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Robert Walden
BULLS GAP, Tenn. (July 19) - Vic "The Thrill" Hill of Morristown paced the 19-car "Gateway Ford" Super Late Model field in qualifying by running a fast-lap of 12.377-seconds (116.344 mph) to earn the pole for the 35-lap feature.
Hill grabbed the lead over Jeff Maupin racing off turn two, and back around to the stripe to complete the opening lap Shane Roberts, Mike Smith and Mark Douglas rounded out the top five in the running order. The event's first caution waved on the second lap when John King II got into the outside guardrail in the first turn. After heading into the pits to let his crew look the car over, King tagged on at the rear of the field for the restart.
The Delaware double-file restart had Hill all alone out front, with Maupin and Roberts lined up side-by-side behind, followed by Smith and Douglas. Running strong on the bottom, Douglas passed Roberts to move into the third spot racing off the fourth turn on lap 3. Douglas immediately began to challenge Maupin for the runner-up position, sticking his nose under Maupin (who was running the high groove) as they raced off the corners. But carrying the momentum off the high-side, Maupin would power back ahead of Douglas racing down the straightaway.
With Smith running in fifth and Bobby Mays in sixth, they tangled and both spun between turns three and four to bring out the caution. Both fell to the tail of the field going back green.
Hill once again sprinted out to an eight car-length advantage over Maupin, who had Douglas riding in his rearview mirror. Ninth-starting Kerry Jones passed Roberts racing off the second turn on the fifth circuit to move into fourth in the running order. Also making a strong run up through the field, after starting in 15th, was Dale Ball.
Ball found the outside groove to his liking as he began to pick off Michael Jackson, Travis Greer, legendary veteran Herman Goddard, Roberts, Chad Ogle and then around Bryan Hendrix racing off turn two on lap 14 to move into fifth. With the leader Hill working slower cars at the tail of the field, Maupin closed to within two car lengths on lap 20. Just one circuit later caution waved when Brandon James spun between turns three and four.
Going back green on the Delaware double-file restart Hill had a clear view out front, with Maupin and Douglas behind the race leader, followed by Jones and Ball. Racing hard off into the first turn, Douglas and Maupin raced door-to-door off turn two. Still digging down on the bottom, battling Maupin for the runner-up spot, Douglas spun between turns one and two on lap 23 to bring out the caution.
The quartet of Hill, Maupin, Jones and Ball were walking in rhythm up front, but making noise racing his way back up through the field following his early race spin, Smith passed Jackson to move into the fifth spot on lap 24. The final caution waved on lap 29 when Mays slowed high in turn four with a broken rear-end, setting up a six-lap dash to the checkers.
Hill, driving the Landair Transport Inc./Pilot Travel Centers/Miller Brothers Coal/Qualcomm/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 Driven Racing Oil/Jesel/Manley/RaceQuest Motorsports-David Bryant/Vic Hill Racing Engines/Fastlane Signs & Graphics/Real Wheels/American Race Tires/Team GRT Race Cars/No. 1 Chevrolet Impala SS, sped to his third feature win, with Maupin, Jones, Ball and Jones rounding out the top-five.
Completing the top 10 finishers were Ogle, Hendrix, Jackson, King and Goddard.
"This is a very good win for us tonight over a quality field of cars, and I hope this big crowd present enjoyed the racing," said Hill while being interviewed in victory lane. "I'm telling you, we had a really strong field of cars here tonight for a weekly show. Anytime you can outrun Jeff (Maupin), Kerry (Jones), Dale (Ball) and 'Pizza Boy' (Mike Smith), Mark Douglas and others, you've had a good night. With our win and Maupin running second and Smith in fifth, that's three Vic Hill Racing Engines in the top five, and I like seeing that.
"I'd like to commend Joe Loven (track owner) for having this place as racy tonight as it was, especially considering it was in the mid-90s today and with the winged sprint cars also racing. The track was multi-grooved. You could really sail the car off hard into the first turn and rim-ride around the top between turns one and two. By doing that you are really carrying some speed off turn two as you go down the backstretch. Our American Racers performed excellent tonight, and I really look forward to next week's 'Southern Nationals.' I'm sure a strong field of cars will be here for the big race, but our car's really been good all this season here at 'The Gap' and I'd love nothing more than to run up front and hopefully get another win."
