Hill’s misfortune allows Weiss to capture ‘Scott Sexton Memorial’ Volunteer Speedway victory
Hill’s misfortune allows Weiss to capture ‘Scott Sexton Memorial’ Volunteer Speedway victory
BULLS GAP, Tenn. (July 1, 2016) — Sometimes it pays to be in the right place at the right time, and when opportunity presents itself, you’ve got to capitalize. And that’s just exactly what Ricky Weiss of Headingly, Manitoba, Canada, did Friday at Volunteer Speedway.
Vic Hill, a five-time Super Late Model track champion at “The Gap,” appeared to be headed to victory in the Iron Man Mountain Championship fourth annual Scott Sexton Memorial. But a broken rear-end on Hill’s car with just one lap remaining opened the door for Weiss to capture the $3,052 victory.
Weiss adds his name to the record book with previous Scott Sexton Memorial winners Chris Madden (2013), Brad Neat (2014) and Ray Cook (2015).
The big crowd of fans present for the Fourth of July holiday weekend event saw one of the largest car counts at the track in several years, with a total of 117 race cars packing the pits. Just the reality of the amount of cars present meant that hot laps, qualifying, heat races, B-mains, and main event features for five divisions would lead to a lengthy racing program.
Even with another 90 degree day in East Tennessee, the track had plenty of moisture and was well-soaked. With the tacky racing surface, speeds were incredibly fast. Hill toured the 4/10-mile high-banked oval at 12.029 seconds, just narrowly missing setting a new Super Late Model track qualifying record, which currently stands at 12.001 seconds (120.004 mph).
Hill powered out to the lead at drop of the green flag over Weiss, Mack McCarter, Shanon Buckingham and Skylar Marlar. Setting a blistering pace out front, Hill began to put some distance between his car and those in pursuit.
Buckingham got around McCarter for third on just the second circuit and he began working on Weiss trying to take away the second spot. Buckingham passed Weiss for the position on lap 7, while Ray Cook worked his way past Marlar for fifth on lap 8. Just one lap later the race’s only caution waved when Bobby Giffin slowed to a stop on the track.
Off the restart Hill jumped back out ahead, while Buckingham had issues and both Weiss and McCarter got by him. But Buckingham quickly battled back to overtake McCarter for the third spot.
With the race running clean-and-green following the lap 8 caution, leader Hill was clicking laps off quickly. Weiss was feeling pressure from behind from Buckingham for second place, but he managed to hold off his advances lap-after-lap.
With the race win seemingly secure for Hill, the misfortune of the rear-end breaking just proved that it’s never truly over until it’s over. Cook also fell victim to Hill’s problems when he ran over some debris that cut a tire down and knocked him out of a solid top-five finish.
When Hill began to slow with problems, his Vic Hill Racing teammate Weiss, driving the Landair Transport/The Orthopedic Institute of Western Kentucky/All Rig Towing/AIE Communications Bell Mobility/Keewatin Truck Service/Derrick’s Sandblasting/Hands On Excavating Inc./Vic Hill Racing Engines/Allied Roofing Inc./Forest Flying Services/J&C Trucking/Cousins Farms/Turk Enterprises/Eibach Springs/Metalz In Motion/Wulff Pumps/New Vision Graphics/Schaeffer Oil/MSRMafia.com Marketing Services/Longhorn Chassis/No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro, sped past on the final lap to capture his first-ever victory at the track over Buckingham, Marlar, David Payne and Stacy Boles.
Completing the top 10 finishers were Billy Ogle Jr., Mark Vineyard, Tommy Bailey, Chad Ogle and Jordon Horton.
The Summit Racing Equipment American Modified Series was making their first-ever visit to Volunteer Speedway, with a strong 31-car field representing five states present. Trent Young of Hopkinsville, Ky., held off a hard-charging Josh Harris to capture the $2,000 victory.
Shon Flanary set quick-time in qualifying while Mark Lamont, Camaron Marlar, Matt Cooper and Nick Stroupe respectively won heat races. B-mains were won by Matt Henderson and Robert Poole.
