Mother Nature has not been kind to Tazewell Speedway in the months of September and October. After three weekends of rainy weather fans and drivers gathered on Saturday night for Championship Night only to be turned away by a pesky rain that the forecasters missed. Track owner Gary Hall made the decision to run on Sunday afternoon with sunny skies overhead. In a pre-race ceremony the 2014 Points Champions and top three in points were awarded trophies and money.
There were also two new inductees into the Tazewell Speedway Hall of Fame: Jessie Bean, Tazewell Speedway’s biggest fan, has only missed a handfull of races since the track’s opening in 1965. He passed along his love of racing to his three sons, several grandson and one granddaughter who have all raced at one time. At 95 years young Jessie greets his racing friends every weekend with his warm smile. Larry “Goat Man” Burke worked as a crew member for Jim Arnwine throughout the 70’s before using some of Arnwine’s used parts to build his own race car in 1978. In the familiar black and gold #54 Burke quickly amassed wins in the Bomber division scoring twenty wins between the 1980 and 1981 seasons. Always a fan favorite and a respected driver among his peers, Burke continued winning throughout the 80’s and eventually moved up into the Modfied Street division. Announcing that 2014 would be his last season of racing Larry handed over the driving duties to his son Mitchell who competed in several races this season and earned the 2014 Rookie of the Year honors.
Limited Late Models were on showcase as fifteen drivers from all over the region gathered to compete for the $1500 top prize. Last year’s points champion Jason Trammell of Knoxville set fast time with a lap of 12.609 seconds sharing the front row of the thirty lap feature with Newport’s Josh Henry. Trammell quickly jumped into the lead trailed by Henry, Steve Smith, Jody Horton and Chris Chandler, who made the long drive from Weaverville, NC. Trammell would stretch out his lead until lap fifteen when he came upon lap traffic. This would allow Henry and Smith to catch up yet Trammell would easily weave his way through the lap cars. Smith would sneak past Henry as they battled the lap traffic. In the end it was Trammell picking up his fifth win of the season in the Fast Lane Signs & Graphics, Trammell Construction, Quality Medical Center, Tornado Alley Car Wash, Merle 97 FM sponsored Rayburn Race Car with power from a Vic Hill Racing Engine. Josh Henry was crowned the 2014 Tazewell Late Model points champion with Jason Trammell awarded second and Steve Smith awarded third.
Limited Late Models
1. 90J Jason Trammell
2. 18 Steve Smith
3. B00 Josh Henry
4. 5 Bryan Hendrix
5. 8 Chris Chandler
6. 11 Anthony Arnwine
7. 22 Matthew Holt
8. 7 William Overbey
9. 17 Brian Shockley
10. 144 Chris Barton
11. 21K Dakotah Knuckles 21
12. 15 Wade Howerton
13. 56J Jody Horton
14. 97 Keith Chapman
DNS H1 Tony Horton DNS
Josh Fields of Tazewell would set quick time in Sportsman qualifying with a lap of 12.910 seconds earning the pole position for the feature alongside Clyde Overholt. Using the high line to his advantage Overholt slipped into the early lead followed by Fields and Steve Smith of Barbourville, KY. Through the twenty lap feature it was a three way battle with Fields and Smith trying to find any way to get around Overholt for the lead. Leading every lap Overholt scored his fourth win of the season in the Overholt Racing and Fabrication, Noah’s Wholesale, Baker Tree Service, Bailey’s Body Shop sponsored Rayburn Race Car powered by a DJ’s Performance Racing Engine. With eight wins at The Taz this season “The Sneedville Sniper” Jordon Horton was awarded the 2014 Sportsman points champion becoming the only driver to win championships in three different divisions. Clyde Overholt was awarded second and Josh Fields was awarded third in points.
