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Robert Walden
BULLS GAP, Tenn. (June 13) - With Fan Appreciation Night at Volunteer Speedway presented by Rusty Wallace Toyota of Morristown being pushed back one night to Saturday due to inclement weather around the East Tennessee region on Friday, Vic "The Thrill" Hill of Morristown laid the smack down on the stellar field of competitors to capture victory in the $3,000-to-win Friday Night Fights "TSC Cars" Super Late Model feature.
Hill's third straight victory also earned the four-time (1997, 1998, 2000 and 2005) track champion the $1,000 "Get Wrapped! - Primetime Designs Race Decals Challenge" bonus, boosting his night's winnings to $4,000.
"These 'Friday Night Fights' shows are really great for local racers here in East Tennessee," said Hill following his impressive run in victory lane. "I'm sure I speak for all racers, we're very thankful to track owner Joe Loven for stepping up and holding these $3,000-to-win events. Besides the winner's share of the purse, it's good pay all back through the field. In these tough economic times, and with the costs of racing so expensive, it's great to get to race for a good payday close to your race shop without having to travel everywhere. I also want to thank Primetime Designs owner Dean Jones for putting up the $1,000 bonus to a driver who can win three straight races, that's an awesome deal."
Michael Smith toured the high banks at 12.418-seconds (115.960 mph) to earn the pole for the 50-lap feature on his first of two qualifying laps. But unfortunately for Smith disaster struck when he slammed the outside guardrail between turns one and two on his second qualifying lap, trying to better his first lap time, and wasn't able to start the feature.
The same misfortune happened to Jimmy Owens on his qualifying run. Coming off a $100,000 victory last weekend at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio at "The Dream" - Owens' hopes of winning at his home-track that helped launch him into national prominence as one of the country's top dirt late model racers quickly turned into a nightmare - when he also slammed hard into the outside guardrail between turns one and two. With significant damage to his car Owens was unable to makes repairs to start the feature.
Leading the 19-car field to green were Jeff Maupin and Joe Armes on the front row. Back around to the start-finish line completing the opening lap, Maupin led Armes by about one-foot. But Armes rocketed off turn two on the high-side down the backstretch to move into the lead, with Maupin, Hill, Kerry Jones and Earl Pearson Jr. in tow.
The event's only caution waved on lap 2 when Jensen Ford, who was making his first-ever Super Late Model start after having been quite successful winning Crate Late Model races, got together in a racing incident with Dale Ball between turns one and two and ended up against the outside guardrail to end his night early.
Armes led Maupin, Hill, Jones and Pearson back up to speed on the restart. Just behind the leader Maupin had his hands full with Hill, who was on a mission trying to quickly work his way to the front.
Racing hard down the front straightaway deep into the first turn on lap 4, Hill drove in above Maupin high up in the banking. Rim-riding through the corners he carried momentum off turn two down the backstretch to pass Maupin for second place. Directly in front of him Hill had Armes lined-up in his sights. But Armes was enjoying his moment in the spotlight riding out front.
Over the next several circuits, the battle up front for the lead among Armes and Hill was well worth the price of admission all in itself. And just behind the front-running duo of Armes and Hill - Maupin had Jones and Pearson breathing down his neck.
Hill raced to the inside of Armes on lap 16 between turns one and two. Getting a strong run off the corner he was able to make the pass for the lead - which would be a lead he would never relinquish.
Knowing a win would deposit a total of $4,000 into his bank account, Hill got up on the wheel and hustled his Landair Transport Inc./Pilot Travel Centers/Miller Brothers Coal Inc./American Racing Tire South/VP Racing Fuels/Dan Estes Construction/Ohlins/Peterson Fluid Systems/Comp Cams/Edelbrock/CP Pistons/Gary Williams Fuel Systems/Lunati Cranks/CV Racing Products/Joe Gibbs Driven Performance Synthetic Racing Oil/Jesel/Manley/Simpson/Vic Hill Racing Engines/Fastlane Signs & Graphics/Real Wheels/Team GRT Race Cars/No. 1 Chevrolet Impala SS around the high-banked, 4/10-mile track at a blistering pace. At the race's midpoint he had pulled out to a half-straightaway advantage over Armes and Maupin, and it was another 10 car lengths back to Jones and Pearson.