Cooper led the opening three laps before being overtaken by Lamont, and things quickly went downhill for Cooper as mechanical issues sidelined him on lap 6. Two- and three-wide action was taking place all back through the field, with the battle up front among Lamont, Marlar, Stroupe, Young, Harris, Don Adams, Michael Lee, Jody Puckett, Logan Hickey, Flanary, Lucas Lee, Matt Henderson and a host of others keeping the fans entertained..
With Lamont showing the way out front over Stroupe, Adams, Harris and Young on lap 14, Young got up on the wheel to get around both Harris and Adams on lap 15 to advance into third in the running order. But he wasn’t finished as just one circuit later he passed Stroupe for second place. Closing in on leader Lamont’s back bumper, Young made the pass for the lead between turns three and four on lap 21.
One final caution for a spin by Michael Lee on lap 25 would tighten the field back up one last time. Harris got around Lamont on lap 27 and pulled right up to the back of leader Young. However, American Modified Series points leader Young, driving the Snap-On Tools/Mitchell Tools and Motorsports/Ted Brown’s Quality Paint & Body/R&S Equipment/Emma’s Place/Young’s Well Service/Stanton Race Engines-powered ride, would hold on to record his second series win of the season over Harris, Lamont, Lucas Lee and Adams.
Completing the top 10 finishers were Puckett, Wade Rookard, Brian Shaw, Dave Mitchell and Flanary. caution periods.
Jason Trammell of Knoxville earned the pole position for the Steel Head Late Model feature with a fast-lap at 12.977 seconds. Trammell sped out to the lead on the start over outside front-row starter Chris Barton, John Tweed, Greg Estes and Barrett Lowe.
Tweed quickly got around Barton for second, and Barton began to fall backwards rapidly to slide out of the top five. Caution waved on lap 6 for Bobby Mays high in turn two.
Back up to speed, Trammell was riding a rocket in leading his closest challengers. With Trammell in command out front and Tweed comfortable holding down second in the running order, behind the front-running duo a fierce battle for position was waging involving Greg Estes, Barrett Lowe, Jason Cardwell and Jason Manley. However, a late race spin for Manley and a blown engine for Cardwell with just two laps remaining dropped each out of a solid finish.
Trammell captured his second win on the season over Tweed, Estes, Sise and Lowe. Completing the top 10 finishers were Eddie King Jr., Ellery Leake, Josh Henry, Barton and Johnny Ridings.
With a stellar 34-car field of Sportsman Late Models present, the top 18 from qualifying were locked in on time and a B-main would transfer the top six finishers into the feature.
Jensen Ford of Jonesborough set fast-time in qualifying at 13.365 seconds, with Josh Henry close behind at 13.367. Ford jumped out into the lead at the start over Henry, Gary Crittenden, Warren McMahan and Bryson Dennis.
Just four laps in a multi-car wreck on the front straightaway collected Jesse Helton, Eric Webber and Brandon Taylor to bring the caution flag out, ending the night early for each driver.
Back under green and Ford was on a roll out front leading Crittenden, Henry, McMahan and Dennis. But the racing action was intense all back through the field with drivers battling for real estate around the high banks.
Young racers Dennis, Taran Hurst, Tyler Smith and Adam Tolliver were all having strong runs inside the top 10. But making a strong move forward after starting from the tenth spot, Pierce McCarter was on a mission as he was picking cars off quickly to get around Dennis for fifth place on lap 14. Caution waved on lap 22 when McMahan and Matt Tharp tangled.
The stage was set for a three-lap shootout to the finish, with Ford having McCarter glued to his rear bumper for the restart. But Ford would not be denied a trip to victory lane as he captured the win over McCarter, Crittenden, Henry and Dennis. Completing the top 10 finishers were Hurst, Tharp, Tim Maupin, Jody Horton and Andy Ogle.
Brad Davis grabbed the lead on the start of the Modified Street feature over Bill Curl and Chris Rickett. Caution waved on lap 6 for Curl after he got into the outside wall near the flag stand along the front straightaway.
Back under green and Davis was feeling pressure from both Rickett and Gary Blanken. Rickett, from Morristown, was finally able to get around Davis for the lead with just six laps remaining and he went on to record the win over Davis, Blanken, Cody Thompson and Austin Neely.
FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016 – IRON MAN MOUNTAIN CHAMPIONSHIP – “FOURTH ANNUAL SCOTT SEXTON MEMORIAL” (30 LAPS … $3,052-TO-WIN)
Showing Finish Position, Starting Position In Parentheses, Driver Name, Car Number, Hometown
1. (2) Ricky Weiss #7-Headingly, Manitoba, Canada
2. (4) Shanon Buckingham #50-Morristown, TN
3. (5) Skylar Marlar #11-Winfield, TN
4. (10) David Payne #8-Murphy, NC
5. (7) Stacy Boles #11-Clinton, TN
6. (14) Billy Ogle Jr. #201-Knoxville, TN
7. (12) Mark Vineyard #4-Powell, TN
8. (15) Tommy Bailey #11-Corbin, KY
9. (8) Chad Ogle #10-Sevierville, TN
10. (11) Jordon Horton #56-Sneedville, TN
11. (16) Robby Moses #21-Friendsville, TN
12. (6) Ray Cook #52-Brasstown, NC
13. (1) Vic Hill #1-Mosheim, TN
14. (3) Mack McCarter #51-Gatlinburg, TN
15. (9) Ross White #0-Knoxville, TN
16. (18) Doug Smith #45-Harriman, TN
17. (17) Bobby Giffin #97-Maryville, TN
18. (13) Ryan King #30-Seymour, TN
Total Entries: 18
Top Qualifier: Vic Hill 12.029 seconds
Cautions: One (Lap 9)
Red Flags: None
Time of Race: 9 minutes, 34 seconds
Double H Race Fabrication 10th-Place Finisher ($50 certificate): Jordon Horton
American Race Tires South Highest Finisher ($100 certificate): David Payne
Vic Hill Race Engines Highest Finisher ($50 certificate): Ricky Weiss
Revelution Race Cars Highest Finisher ($50 certificate): None
AMERICAN MODIFIED SERIES – OPEN WHEEL (30 laps … $2,000-to-win)
1. Trent Young #10
2. Josh Harris #16
3. Mark Lamont #7
4. Lucas Lee #12
5. Don Adams #90
6. Jody Puckett #j3
7. Wade Rookard #82
8. Brandon Shaw #1
9. David Mitchell #2
10. Shon Flanary #98
11. Matt Henderson #89
12. Michael Lee #55
13. Robert Poole #25
14. Camaron Marlar #357
15. Logan Hickey #16
16. John Clippinger #16
17. Matt Cooper #18
18. Brandon Green #51
19. Colin Green #52
20. Greg Brown #312
21. Taylor Cook #21
22. Nick Stroupe #45
Did Not Make Starting Field: Stanley Donahoo #00, Austin Atkins #14, Wayne James #4, Billy Palmer #36, Amos Bunch #50, Blake Brown #99, Tyler James #j4, Terry James #0, Jeff Akard #00
Summit Racing Equipment Heat #1 (top 4 transfer): Mark Lamont, Josh Harris, Shon Flanary, Lucas Lee, Matt Henderson, Wade Rookard, Austin Atkins, Jeff Akard
Fast Shafts Heat #2 (top 4 transfer): Camaron Marlar, Logan Hickey, John Clippinger, Brandon Green, Stanley Donahoo, Wayne James, Terry James
Hypercoils Heat #3 (top 4 transfer): Matt Cooper, Trent Young, Don Adams, Dave Mitchell, Robert Poole, Blake Brown, Brian Shaw, Amos Bunch
Frankland Racing Equipment Heat #4 (top 4 transfer): Nick Stroupe, Michael Lee, Jody Puckett, Taylor Cook, Greg Brown, Billy Palmer, Colin Green, Wayne James
Out-Pace Racing Products B-Main #1 (top 2 transfer): Matt Henderson, Wade Rookard, Stanley Donahoo, Austin Atkins, Wayne James, Terry James, Jeff Akard
Out-Pace Racing Products B-Main #2 (top 2 transfer): Robert Poole, Greg Brown, Billy Palmer, Amos Bunch, Tyler James, Brian Shaw, Colin Green, Blake Brown
Race Statistics