Sportsman
1. 4 Clyde Overholt
2. 11 Josh Fields
3. 2 Steve Smith
4. 5 Josh Chesney
5. 0 Kenny Ford
6. 12 Eric Register
7. 30 Taylor Coffman
8. 18 Anthony Burchett
9. 119 Josh Evans
10. 29 Chris Raines
11. 15 Wade Howerton
12. 02 Michael Hawk
13 24 Andy Wilder
14. 144 Chris Barton
Philip Thompson of Knoxville earned quick time honors in Classic Car qualifying with 2013 Rookie of the Year Joel Wolfenbarger of Corryton turning second fastest time. Wolfenbarger used the preferred outside line to take the early lead in the twenty lap feature. On the second lap Thompson would get loose in turn two allowing Eli Keck to slip into second. Thompson would lose some ground on the leaders until lap twelve when he muscled his way back into second. Thompson set his sights on Wolfenbarger on the next lap staying right on his back bumper. Wolfenbarger was able to hold off the challenge until lap seventeen when he spun going into turn four. Thompson would hold on for his second win in a row in the Classic Car sponsored by Skyline Transportation, Filmax Filtration Systems, Flynn Carpet Service and Logistics Detailers with power from an Eagle Racing Engine. Wolfenbarger would be crowned the 2014 points champion with Justin Overton of Middlesboro awarded second and Thompson awarded third.
Classic Car
1. 24 Philip Thompson
2. C74 Clifford Lane
3. 88 Richie Overholser
4. 99 Justin Overton
5. 59 Matt Tharp
6. 2 Chris Evans
7. 34 Phillip Shockley
8. 13J Joel Wolfenbarger
9. 18 Eli Keck
10. 8 Joe Keck
Kentucky drivers Rufus and John Collett drew the top two positions for the 4 Cylinder feature with John Collett taking the early lead. Joey Allen of Cosby worked his way into second on the third circuit. As the field went into turn three contact between Allen and Danny Pennington would sending both cars spinning and relegated to the tail of the field. On the restart Jeromy Collins would slip into the lead with Chad Manning taking over second. Manning would bring out the caution on lap four and on the ensuing restart Cosby, who had worked his way back through the field, took the lead away from Collins. It would be the third win for Allen in the Allen’s Railroad Contracting, Norton’s Body Shop, New Vision Graphics Ford Mustang. Chuck McMahan was awarded his second points championship in a row with Collins awarded second and Randy Dyke awarded third.
4 cylinder
1. A00 Joey Allen
2. 21 Danny Pennington
3. 10 Chuck McMahan
4. 44J Jeromy Collins
5. 72 Rufus Collett
6. 13 John Collett
7. 66 David Nolan
8. 14 Chad Manning
Jonathan Miracle of Tazewell picked up his ninth win of the season leading every lap of the Pure Street feature in the Dennis Whitaker owned Dodge Ram pick-up with sponsorship from Noah’s Wholesale and Overholt Racing and Fabrication. In an emotional Victory Lane interview Miracle dedicated the win to his truck owner who was transported to a local hospital after collapsing during the trophy presentation. Miracle earned his fourth Pure Street points championship with Jason Saylor awarded second and Kevin Smith awarded third.
Pure Street
1. 26 Jonathan Miracle
2. 58 Steve Smith
3. 12H Hayston Collett
4. 10 Toby Turner
5. 14 Austin Atkins
6. 92T Travis Crosby
7. 42 Jack England
8. 57 Ronnie Romines
On behalf of track owner Gary Hall and all the staff and officials of Tazewell Speedway we want to thank all of the drivers, crews and especially the fans for making the 2014 season such a success. We are looking forward to kicking off our 50th season of racing on Saturday night March 21, 2015. There will be three $10,000 to win Super Late Models races in the 2015 season. On April 11th we welcome back the World of Outlaws Late Model Series and for the tenth year in a row the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will make a stop on May 29th. We will have another $10,000 to win race to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of racing at The Bad Fast Tazewell Speedway.
Josh Henry – Late Model Champion
Jordan Horton – Sportsman Champion
Brad Davis – Modified Street Champion
Joel Wolfenbarger – Classic Car Champion
Chuck McMahan – Four Cylinder Champion
Jonathan Miracle – Pure Street Champion
Jessie Bean – 2014 Tazewell Speedway Hall of Fame inductee
Larry Burke – 2014 Tazewell Speedway Hall of Fame inductee
