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Robert Walden
BULLS GAP, Tenn. (May 10) - With the weather finally beginning to feel like spring in the East Tennessee region, Vic "The Thrill" Hill of Morristown, a four-time (1997, '98, 2000 and '05) track champion, used the Pizza Plus "Spring Fling" Saturday night at Volunteer Speedway for what he hopes will be a springboard to several other race wins this season.
Hill, after clocking fast-time during qualifying by running a quick lap of 12.385-seconds to earn the pole position for the "Gateway Ford" Super Late Model feature, launched into the lead on the opening lap over fellow front-row starter Jeff Maupin. Once out front, it was all clear sailing for Hill as he set a blistering pace en route to leading from green-to-checkers, never seriously being challenged for the lead during the race.
With Hill on cruise control out front in the lead over Maupin, Bryan Hendrix was feeling pressure from Bobby Mays for the third position. Fifth-running Mike Smith had a rearview mirror full of Shane Roberts and Dale Ball. On the ninth lap, both Roberts and Ball got around Smith between the third and fourth turns to settle into the fifth and sixth spots, relegating Smith back to seventh in the running order. Ball passed Roberts to move into fifth place on lap 13 racing off turn two.
With Hill holding right at a three-quarters straightaway advantage over Maupin, the event's first caution waved on lap 24 when John Tweed spun. Using the Delaware Double-File restart, Hill was all alone out front going back green, with Maupin and Hendrix side-by-side behind the race leader. Back up to speed, Mays got under Hendrix in turn two to take over third. The yellow waved once again on lap 26 when Brian Smith slowed after breaking a driveshaft on the high-side of turn two.
With the field lining up single-file during the last 10 laps of the main event, Hill, driving the Landair Transport Inc./Pilot Travel Centers/Marsh Propane/Qualcomm/Jerry's Auto Salvage/Beamer's Flooring Outlet/The Hightower Advertising Agency/VP Racing Fuel/Dan Estes Construction/Ohlins/Peterson Fluid Systems/Klushman Racing Components/Comp Cams/Edelbrock/CP Pistons/Brodix/Lunati Cranks/CV Racing Products/Joe Gibbs Performance Synthetic Racing Oil/Jesel/Manley/RaceQuest Motorsports/Vic Hill Racing Engines/Fastlane Signs & Graphics/Team GRT Race Cars/No. 1 Chevrolet Impala SS, sped away from Maupin, Mays, Hendrix and Roberts to capture the $1,500 victory.
Finishing sixth through tenth, respectively, were Michael Jackson, Smith, Tweed, Dempsey Harold Jr. and Ball.
"Finally, it's about time we got us a win," said a smiling Hill after climbing from his car in victory lane. "Not just here at Volunteer Speedway, but I've run strong every time out so far this year in events we've competed in, but we've not been around at the finish to seal the deal and get a victory. Just last week during the 'Thunder" race (Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series) here at 'The Gap,' we had a good car -- winning the fast dash to get the pole position for the main event. While running in third place we lost a right-rear wheel, knocking us out of the race after it messed some stuff up under the car once it (car) dropped down on the track.
"Hey, I've got to thank Stevie Collins, Joey Orr and Bud Orr for all they do back at the shop working on the car during the week … and here at the track on race night. Those guys all bust their butts, they do whatever it takes. My wife Christa, I want to thank her for all she contributes to my racing, along with the support of Marty Evans too. I'd also like to wish a happy Mother's Day to my mom (Phyllis) and to my mother-in-law (Judy). Hopefully we can come back just as good as we were tonight next week and get us another win."
For the second straight week lapped traffic hurt Dale Ball's chances of winning a "Courtesy Chevrolet" Crate Late Model feature. Ball jumped into the lead at the drop of the green flag in the 25-lap feature over Greeneville's Jeff Maupin, Jensen Ford, Steve Jones and Vic Chandler.
Divisional points leader Jones was looking to the inside of Ford between turns one and two on lap 7, trying to take over third in the running order, when slight contact was made and Jones dropped back losing two positions. Just one circuit later, Jones ran hard off into the first turn and looped his mount to bring the caution out.
Only one lap back green, the yellow waved once again for a mishap racing off the fourth turn involving Weston Gantte and Brent Hensley. While the field was under caution, Ford headed into the infield pits parking his ride with mechanical problems to end his race prematurely.
Back under green and with Ball still riding out front in the lead, trailed by Maupin, Chandler, Kelly Glass and R.J. Mayes, the action quickly heated up as Maupin was pressuring Ball for the point, while Glass was riding in Chandler's rearview mirror. Glass made quick work of Chandler to move into third place, while Maupin kept looking to the low-side of Ball for the lead while Ball chose to run the high groove around the corners on both ends of the track.
The battle for the lead between Ball and Maupin was worth the price of admission for the night of racing all by itself. The duo raced side-by-side for three and a half laps before Ball momentarily pulled back ahead. Then on lap 18, while working lapped traffic, Ball got trapped behind slower cars and Maupin made what proved to be the race-winning move for the lead.
