owens shoving his car into second. Owens would then work on Davis for the lead tattooing himself to the back bumper. On lap fifteen Davis would get loose and slide up the track in turn one which allowed Owens to shoot low and take over the lead. The last caution would fly on lap sixteen as Rickett tagged the outside wall in turn two ending his night with heavy right side damage.
Owens would hold off Davis in the waning laps for his first Tazewell Speedway Super Stock win. Jamie Whitt was awarded the Mid Season Points Leader trophy.
Super Stocks
1. 14 Kurt Owens
2. 88 Brad Davis
3. 56 Tony Horton
4. 1 Jamie Whitt
5. 3 Austin Neely
6. P21 Donnie Petty
7. C5 Daniel Carpenter
8. 33 Phillip Nichols
9. 14 Austin Atkins
10. 55 Brad Sturgill
11. 44 Mike Winstead
12. 36 Chris Rickett
13. 38 Cody Thompson
14. 12 J.J. Green
15. 5 Jason Saylor
Philip Thompson came into Saturday night’s action looking to notch his tenth win of the season. Thompson would earn the pole for the feature after winning the six lap heat race. John Stevens of Wallins Creek, KY, who has been improving with every race this season, would start second. At the drop of the green Thompson took the lead with Stevens only a few feet behind. On lap twelve Stevens got up on the wheel on the back stretch and dove low in turn three. The pair would make contact sending Thompson sliding up and Stevens taking the lead and scoring his first Classic Car win. Thompson would be awarded the Mid Season Points Leader trophy.
Classic Cars
1. 7 John Stevens
2. 24 Philip Thompson
3. 1 Daisie Lockhart
4. XXX Josh Chesney
Chuck McMahan of Dandridge notched his fourth win of the year leading every lap of the 4 Cylinder feature in the Original Mr. Freezo, Lowes Auto Parts, Round Boy Motorsports Ford Mustang. Bubby Braden of Lutrrell was awarded the Mid Season Points leader trophy.
4 Cylinders
1. 99 Chuck McMahan
2. 7 Bubby Braden
3. 11 Tyler Haynes
4. 1 Mark Wallace
Join us this Friday night July 3rd as we kick off the Independence Day weekend. Limited Late Models will be racing for $3050 to win, Sportsman will race for $700 to win and Super Stocks will battle for $500. There will also be a Fast Car Dash. We’ll top off the night with a huge fireworks display. Pit gates and grandtsands will both open at 5:00. General admission will be $15 with children nine and under admitted free with a paying adult. pit admission will be $30.
