Ford, Lewelling, James, Clark, Mays, Burnette visit victory lane at Volunteer Speedway
Ford, Lewelling, James, Clark, Mays, Burnette visit victory lane at Volunteer Speedway
BULLS GAP, Tenn. (May 13, 2023) – April was the “month of money” at Volunteer Speedway, in opening the 2023 racing season by hosting two of the biggest events in the track’s storied history with running of the Kyle Larson FloRacing Late Model Challenge, along with the richest-paying dirt race ever held in the South seeing the XR Super Series $100,000-to-win Spring Thaw.
Attempts to get the first two weekly shows ran were thwarted by inclement weather forecasts. But finally a nice, sunny day in East Tennessee on Saturday saw the pits packed with 123 total race cars and outstanding racing action on the legendary high banks at “The Gap.”
Rusty Ballenger, Vic Hill and Jensen Ford each won Super Late Model heat races, which earned both Ballenger and Hill front row starting berths for the 25-lap feature.
On the initial start of the main event, caution quickly waved followed by the red flag due to a multi-car wreck on the backstretch which saw Austin Neely flip, with Josh Henry, Kaede Loudy, Robby Moses, Brad Dyer and Bryan Shockley getting collected.
Ballenger, a former Crate Late Model champion at Volunteer Speedway, in his first season competing in Super Late Model, grabbed the lead over Hill and Ford. Ballenger put some distance between himself, Hill and Ford, who battled for the second spot. Ford came to life following a late race caution on lap 15.
Ballenger jumped back out to the lead on the restart, but Ford was pressuring him for the point. Ford went to the high side entering the third turn on lap 17, and rocketing off (turn) four Ford grabbed the lead and never looked back en route to capturing the $3,000 victory. Ford, from Johnson City, took the win over Ballenger, Hill, Adam Ahl and John Lewellyn.
Bradley Lewelling of Seymour powered into the lead on the opening lap over newlywed Zach Sise and went the distance in capturing the Combo Late Model (Crate/Sportsman) victory. Lewelling and Sise were followed at the finish by Aaron Guinn, Travis Fultz and Philip Thompson.
Terry James of Newport sped to the Open Wheel Modified feature win over Scott Heath, Kaleb Trent, Reece Ogle and Brandon James.
It was a clean sweep for David Clark of Tazewell as he was fastest in qualifying, won the first heat race, and led flag-to-flag for the Street Stock victory. Finishing behind Clark were Brady Lee, Bobbie Petty, Gary Blanken and Josh Henry.
Bobby Mays of Jonesborough outran John Stevens, Mac Lockhart, Jeff Mays and Kevin Crane to record the Classic win.
James Burnette of Knoxville captured the Front Wheel Drive feature win over Josh Davis, Austin Maples, Jason Ketron and Ray Wyatt.
VOLUNTEER SPEEDWAY – BULLS GAP, TN – SATURDAY, MAY 13, 2023 – RACE RESULTS
SUPER LATE MODEL
1. Jensen Ford #51
2. Rusty Ballenger #1G
3. Vic Hill #1
4. Adam Ahl #7
5. John Llewellyn #90
6. Barrett Lowe #72
7. Ellery Leake #34
8. Chris Chandler #8
9. Brad Dyer #20
10. Mike Bargo #3:16
11. Tim Bounds #11
12. Bryan Shockley #17
13. Brent Cornette #22
Austin Neely #3, Kaede Loudy #126, Josh Henry #B00, Robby Moses #21, Jason Trammell #90J, Steve Smith #3, John Tweed #5, Mike Skelly #777
COMBO LATE MODEL (CRATE/SPORTSMAN)
1. Bradley Lewelling #10B
2. Zach Sise #9
3. Aaron Guinn #97
4. Travis Fultz #329
5. Philip Thompson #24/7
6. Trey Bayne #21
7. Taylor Coffman #30
8. Trevor Sise #73
9. Gary Crittenden #18
10. Austin Atkins #4A
11. Bryson Dennis #15
12. Wes Tilley #31
13. Aaron Jones #7J
14. Ty Walley #14
15. A.J. Ferguson #2
16. Shane Starnes #3S
17. Ray Jarnigan #773
18. Jeff McLemore #J3
19. David Bullington #20
20. Tim Maupin #3
21. Dakota James Smith #3D
22. Jared Witt #9
23. Michael Smith #4
Terry Poore #2P, Matt Barnes #53, Jack Orr Jr. #13, Travis Kennedy #22, Jeff Fox #19
OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED
1. Terry James #J1
2. Scott Heath #35
3. Kaleb Trent #3
4. Reece Ogle #11
5. Brandon James #J31
6. Brandon Mason #15
7. Blake Terry #89
8. Austin Atkins #14
9. Landon Steele #S18
10. Alan Poyner #2
11. Coty Adams #A15
12. Brian Corbin #22
13. Tyler James #17
14. Wayne James #4
15. Tyler Strickland #7
16. Lucas Fuller #77
17. Clancy James #J32
Dathan Dykes #11D
STREET STOCK
1. David Clark #13
2. Brady Lee #31B
3. Bobbie Petty #XP21
4. Gary Blanken #69
5. Josh Henry #B00
6. JD Smith #28
7. Colby Long #10
8. Bo Smith #2B
9. Tracy Wolfe #11
10. Clint Watkins #91
11. Brandon Muncey #31M
12. Kip Rhoton #3
13. Tanner Owens #18
14. Dewayne Maples #2
15. Katilyn Atkins #14K
16. Dylan Boggs #1
17. Damien Holt #18D
18. Brandon Johnson #B01
Mark Brady #12, Kolby Sawyers #10K, Mike Eickleberry #81
CLASSIC
1. Bobby Mays #5
2. John Stevens #7
3. Mac Lockhart #00
4. Jeff Mays #6
5. Kevin Crane #52
6. Travis Ward #4
7. Hugh “Wishbone” Scalf #12
8. Garrett Smith #75
9. Lucas Shelton #28
10. Dakota Bowman #57
11. Robert Buchanan #99B
Mark Sise #3, Merrill Frazier #57F, Bryson Phillips #56
FRONT WHEEL DRIVE
1. James Burnette #18
2. Josh Davis #506
3. Austin Maples #23
4. Jason Ketron #28
5. Ray Wyatt #17W
6. Travis Taylor #21
7. Daniel Beathom #D8
8. Michael Lambert #26
9. Alex Eastridge #00
10. Kaven Greene #14
11. Danny Sandiford #10
12. Robert Holstrom #65
13. William Beeler #42
14. Cody Bean #2B
15. Tanner Tate #2
Bryan Williams #38, Rowdy Long #57R, Danny Tate #D2
Volunteer Speedway: 423-235-5020 www.VolunteerSpeedway.com
Barry Proffitt (2023 Weekly Racing Promoter): 606-335-3915
Josh Proffitt (2023 Weekly Racing Promoter): 606-335-2140
