After braving another soggy week Gary Hall and crew worked the high banks of The Bad Fast Taz into shape and hosted the third Dirty Thirty event of the year with the Sportsman Late Models on showcase racing for $1,000 to win. When all was said and done Jonathan Miracle, one of the track’s winningnest drivers, would claim his biggest career victory.
Nineteen Sportsman drivers from around the region gathered to vye for the big money. Using the momentum from last week’s win Jonathan Miracle lowered the Sportsman qualifying record with a new time of 12.020 seconds. Moments later Morristown’s Michael Boyd shattered that record with a 11.906 second lap, earning the pole for the thirty lap feature.
After two failed attempts at a clean start Boyd was relegated to the inside of the second row. This would move Philip Thompson of Knoxville into the pole position alongside Miracle. Before a lap could be made several cars would make contact on the front stretch with David Clark and Cody Smith retiring from the event with damage.
With the field finally getting a good clean start Miracle quickly took the point using the outside line in turn two. Behind him his teammate Clyde Overholt battled door to door with Thomspon for second. Looking to the inside several times in the early going Thompson stayed on the bumper of Overholt as they tried to track down Miracle. Nearing the halfway point the trio worked their way past lap traffic while racing nose to tail. Overholt made several attempts on the low side to take the lead away from Miracle. The caution flag would fly on lap twenty-four as Boyd spun in turn four. Just as the field was storming out of turn four on the restart a light rain began falling. Track officials made the decision to call the race where it was with Miracle scoring his biggest payday of his career. Miracle’s Eagle Race Engine powered Rayburn Race Car is sponsored by Claiborne Marine, Petty’s Wrecker Service, Noah’s Wholesale, Tim Fletcher Heating and Air and Parker’s Performance.
Sportsman Dirty Thirty
1. 50M Jonathan Miracle
2. 4 Clyde Overholt
3. 24 Philip Thompson
4. 25 Eric Webber
5. 3 Michael Boyd
6. 11 Richie bean
7. 79 Josh Sneed
8. 00 Chris Raines
9. 34 Phillip Shockley
10. 41 Richard Bailey
11. 28 Randy Davis
12. K5 Nick Kniat
13. 11 Cody Smith
14. 1 David Clark
15. 21 Bryan Howerton
16. 111 Anthony Arnwine
DNS 24 Andy Wilder
DNS 3D Mitchell Burke
DNS 7 Heath Alvey
In preliminary action Brandon Hutchinson of McDowell, KY survived a wild Super Stock feature for his first Tazewell Speedway win. Last week’s winner Kurt Owens of Newport would set quick time in qualifying with a lap of 12.947 seconds. After pulling the two in the invert draw Owens would start on the outside of the front row of the feature beside Tazewell’s Brad Davis. Taking the early lead Owens pulled away to a five car length gap from Davis. On lap four Austin Neely would spin in turn four bringing out the yellow flag. In the opposite corner of the track Logan Cobb of Morristown wound up upside down after his car lost an axle. He would walk away uninjured. On the restart Gary Blanken would shove his past Davis for second. On the next lap Davis would slow on the back stretch with a flat right rear tire bringing out the caution. During the period Blanken would dive pitside with steering problems and Owens retiring with woes, ending his bid for two wins in a row.
This would give the lead to Glen Hounshell of Berea, KY in his first visit to Tazewell Speedway this season. Brandon Hutchinson would move up to second with Neely back into third after starting on the rear after his spin. On lap ten Hounshell would get loose in turn four opening the door for Hutchinson to take the lead. Two laps later Neely would spin again in turn four tagging the outside wall and ending his night. On the restart Hounshell hounded Hutchinson for the lead racing door to door down the back chute. While they were busy fighting for the top spot Davis had worked his way back into third. On lap thirteen Davis muscled his way on the outside to take over second. The remaining laps were a three way battle with Hutchinson surviving for his first win at The Taz in the Hutchinson Muffler & Brake, Autism Speaks, WrapTech sponsored Lightning Race Car.
Super Stock
1. A85 Brandon Hutchinson
2. 88 Brad Davis
3. 20 Glen Hounshell
4. 83 Cody Thompson
5. K5 Blake Kelley
6. 24S Trae Soper
7. 5 Gary Blanken
8. 3 Austin Neely
9. 37H Greg Hensley
10. 14 Kurt Owens
11. C4 Logan Cobb
In Open Wheel Modified action Jody Puckett of Melvin, KY led every lap of the feature for his second win in a row and third overall win of the season. Amos Bunch of Wartburg was fastest in time trials with a lap of 12.869 seconds. Starting on the outside of the front row Puckett jumped into the lead as Bunch had his hands full holding off Billy Palmer and Wayne James. Two Kentucky drivers, Zach Power of Lexington and Kevin Hall of Wayland, made their first ever visit to The Taz. Throughout the feature the action was fast and furious as Bunch and Palmer pursued Puckett for the lead. Puckett would take the win in the Tahiti Energy, ABCO Performance, Slicker Graphics, Friends of Coal, Mullins Race Engines powered Lightning Chassis.
Open Wheel Modified
1. J3 Jody Puckett
2. 50 Amos Bunch
3. 36 Billy Palmer
4. J4 Tyler James
5. 22 Shawn Hibbard
6. 43K Kevin Hall
7. 33Z Zach Powers
8. 14 Austin Atkins
9. 00 Jeff Akard
10. 4 Wayne James
Bill Goss of Jackboro lead every lap of the 4 Cylinder feature for his first Tazewell Speedway win in the Copper Cove Cabins, Norris Lake Zipline sponsored TrakStar Ford Mustang.
4 Cylinder
1. 99 Bill Goss
2. 72 Rufus Collett
3. 22 Jason Carter
Next Saturday night March 28th we’ll present a huge Memorial Event with Open Wheel Modified racing for $1,000 to win. Sportsman Late Models and Super Stocks will battle for $700 in their features. Classic Cars and 4 Cylinders will race for $350 in their features. There will be a makeup Classic Car feature.
It will also be our first Kid’s Night of the season with Foot races for the youngsters in sepetrate age groups. The boys and girls winner in each race will receive a new bicycle and a trophy. All participants will receive a free t-shirt.
Prior to the racing action there will be a Corn Hole Tournament in the parking lot. The entry fee will be $20 per couple with a 100% payback. Registration will begin at 1:30 with the first bags thrown at 2:00. All participants in the tirny will receive half-off their admission to the races.