* Entries: 31
* Race Leaders: 3 (Matt Cooper 1-4; Mark Lamont 5-20; Trent Young 21-30)
* Cautions: 5 (lap 2, lap 4, lap 10, lap 14, lap 25)
* Red Flags: None
* Series Provisional Starters: Brian Shaw, Colin Green
* Quick Car Racing Products Fast Time Award ($100 cash): Shon Flanary 14.060
* All Star Performance Hard Charger Award ($100 certificate): Brian Shaw (started 21st – finished 8th and advanced 13 positions)
* FAST Ignition Systems Live Wire Award ($250 certificate for the highest finisher using a FAST Ignition system): Don Adams
* Maxima Racing Oil Tough Fifth Place Finisher ($50 certificate): Don Adams
* Wilwood Lucky Seven Award ($50 certificate): Wade Rookard
* Summit Racing Equipment Heat 1 Winner ($50 certificate): Mark Lamont
* Wiles Driveshafts Heat 2 Winner ($75 certificate): Camaron Marlar
* Hypercoil Springs Heat 3 Winner (certificate for one spring): Matt Cooper
* Frankland Racing Equipment Heat 4 Winner ($75 certificate): Nick Stroupe
* Out Pace Racing Products B-Main Award ($75 gift certificate to the first non-transfer): Stanley Donahoo
STEEL HEAD LATE MODEL (25 laps … $1,200-to-win)
1. Jason Trammell #90j
2. John Tweed #5
3. Greg Estes #31
4. Trevor Sise #73
5. Barrett Lowe #72
6. Eddie King Jr. #39
7. Ellery Leake #34
8. Josh Henry #B00
9. Chris Barton #144
10. Johnny Ridings #31
11. Jason Manley #32
12. Jason Cardwell #07
13. Mitchell Childress #2
14. Bryan Shockley #17
15. Bobby Mays #25
16. Chris Chandler #8
Did Not Start: R.J. Mayes #7
SPORTSMAN LATE MODEL (25 laps … $800-to-win)
1. Jensen Ford #83
2. Pierce McCarter #71
3. Gary Crittenden #18
4. Josh Henry #B00
5. Bryson Dennis #15
6. Taran Hurst #22
7. Matt Tharp #35
8. Tim Maupin #3
9. Jody Horton #56
10. Andy Ogle #68
11. Vic Chandler #88
12. Tyler Smith #32
13. Rex Coffey #2
14. Brandon Miller #89
15. Warren McMahan #33
16. Philip Thompson #24
17. Adam Tolliver #28
18. Clyde Stanton #c11
19. Ryan Carey #555
20. Kip Sawyer #44
21. Stephen Martin #46
22. Jesse Helton #57
23. Eric Webber #25
24. Brandon Taylor #55
B-MAIN (10 laps – Top 6 Finishers Transfer: 1. Jody Horton #56, 2. Stephen Martin #46, 3. Eric Webber #25, 4. Brandon Miller #89, 5. Philip Thompson #24, 6. Brandon Taylor #55, 7. Tyler Pearson #00, 8. Floyd Branham #53, 9. Floyd Self #3, 10. Richard Adkins #73, 11. Cody Brake #58, 12. Kyle Manis #25, 13. Mike Kelley #X, 14. Bubba Long #10, 15. Tim Byrd #24, 16. Hugh Scalf #56
MODIFIED STREET (15 laps … $500-to-win)
1. Chris Rickett #36
2. Brad Davis #88
3. Gary Blanken #5
4. Cody Thompson #83
5. Austin Neely #3
6. Michael Woods #66
7. Charles Bates #27
8. Tim Kilby #11
9. Dale Reed #52
10. Parker Estes #31
11. Jeffrey Melton #4
12. David Bullington #20
13. Kaleb Trent #3
14. Brandon Crawford #00
15. Shannon Emery #69
16. Bill Curl #57
17. Jeff Ferguson #24
Volunteer Speedway (Recording Only): 423-235-5020 www.VolunteerSpeedway.com
Phyllis Loven (Track Owner): 423-676-9081
Vic Hill (Vic Hill Racing Engines): 423-312-4206
