Dakotah Knuckles of Ewing, VA kept the momentum swinging in his favor as he set fast time in qualifying, won the Fast Car Dash and led every lap of the Late Model feature for his third win in a row. Knuckles racing program gained a huge boost of confidence two weeks ago as he finished second to Vic Hill of Mosheim in the Southern Nationals Bonus Series Super Late Model event.
With a lap of 12.164 seconds on a slick track Knuckles earned quick time honors with Tazewell native Josh Fields turning the second quickest time. Knoxville’s Jason Trammell and Middlesboro, KY’s Chicky Barton qualified third and fourth respectively. The top four came to the grandstands to draw among marked Coca-Cola cans for their starting spots in the Fast Car Dash. Knuckles would draw a two and Trammell would draw the pole for the five lap dash. By leading every lap Knuckles would earn the pole position for the thirty lap feature.
Bringing the field to the green flag Knuckles and Trammell would drag race down the back stretch with Knuckles slipping into the lead. Behind them Barton and Fields battled for the third spot. By the sixth lap Knuckles began putting a sizable distance between himself and the rest of the field. Behind him Trammell and Fields entertained the crowd as they raced door to door for most of the race.
Midway through the feature Knuckles had to contend with the cars at the back of the back who were fighting for positions themselves. Weaving his way through the traffic Knuckles would cruise the rest of the way for his third win in a row piloting the Florida Veterinary Cardiology, Marcum Oil, Howerton Roofing, ALACO, Jovida Enterprises, Hickory Star Marina, Liberty Sport & Pawn, Hill’s Truck Repair, Timberline Barns sponsored Rocket Race Car powered by a Vic Hill Racing Engine.
Late Model
1. 21K Dakotah Knuckles
2. 90J Jason Trammell
3. 11 Josh Fields
4. 144 Chicky Barton
5. 17 Brian Shockley
6. 22 Matthew Holt
7. 22 Lynn Leach
8. 56H Jordon Horton
9. 4 Michael Smith
10. 54 Mitchell burke
11. 99 Jeff Day
12. B7 Bubby Braden
13. 43 Doc Petty
Travis Fultz of Harrogate notched his fourth Sportsman feature win in a row in the Tim Fletcher Heating & Cooling, Bailey’s Body Shop, Petty’s Wrecker Service sponsored DJ’s Performance Race Engine powered Rocket Race Car. The win didn’t come easy as Fultz fought off points leader Aaron Guinn of Russellville in the early laps. Just before the midway mark Fultz began pulling away and lead every lap. Former champion Clyde Overholt of Tazewell subbed for an injured Jonanthan Miracle, finishing fourth.
Sportsman
1. T0 Travis Fultz
2. 97 Aaron Guinn
3. 11 Cody Smith
4. 50 Clyde Overholt
5. 122 Matt Shockley
6. 33 Phillip Nichols
7. 28J Randy Davis
8. 24 Andy Wilder
9. 34 Phillip Shockley
10. 10 Bubba Long
11. 00 Chris Raines
12. 1 Josh Chesney
13. 31 Ernie Stuart
14. 28X Justin James
15. 17 Logan Seal
DNS 22 Jason Sizemore
With Super Stock points leader Brad Davis taking off another week it was a good chance to see a new face in Victory Lane. Former Modified Street champion Robbie Buchanan of Tazewell was quickest in time trials with a lap of 13.545 seconds with Gary Blanken of Morristown qualifying second.
Choosing the preferred outside line Buchanan shoved his way past Blanken on the back stretch to take the lead on the first circuit. Three laps later Kurt Owens of Newport moved to the inside of Blanken to challenge for second. The pair duked it out for a couple of laps with Owens taking the spot on lap five. Two laps later Blanken would slow on the track and dive pit side yet return without going a lap down. Up front Owens began pressuring Buchanan for the lead, diving to the low groove several times. With four laps to go Owens would bring out the caution as he slowed with a flat left rear tire. He would restart at the tail and remount a challenge for the lead.
With two laps to go Owens and Blanken brought the crowd to their feet as they traded paint while fighting for second. Coming to the checkered flag the duo would make heavy contact on the front stretch with Owens taking away the runner-up spot. Buchanan would lead every lap of the feature for his first win since in three years piloting the Petty Motorsports, Robbie’s Auto Sales, Petty’s Wrecker Service, Clyde Overholt Racing & Fabrication, Tim Fletcher Heating & Cooling, Tenkenva Arabian Horses sponsored Hopson Racing & Fabrication chassis with power from a DJ’s Performance Race Engine.
Super Stock
1. P21 Robbie Buchanan
2. 14 Kurt Owens
3. 05 Gary Blanken
4. C4 Logan Cobb
5. 18 Daniel Sauceman
DNS 83 Cody Thompson
Joey Allen of Cosby scored his second 4 Cylinder feature win of the year in the Norton’s Body Shop, Allen Railroad Contracting, New Vision Graphics Ford Mustang. Former champion Chuck McMahan of Dandridge drew the pole for the feature yet dropped out with problems on the first lap. Tyler Haynes of Hickory Flat, VA slipped past Hartford’s Jamie James on the third lap to take over second. Midway through the race James would slow on the back stetch just as he was getting ready to battle Allen for the lead.
4 Cylinder
1. 00 Joey Allen
2. 22 Chris Reichert
3. 13 Jamie James
4. 72 Walter Walsh
5. 72 Rufus Collett
6. 5 Terry Boshears
7. 63 Toby Brock
8. 17 Tyler Haynes
9. 99 Chuck McMahan
DNS 21M Greg Morton
Keeping up winning ways John Stevens of Wallins Creek, KY notched his seventh Classic Car feature win of the year behind the wheel of the Hensley Trucking & Excavating, Anna Mae’s Vapor, The Parts House, Chad Shannon State Farm Insurance, Hensley Grocery, Slingin Ink Tattoos, Red Eye Racing Classic Car sedan. The scariest moment of the night came on lap eight of the race as Chris Evans of Middlesboro, KY crashed into the turn two wall and overturned, luckily with no injuries.
Classic Car
1. 7 John Stevens
2. 1 Josh Chesney
3. 16 Will Carey
4. 19 Tim Stevens
5. 17D Tom Juhl
6. 1N Chris Evans
7. 2 Bradley Hutchinson
DNS 5 Hayston Collett
