Ford, Mitchell, Kinzer, Clark, Millsap, Byers visit victory lane at Volunteer Speedway

BULLS GAP, Tenn. (June 5, 2020) — With scattered thunderstorms popping up all around East Tennessee, Mother Nature threatened to wash racing out Friday at Volunteer Speedway. But following a brief later afternoon shower, the skies cleared and fans were treated to an exciting night of racing on the high banks at “The Gap.”

Adam Mitchell was fastest at 13.254 seconds over 21 Sportsman Late Model competitors in qualifying to earn the pole starting position for the 25-lap feature. Mitchell rocketed out to the lead at the start over Dustin Ratliff and Brad Seagle. Behind the leader Mitchell, racing action was two- and three-wide involving Ratliff, Seagle, Addison Cardwell, Warren McMahan, Brad Dyer, David Bullington, Kyle Manis, Clyde Stanton, Cody Gloyne and Jackie Yates.

Longtime Super Late Model racer Brandon Kinzer from the Bluegrass State made the decision over the offseason to climb behind the wheel of an Open Wheel Modified this season. During the first half of the 20-lap feature Blake Brown and Kinzer battled for the lead. Brown’s hopes of winning were dashed on lap 13, when the left-rear wheel (hub) broke off his mount between turns three and four to bring out the caution. Kinzer went on to capture the Open Wheel Modified win over Jesse Rupe, Wayne James, Jody Puckett and Jamie Mosley

Veteran racer David Clark is always a threat to win, as he led the Modified Street class last year with five victories. But tonight he was not only racing looking to park in victory lane, he was also behind the wheel with a heavy heart after recently losing two of his close friends (Wendell “Doc” Petty and John Young). Clark grabbed the lead over Wayne Rader and Tyler Haynes at drop of the green and quickly began to put several car lengths between himself and those in pursuit. Logan Hickey worked his way around Haynes and Rader to move into second place just before halfway. The only thing slowing Clark were a couple of caution periods, and on the following restarts Hickey drove off into the corners hard to briefly move ahead of Clark. But Clark was a man on a mission, and would not be denied capturing an emotional victory for his fallen friends as he won over Hickey, Haynes, Rader and Bobby Petty.