After working on Jones for several circuits trying to take over fourth in the running order, Pearson finally was able to make the pass for position on lap 29 racing off the fourth turn. Just outside the top-five, Chad Ogle and Ball were engaged in a spirited battle for seventh. Racing off turn two on lap 35, Ball got the better of Ogle and secured the position. Just two circuits later Ogle lost another spot when John Blankenship passed him for eighth.
While battles for position waged back through the field, Hill was in command out front with the cruise control on. He sped to the checkers holding a full-straightaway lead over Armes for the victory. Finishing third through fifth, respectively, were Maupin, Pearson and Jones.
Completing the top 10 finishers were Eric Jacobsen, Ball, Blankenship, Ogle and Bryan Hendrix.
"Our car is so good right now here at 'The Gap' it's unreal," Hill said. "I've been fortunate enough to win the track championships and all the races here over the years, but I'm telling you - this car is handling so good I don't believe I've ever had one (car) to work this well. This race team, we're having a blast winning these 'Friday Night Fights' races. These events are really bringing some strong-running cars in to race. It really gives you a good boost of confidence when you can run as well as we currently are.
"I want to thank Jason (Lawson) back at the race engine business (Vic Hill Racing Engines), along with my crew chief Shawn Gage, Bud Orr, Joey Orr, Jess Tweed, and the support of my nephew Gavin Kress and also Marty Evans. To run as well as we are, it all begins during the week back at the shop preparing the car. I also want to than my wife Christa for all she contributes to my racing. It's been a great run here this season to date winning three of these $3,000 'Friday Night Fights' shows, and hopefully we're going to be really good in a couple of weeks on the Fourth of July at the big $10,000-to-win Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event. It'd be awesome to win that deal. We've got a good car, and all it will take is a little good luck and hopefully we'll have a strong run."
Vic Chandler of Weaverville, N.C., had captured a Super Late Model victory in the past at "The Gap" but had never recorded a "Courtesy Chevrolet" Pro Late Model feature win for crate-engine cars. That all changed as Chandler led all 25 laps in holding off Shanon Buckingham for the victory.
Chandler grabbed the lead over Tony Trent, Jerry Broyles, Buckingham and Ricky Moore at the start. On lap 2 racing off the fourth turn Buckingham passed Broyles to take over third. Dale Ball worked his way around Moore racing off turn two for fifth in the running order on lap 4. The race ended for divisional point leader Broyles when his engine erupted in smoke on lap 9 to bring out the caution.
Chandler was riding on the point for the restart trailed by Trent and Buckingham. Buckingham was sticking the nose of his mount under Trent in the turns on both ends of the track, and racing off (turn) two on lap 12 he pulled the trigger and completed the pass to move into second place.
Quickly closing on the rear bumper of race leader Chandler, Buckingham tried his best to overtake the veteran chauffeur. But Chandler would slam the door shut on each of Buckingham's attempts to wrestle the lead away, and in doing so he captured the victory with Buckingham coming home in the runner-up position. Finishing third through fifth, respectively, were Trent, Ball and Moore.
Jamie Whitt of Wise, Va., jumped into the lead at the start of the 20-lap "McDonald's" Hobby Stock feature and when the checkered flag waved he was parked in victory lane celebrating his first feature win of the season. Whitt was pressured for the lead in the early laps by pole-sitter Ray Jarnigan, until Jarnigan tangled with a car he was attempting to lap on the sixth circuit and spun in turn two.
R.J. Mayes mounted a charge trying to overtake Whitt for the lead during the final 10 laps, but Whitt repeatedly held off the advances from Mayes down the stretch to capture the victory. Chasing Whitt across the stripe were Mayes, Chuck Johnson, Jesse Helton and Jarnigan, who worked his way back up through the field for a solid top-five finish.
