The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series would begin the 2021 racing season with the richest one-day event in the history of Tazewell Speedway with the inaugural Lil’ Bill Corum Memorial with $21,000-to-win up for grabs and Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA would lead all seventy-five laps of the contest on his way to a $21,000 payday. This event would be co-sanctioned with the Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series.
The victory by the 37-year old Davenport would be his second career Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series triumph and would behind the wheel of the Lance Landers owned Longhorn Chassis with a Cornett Race Engine and receiving sponsorship from Nutrien Ag Solutions, ASC Warranty, Spartan Mowers, Fatheads Eyewear, Mega Plumbing of the Carolina, and Bilstein.
Jonathan Davenport would take the lead at the start of the Lil’ Bill Corum Memorial event, with Dakotah Knuckles, Donald McIntosh, NASCAR star Kyle Larson, and Tyler Erb in pursuit. Larson would challenge McIntosh for the third spot immediately would claim the spot on lap three, while the first caution of the event would wave for a slowed Mike Marlar on lap five.
The restart would see Davenport maintain the advantage out front, with Larson working past Knuckles for second and Erb snagging fourth away from McIntosh. Davenport would build a comfortable lead only to see Larson close in as the leader approached the rear of the field on lap twelve, however, the second caution of the race would appear on lap fifteen for Michael Chilton’s disabled mount at the top of turn two. The front five would remain the same for the restart, but 10th place starting Dale McDowell would claim fifth from McIntosh on lap sixteen. Davenport would continue his torrid pace up front and would again begin working lapped traffic by lap twenty-two, with Larson maintaining second, while Erb would challenge Knuckles for third and take the position on lap twenty-seven, with McDowell taking fourth from Knuckles one circuit later, and McIntosh making his way back into the top five around Knuckles on lap thirty.
Davenport would continue to maintain a comfortable advantage while working slower traffic to perfection, with Larson still riding in the runner-up spot, while Erb would begin to close in on Larson for the second position. The final caution of the event would wave on lap forty-one when Jason Trammell would slow on the backchute after losing a driveshaft in turn one. Davenport would get a great restart, while Erb would dive under Larson and claim the second spot, with McDowell and McIntosh holding down fourth and fifth, while 19th place starter Jimmy Owens had made his way to sixth by this point. Davenport would begin to work lapped traffic once again on lap fifty-one and would begin to pull away from the pair of Erb and Larson at this point, with this pair battling for the second position until Larson would reclaim the spot for good on lap sixty-four. Davenport would continue to pull away from the field in the waning laps and claim a 7.043 second victory, with Larson finishing second and Erb completing the podium finishers with a third-place effort. McDowell and McIntosh completed the top five. The remainder of the top ten finishers would be Owens, Zack Mitchell, Brandon Overton, Mike Marlar, and Knuckles.
Lil Bill Corum Memorial
1. 49 Jonathan Davenport
2. 6 Kyle Larson
3. 1 Tyler Erb
4. 17M Dale Mcdowell
5. 7M Donald McIntosh
6. 20 Jimmy Owens
7. 57 Zack Mitchell
8. 76 Brandon Overton
9. 157 Mike Marlar
10. 21K Dakotah Knuckles
11. 71 Pierce McCarter
12. 23 Cory Hedgecock
13. 101 Forrest Trent
14. 329 Travis Fultz
15. 29 Christian Hanger
16. 90J Jason Trammell
17. 2S Stormy Scott
18. 8 David Payne
19. 3N Austin Neely
20. 1G Ryan King
21. 97 Michael Chilton
22. 83 Jensen Ford
Looking to use the momentum from his win in last year’s season finale at Tazewell Speedway, second-generation driver Odie Overholt of Tazewell turned the quickest time in Sportsman qualifying with a lap of 12.252 seconds. Knoxville’s Kip Sawyer was only .003 seconds slower in his time trials attempt. Drawing the one on the invert draw, Overholt would start the $1,000 to win feature in the pole position. After three failed attempts at a double file start track officials decided to start the feature in single file.
Mashing the loud pedal at the sight of the green light, Overholt bounded into the lead with Harrogate’s Chris Raines and Rutledge’s James Parrott giving chase. Rear suspension problems would strike Sawyer yet he was able to hold his own and stay with the leaders. Only a handful of cautions would slow down the field with Overholt holding the field at bay.
Going flag-to-flag Overholt scored his first win of the season and took home the big check piloting the Petty’s Wrecker Service, Wallace Auto Sales, Bailey Body Shop, Clyde Overholt Racing, Pizza Inn of New Tazewell, Tazewell Drug & Express Care, Tim Fletcher Heating & Cooling, The Realty Group-Debbie Fields, Tolliver Tree Service sponsored, Phantom Race Engine powered Rayburn Race Car.
Sportsman
1. 14 Odie Overholt
2. 00 Chris Raines
3. 10 James Parrott
4. 144 Chicky Barton
5. 44 Kip Sawyer
6. 76 Joe Bray
7. 5 Jerry Boling
8. 12 Matt Shockley
9. 24 Andy Wilder
10. 3 Allen Noah
11. 00 Greg Goins
12. 22B Tyson Britt
13. 43 Harve Gregory
14. 115 Wade Howerton
15. 7 Heath Alvey
16. 28 Richard Cox
17. 13 Dylan Morgan
18. 44 Jimmy Calloway
DNS 21 Bryan Howerton
DNS 57 Jamie Singleton
In Classic Car action, former track champion John Stevens of Wallins Creek, KY recorded the quickest lap ion time trials and drew the pole for the twenty lap feature. Stevens would shove his way into the lead on the opening lap trailed closely by Jesse Hickman and Richie Overholser. On the fourth circuit Hickman would retire with mechanical issues. Four laps later Stevens would duck pitside with a flat tire yet rejoined the field after his crew slapped on a new tire.
Inheriting the lead was Maynardville’s Josh Chesney, who started sixth yet had moved his way to the front. The third generation driver would lead the rest of the way for the $600 pay day and the big check to hang in his garage. Chesney’s Classic Car sedan gets sponsorship from Highway 33 Hardware and M&E Boat Services.
Classic Car
1. XXX Josh Chesney
2. 16 Will Carey
3. 88 Richie Overholser
4. 5 Jason Saylor
5. 11 Tim Bounds
6. 18 Eli Keck
7. 5 Joshua Chesney
8. 86 Rusty Welch
9. 69 Jesse Hickman
10. 78 Lee Merritt
DNS 3 Jimmy Rauhuff
DNS 52 Kevin Crane
DQ’d 51 John Stevens
Austin Lefevers of Morristown would use the outside front row starting position in the Street Stock to take the lead on the opening lap in the Street Stock feature. Lefevers lead every lap and held back a hard charging Tony Trent to notch his first win of the season in the Carlyle Construction, Hair Designs by Pam, Screen Designs by Sheila sponsored Monte Carlo.
Street Stock
1. 90 Austin Lefevers
2. 18 Tony Trent
3. 20S James Weaver
4. C4 Logan Cobb
5. 10 Bubba Long
6. 26 Zach Campbell
7. 73 James Irvin
8. 11 Tim Stevens
9. 01 Luke Sharp
10. 5 Greg Harville
11. 51 Brett Cupp
DNS 77B Bradley Bean