Maupin avoided making any mistakes over the remaining laps as he recorded his second Crate Late Model feature win of the season, with Glass getting around Ball in the last five laps of the race to finish in the runner-up position and Ball coming home in third. Fourth and fifth, respectively, were Chandler and Mayes.
"That's just some good, hard racing we had there between myself and Dale (Ball)," said the race winner Maupin from victory lane. "I had a blast out there racing against Dale. He and I both know we can race door-to-door and keep it clean. My car was really good, but I needed to run several green flag laps to get some heat in the tires. I guess lapped traffic is a part of racing, and fortunately tonight everything fell right into place for us when I was able to make my move to take the lead when Dale got trapped in behind those slower cars. A win's a win, I suppose. We ran well, though. I want to thank my car owner Casey Greenlee for letting me drive this Crate Late Model of his. It's a really good car, make that a race-winning car."
Riding out front in a "Rusty Wallace Toyota" Hobby Stock feature is a position Mike Hodges is quite familiar with, as he's already visited victory lane three times this year. But the trouble is, you've got to lead all 20 laps before you can win the race.
With Hodges leading and Jonesborough's Jon Cook in hot pursuit, while the leaders were working slower traffic on lap 14 as they raced off into the first turn Cook got into the rear of Hodges, spinning the leader to bring the caution out. With a clear track ahead and only six circuits remaining to the finish, Cook would not be denied his first victory of the season as he held off a hard-charging Dustin Shaver, Chuck Johnson, Roger Hunter and Dale Reed.
Stanley Donahoo of White Pine withstood early challenges for the lead in the IMCA Open Wheel Modified feature from Chris Brady to eventually pull away for the victory. Donahoo was chased to the checkers by Brady, Jimmy Dalton, Jerry Broyles and Aaron Ogle.
To say the 2008 racing season to date has been nothing but tough luck for Kevin Atwell of Rural Retreat, Va., would be an understatement. Even though he's been a consistent front-runner, his problem has been finishing races. Finally solving engine problems that have sidelined him on three previous occasions, Atwell captured his first "Century 21 Masengill-McCrary Realtors" Mini Stock feature win over Shawn Henry, Ernie Stubblefield, Runah Henry and Terry Dean.
"GATEWAY FORD" SUPER LATE MODEL (35 laps): 1) Vic Hill #1; 2) Jeff Maupin #0; 3) Bobby Mays #25; 4) Bryan Hendrix #5; 5) Shane Roberts #32w; 6) Michael Jackson #Q; 7) Mike Smith #4; 8) John Tweed #5; 9) Dempsey Harold Jr. #09; 10) Dale Ball #7; 11) Phil Helton #24; 12) Brian Smith #7s; 13) Dwight Sams #54 - Did Not Start: Jeff Wolfenbarger #28; J. Allan #111
"COURTESY CHEVROLET" CRATE LATE MODEL (25 laps): 1) Jeff Maupin #0; 2) Kelly Glass #01; 3) Dale Ball #2; 4) Vic Chandler #88; 5) R.J. Mayes #99; 6) Jerry Broyles #72; 7) Todd Brooks #T1; 8) Steve Jones #1; 9) Joe "Dirt" Good #911; 10) Jackie Hughes #27; 11) Ricky Moore #75; 12) James Cole #5; 13) Hugh "Wishbone" Scalf #56; 14) Josh Henry #B00; 15) Allen Carrier #57; 16) Larry Rowe #R0; 17) Brent Hensley #70; 18) Jensen Ford #83; 19) Weston Gantte #14
"RUSTY WALLACE TOYOTA" HOBBY STOCK (20 laps): 1) Jon Cook #0z; 2) Dustin Shaver #7; 3) Chuck Johnson #17; 4) Roger Hunter #7-11; 5) Dale Reed #52; 6) Mike Hodges #m2; 7) Patrick Flannery #38; 8) Ray Jarnigan #31; 9) Bobby Reed #54; 10) Robbie Woods #16; 11) Jesse Wilder #79; 12) Charlie Bates #27; 13) Ralph Mills Jr. #1b; 14) Chris Jenkins #89; 15) Tyler Smith #32; 16) Les Bradley #34; 17) Chris Gregg #9; 18) Everett Cobb #13; 19) Chris Long #75; 20) Terry Dean #47 - Did Not Start: David Shelton #7; Tony Mullinex #71
IMCA OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED (15 laps): 1) Stanley Donahoo #00; 2) Chris Brady #77; 3) Jimmy Dalton #2; 4) Jerry Broyles #72; 5) Aaron Ogle #181; 6) Dave Henslee #24; 7) Jerry Fobare #4f; 8) Jesse Bales #1 - Did Not Start: Terry James #0
"CENTURY 21 MASENGILL-MCCRARY REALTORS" MINI STOCK (20 laps): 1) Kevin Atwell #95; 2) Shawn Henry #B00; 3) Ernie Stubblefield #21; 4) Runah Henry #0; 5) Terry Dean #20r; 6) Brandon Johnson #B01 - Did Not Start: John Broce Jr. #44; Toby Jones #66; Eddie Smith #8s
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