"TSC CARS" SUPER LATE MODEL (50 laps)
(Showing Finish Position, Driver, Car Number, Hometown)
1. Vic Hill #1-Morristown, TN
2. Joe Armes #77-Petros, TN
3. Jeff Maupin #0-Greeneville, TN
4. Earl Pearson Jr. #44-Jacksonville, FL
5. Kerry Jones #6-Bristol, TN
6. Eric Jacobsen #5j-Sea Cliffe Beach, CA
7. Dale Ball #7-Johnson City, TN
8. John Blankenship #23-Williamson, WV
9. Chad Ogle #10-Sevierville, TN
10. Bryan Hendrix #5-Knoxville, TN
11. Tim Huddleston #24-Clinton, TN
12. Dusty Carver #9-Englewood, TN
13. John Tweed #5T-Greeneville, TN
14. David Crabtree #41-Maryville, TN
15. Rick Combs #11H-Bethel, OH
16. Mark Vineyard #4v-Powell, TN
17. Herman Goddard #22-Knoxville, TN
18. Todd Morrow #T16-East Ridge, TN
19. Jensen Ford #83-Piney Flats, TN
Did Not Start: Michael Smith #4-Rogersville, TN; Jimmy Owens #20-Newport, TN
Race Statistics
Entries: 21 representing five states (TN, FL, CA, WV, OH)
Caution Flags: (1) Jensen Ford (Lap 2)
Lap Leaders: (3) Jeff Maupin (Lap 1); Joe Armes ( Lap 2-15); Vic Hill (Lap 16-50)
Time Trials
(Showing Qualifying Position, Driver, Time, Speed)
1. Michael Smith - 12.418 - 115.960
2. Joe Armes - 12.488 - 115.310
3. Jeff Maupin - 12.580 - 114.478
4. Vic Hill - 12.608 - 114.212
5. Kerry Jones - 12.623 - 114.084
6. Earl Pearson Jr. - 12.672 - 113.640
7. Chad Ogle - 12.679 - 113.578
8. David Crabtree - 12.693 - 113.450
9. Jensen Ford - 12.698 - 113.408
10. Eric Jacobsen - 12.849 - 112.076
11. Dale Ball - 12.857 - 112.004
12. Dusty Carver - 12.875 - 111.846
13. John Blankenship - 12.922 - 111.442
14. Mark Vineyard - 12.928 - 111.398
15. Bryan Hendrix - 12.944 - 111.256
16. Todd Morrow - 13.084 - 110.062
17. Tim Huddleston - 13.093 - 109.985
18. Herman Goddard - 13.229 - 108.857
19. John Tweed - 13.330 - 108.036
20. Rick Combs - NT
21. Jimmy Owens - NT
"COURTESY CHEVROLET" PRO LATE MODEL (25 laps)
1) Vic Chandler #88; 2) Shanon Buckingham #50; 3) Tony Trent #18; 4) Dale Ball #2; 5) Ricky Moore #75; 6) Jackie Hughes #27; 7) Joe "Dirt" Good #911; 8) Todd Brooks #T1; 9) Tim Byrd #24; 10) James Cole #5; 11) Allen Carrier #57; 12) Mark Vicars #7; 13) Ken Wilkerson #21; 14) Jerry Broyles #72
"MCDONALD'S" HOBBY STOCK (20 laps)
1) Jamie Whitt #1j; 2) R.J. Mayes #6m; 3) Chuck Johnson #17; 4) Jesse Helton #4; 5) Ray Jarnigan #73; 6) Dennis Metcalf #55; 7) Chris Long #75; 8) Dale Reed #52; 9) Mike Kelley #8; 10) Patrick Flannery #88; 11) Bobby Reed #54; 12) Tony Reed #71; 13) Devin Helton #17H; 14) Jesse Wilder #79; 15) Roger Hunter #7-11; 16) Eddie Adams #9; 17) Mike Mays #30; 18) Charlie Bates #27; 19) Stan Gordon #34; 20) Emory Harvey Jr. #74; 21) David Shelton #4
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