Lowe, Maupin, Rickett, Cobb visit victory lane at Volunteer Speedway

Lowe, Maupin, Rickett, Cobb visit victory lane at Volunteer Speedway

BULLS GAP, Tenn. (Sept. 24, 2016) — On a day when many people were paying attention to a big Southeastern Conference rivalry football game being played in Knoxville between the Tennessee Volunteers and Florida Gators (which the Vols won by score of 38-28), a good crowd came out for an exciting night of dirt-track racing Saturday at Volunteer Speedway.

Barrett Lowe of Fletcher, N.C., had come oh-so-close to getting his first career Steel Head Late Model win back in mid-summer. He had set fast-time in qualifying and led the whole race, right up to the final lap in the fourth turn with the checkered flag in sight, when what appeared to be a sure victory was taken from his grasp. But the 26-year-old grandson of former NASCAR Late Model Sportsman/Busch Series driver Boscoe Lowe learned a very valuable lesson in racing that night – it’s never over until it’s over.

Once again Lowe was fastest in qualifying for tonight’s 30-lap feature, and at drop of the green he powered out into the lead over Chris Chandler and Chris Barton. With the race running caution-free, Lowe was setting a blistering pace out front and pulling away from those behind him in pursuit.

With Chandler and Barton working to get around the slower car of Jason Bowers on lap 16, both Barton and Bobby Mays got around Chandler. But Barton’s strong run ended on lap 20 when smoke began coming out from underneath his car and he pulled into the pits, thus putting Mays in the second spot followed by Chandler. Chandler got back around Mays for second on lap 21, but there would be no catching Lowe out front.

Lowe cruised to victory over Chandler, with Ellery Leake, Mays and John Tweed rounding out the top five finishers.

The 2016 racing season has been one of change for Tim Maupin of Johnson City, as the 2014 Volunteer Speedway Crate Late Model champion left his former team back at the first of May. Contemplating what direction he wanted to take with his racing going forward, after talking with his father (Tim Maupin Sr.), father-in-law (Dale Ball, five-time Volunteer Speedway Late Model champion) and sponsors, the 33-year-old bought his own ride to campaign. Right off with the new car the results were promising, and over the past three races Maupin had reeled off two runner-up finishes and one third-place run.

Maupin set fast-time in Sportsman Late Model qualifying in a field of 26 competitors, with Heath Alvey second quickest to nail down the outside front row starting berth in the 25-lap feature. Maupin grabbed the lead on the start over Alvey and Jensen Ford. While both Alvey and Ford were having good runs, Maupin was on a mission out front as he quickly began to put some distance between himself and his closest challengers.

But neither Alvey or Ford would be around for the finish as tough “racing luck” sidelined them from contention, first Ford on lap 10 and then four circuits later as Alvey pulled into the pits while under caution following a spin in turn two by Josh Henry.

Back under green and Maupin was in command out front, leading Philip Thompson and multi-time track champion Tim Byrd. A late race caution when Tristen Clawson spun between turns one and two on lap 23 set up a green-white-checkered run to the finish.

Just as he had done throughout the race on restarts following caution periods, Maupin smashed the loud pedal to maintain his position at head of the field. Bryson Dennis made a bold move to overtake Byrd for third, bringing Josh Fields along for the ride into the fourth spot.

But the race belonged to Maupin, as he led flag-to-flag in recording his third career feature win over Thompson, Dennis, Fields and Byrd.

Chris Rickett of Morristown has been a force to be reckoned with this season in the Modified Street division, as he entered the night of racing having visited victory lane on five occasions while also recording four, fourth-place finishes.

Rickett grabbed the lead at start over Jeffrey Melton and was in command out front until the red flag waved for a scary wreck on lap 17 involving Dale Reed. The 41-year-old longtime racing veteran took a wild ride between turns three and four when his car flipped several times before coming to rest upside down. Emergency medical personnel and track officials were quickly on the scene and to cheers from the crowd it was announced that Reed was OK.

When the race resumed, Rickett went on to capture his sixth feature win over Melton, Bo Allison, David Bullington and Shannon Smith.

Terry Cobb of Morristown proved to be the ultimate warrior in winning the 100-lap Enduro race and collecting $2,200 for the victory.

STEEL HEAD LATE MODEL (30 laps)

1. Barrett Lowe #72
2. Chris Chandler #8
3. Ellery Leake #34
4. Bobby Mays #25
5. John Tweed #5
6. Dale Ball #2
7. Jason Bowers #18
8. Bobby Giffin #97
9. Chris Barton #144
10. Josh Henry #B00

SPORTSMAN LATE MODEL (25 laps)

1. Tim Maupin #3
2. Philip Thompson #24
3. Bryson Dennis #15
4. Josh Field #11
5. Tim Byrd #24
6. Robert Skinner #33
7. Adam Mitchell #50
8. Jackie Hughes #27
9. Gary Crittenden #18
10. Tommy Eastridge #37
11. Chris Coffey #97
12. Terry Stone #34
13. Hugh Scalf #56
14. Tristen Clawson #32
15. Kenny Ford #61
16. Tyler Pearson #00
17. Heath Alvey #7
18. Josh Henry #B00
19. Ray Jarnagin #773
20. Kyle Manis #25K
21. Jensen Ford #83
22. Chuck McMurray #00
23. Tyler Arrington #002
24. Dennis Stiles #00

Did Not Start: Rex Coffey #222, Jessie Campbell #22

MODIFIED STREET (20 laps)

1. Chris Rickett #36
2. Jeffrey Melton #j4
3. Bo Allison #9
4. David Bullington #20
5. Shannon Smith #00
6. Kaleb Trent #3
7. Logan Cobb #c4
8. Dale Reed #52
9. Brandon Crawford #00
10. Nick Presley #69
11. Landon Steele #18
12. Wendell Spence #21
13. Tim Kilby #11

Volunteer Speedway (Recording Only): 423-235-5020 www.VolunteerSpeedway.com
Phyllis Loven (Track Owner): 423-676-9081
Vic Hill – Vic Hill Race Engines: 423-312-4206