Dale Ball of Johnson City, driving the Smith Brothers Harley-Davidson of Johnson City/Alan Poyner Enterprises/Mainline Communications/Jim Schweitzer Inc./Charles Byrd and Son (Timmy Byrd) Logging/Broyles Tire/Twin D Auto & Truck Sales/Tri-City Rubber & Gasket Co./Advance Auto Parts/Bilstein Shocks/Steve "The Man" Williams/Warrior Race Cars/No. 2 Pontiac GTO, jumped into the lead at the drop of the green in the 25-lap "Courtesy Chevrolet" Crate Late Model feature, and when the checkered flag waved he was a full-straightaway ahead of runner-up Kelly Glass to record his first victory of the season. With the victory and five top-five finishes this season, Ball has narrowed Glass' divisional track point standings lead down to eight points. Finishing third through fifth, respectively, were Chris Chandler, Vic Chandler and Tony Trent.
O'REILLY UNITED SPRINT CAR SERIES "SUMMER FURY AT THE GAP" (30 laps)
1. Terry Gray #10-Bartlett, TN
2. Ronnie Blair #35-Dayton, OH
3. Johnny Bridges #07-Cherryville, NC
4. Steven Lines #23-Melbourne, Australia
5. Brad Wickham #6-Forest City, NC
6. Jon Stinson #26s-Memphis, TN
7. David Adkins #27-Winston Salem, NC
8. Clint Weiss #0x-Phenix City, AL
9. Jake McClain #67-Indian Trails, NC
10. Bronzie Lawson III #3B-Raeford, NC
11. Bronzie Lawson IV #1-Raeford, NC
12. Tom Selhorst #3T-Clearwater, FL
13. Michael Craddock #31-Olive Branch, MS
14. Nick Bashford #24x-Mexico, NY
K&N Filters Fast Time Award: Terry Gray 11.672-seconds … 123.384 mph (New all-time track record.)
Lucas Oil Power Dash: Terry Gray, Steven Lines, Ronnie Blair, Johnny Bridges, Jon Stinson, Jake McLain.
Engler Machine and Tool First Heat Race: Terry Gray, Johnny Bridges, Steven Lines, Bronzie Lawson IV, Brad Wickham, Nick Bashford.
Butlerbuilt Second Heat Race: Bronzie Lawson III, Ronnie Blair, Jon Stinson, David Adkins, Clint Weiss, Tom Selhorst, Michael Craddock.
"GATEWAY FORD" SUPER LATE MODEL (35 laps)
1. Vic Hill #1-Morristown, TN
2. Jeff Maupin #0-Greeneville, TN
3. Kerry Jones #6-Bristol, TN
4. Dale Ball #7-Johnson City, TN
5. Mike Smith #4-Rogersville, TN
6. Chad Ogle #10-Sevierville, TN
7. Bryan Hendrix #5-Knoxville, TN
8. Michael Jackson #Q-Greeneville, TN
9. John King II #11k-Kingsport, TN
10. Herman Goddard #22-Knoxville, TN
11. Travis Greer #11g-Marion, VA
12. Marty Calloway #7c-Maynardville, TN
13. Phil Helton #24h-Clinton, TN
14. Brandon James #j1-Newport, TN
15. Bobby Mays #25-Jonesborough, TN
16. Mark Douglas #52-Knoxville, TN
17. Shane Roberts #32w-Bluff City, TN
18. Dempsey Harold Jr. #09-Church Hill, TN
Did Not Start: Dennis Stiles #00-Jonesborough, TN
"COURTESY CHEVROLET" CRATE LATE MODEL (25 laps)
1) Dale Ball #2; 2) Kelly Glass #01; 3) Chris Chandler #8; 4) Vic Chandler #88; 5) Tony Trent #18; 6) Josh Henry #B00; 7) Jackie Hughes #27; 8) Ken Wilkerson #21; 9) Allen Carrier #57; 10) Joe "Dirt" Good #911; 11) Ricky Moore #75; 12) Mark Sant #79w; 13) Hugh "Wishbone" Scalf #56; 14) Tommy Eastridge #37; 15) Travis Trent #5; 16) James Cole #5c; 17) Larry Rowe #R0; 18) Brent Hensley #70; 19) Jeff Maupin #0; 20) Jerry Broyles #72 Paul Whitten
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