Ball rolls to Pro Late Model sweep Saturday at Volunteer Speedway
Ball rolls to Pro Late Model sweep Saturday at Volunteer Speedway
BULLS GAP, Tenn. (May 12, 2012) — Twin features for the Fastrak Racing Series-sanctioned Pro Late Model division headlined the racing program Saturday at Volunteer Speedway.
Dale Ball of Johnson City, with Pro Late Model championships to his credit in 2008, 2010 and 2011 – and currently perched atop the points leader-board in attempt to make it a three-peat, pulled off a clean sweep as he parked in victory lane following each race bringing his win total to three this season.
Fast-qualifier Mike Smith and outside front-row starter Ricky Moore brought the 17-car field to green in the first 20-lap event. On the opening lap racing down the backstretch into the third turn, third-starting Ball dove to the bottom of the track to make it three-wide with Smith and Moore between turns three and four in a battle for the lead. Racing up off the fourth turn, Ball moved into the lead over Smith and Moore.
Even though Smith, Jerry Broyles and Moore stayed in contention, Ball, driving the Smith Brothers Harley-Davidson of Johnson City/Kerry Jones Trucking – Bigfoot Enterprises/Luke’s Pizza of Johnson City/Alan Poyner Enterprises/Jim Schweitzer Inc./Mainline Communications/Twin D Auto & Truck Sales of Johnson City/Advance Auto Parts/Envy Suspension & Race Consultants/VP Racing Fuels/Steve Williams Enterprises/Warrior Race Cars/No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro, would not be denied victory as he was chased to the checkers by Smith, Broyles, Moore and Todd Brooks.
Completing the top-10 finishers were Tim Byrd, James Cole, Brad Coffey, Chris Chandler and Tim Maupin.
Vic Chandler and Ball started the second 20-lapper from the front row, with Ball grabbing the lead racing off turn two on the opening lap over Vic Chandler and Moore. Riding a strong mount, Moore got under Vic Chandler for the runner-up position on lap 4 racing off the fourth turn and set his sights on race leader Ball. John Tweed passed Chris Chandler for the fifth spot on lap 7 racing off the second corner.
Showing the way out front, Ball clicked off consistent laps without making a bobble en route to his second win on the night over Moore, Vic Chandler, Tweed and Broyles.
Completing the top-10 finishers were Maupin, John Harrell, Byrd, Chris Chandler and Brooks.
Longtime racing veteran Jon Cook of Jonesborough jumped into the lead over Jamie Whitt, Shannon Emery, Chris Brady and Dale Reed to start the 25-lap Modified Hobby feature. Whitt got under Cook racing off the fourth turn on lap 5 to move into the lead, and up-on-the-wheel digging hard Emery passed Cook for the second spot on the sixth circuit between turns one and two.
With slower traffic looming ahead at the flag stand to begin the ninth lap, Emery dropped down to the inside from running behind Whitt entering turn one to take the lead, as Whitt got trapped in behind a slower car being lapped. The top-four of Emery, Whitt, Cook and Brady had a tremendous battle waging for position all around the high-banked, 4/10-mile oval until Brady slowed and entered the pits just past the halfway mark.
Cook kept sticking the nose of his mount underneath Whitt racing off the corners, but Whitt managed to slam the door shut until the duo raced hard into the first turn on lap 20. Cook dove to the inside of Whitt and racing off the second corner he powered his Bloomingdale Car Care/David’s Engine Shop/Miller’s Tire & Automotive/Dirtwiz Motorsports/No. 0z Chevrolet Monte Carlo past Whitt for position. The pass would prove to be for the victory. Because as Emery, Cook and Whitt raced down the backstretch into turn three, Emery suddenly slowed with rear-end problems, thus moving Cook into the lead.
The 60-year-old Cook held Whitt off for the feature win, with Dennis Metcalf, Chuck Kilian and Reed rounding out the top five at the checkered flag.
Having never sat in the seat of an Open Wheel Modified until Saturday, 18-year-old Mack McCarter of Sevierville showed he was a real “wheelman” as he chauffeured the McCarter Farm/McCarter Lumber/Parkway Liquor & Wine/Liquor & Wine of the Smokies/Ujunkdit.com/Hoosier by Pup/Hypercoils/Ohlins Shocks/Eagle Race Engines/Performance Chassis ride to victory in the 20-lap feature over Jeff Hamby, Pierce McCarter, Wayne James and Jimmy Dalton.
PRO LATE MODEL #1 (20 laps)
1. Dale Ball #2-Johnson City, TN
2. Mike Smith #4-Rogersville, TN
3. Jerry Broyles #72-Jonesborough, TN
4. Ricky Moore #75-Mosheim, TN
5. Todd Brooks #T1-Greeneville, TN
6. Tim Byrd #24-Jonesborough, TN
7. James Cole #5c-Gatlinburg, TN
8. Brad Coffey #88-Maryville, TN
9. Chris Chandler #8-Weaverville, NC
10. Tim Maupin #T2-Johnson City, TN
11. John Tweed #j5-Greeneville, TN
12. Greg Burchett #5-Church Hill, TN
13. Jackie Hughes #27-Johnson City, TN
14. John Harrell #H19-Surgoinsville, TN
15. Vic Chandler #88-Weaverville, NC
16. Richard Adkins #73-Bristol, TN
17. Hugh Scalf #56-Gray, TN
Did Not Start: Tyler Dixon #00-Greeneville, TN
PRO LATE MODEL #2 (20 laps)
1. Dale Ball #2-Johnson City, TN
2. Ricky Moore #75-Mosheim, TN
3. Vic Chandler #88-Weaverville, NC
4. John Tweed #j5-Greeneville, TN
5. Jerry Broyles #72-Jonesborough, TN
6. Tim Maupin #T2-Johnson City, TN
7. John Harrell #H19-Surgoinsville, TN
8. Tim Byrd #24-Jonesborough, TN
9. Chris Chandler #8-Weaverville, NC
10. Todd Brooks #T1-Greeneville, TN
11. Greg Burchett #5-Church Hill, TN
12. Jackie Hughes #27-Johnson City, TN
13. Brad Coffey #88-Maryville, TN
14. Mike Smith #4-Rogersville, TN
15. Richard Adkins #73-Bristol, TN
16. James Cole #5c-Gatlinburg, TN
17. Hugh Scalf #56-Gray, TN
Did Not Start: Tyler Dixon #00-Greeneville, TN
MODIFIED HOBBY (25 laps)
1) Jon Cook #0z; 2) Jamie Whitt #1; 3) Dennis Metcalf #55; 4) Chuck Kilian #96; 5) Dale Reed #52; 6) Tyler Smith #32; 7) Terry Dean #47; 8 ) Jesse Wilder #79; 9) Kimberly Allen #15; 10) Charlie Bates #27; 11) Landon Williams #B21; 12) Shannon Emery #m2; 13) Chris Gregg #73; 14) Rick Fillers #21; 15) Larry Morgan #7; 16) Chris Brady #70; 17) Mike Kelley #8; 18) Daniel Sauceman #18
OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED (20 laps)
1) Mack McCarter #10; 2) Jeff Hamby #15; 3) Pierce McCarter #71; 4) Wayne James #4; 5) Jimmy Dalton #2; 6) Jeff Akard #00
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Dale Ball of Johnson City, driving the Smith Brothers Harley-Davidson of Johnson City/Kerry Jones Trucking – Bigfoot Enterprises/Luke’s Pizza of Johnson City/Alan Poyner Enterprises/Jim Schweitzer Inc./Mainline Communications/Twin D Auto & Truck Sales of Johnson City/Advance Auto Parts/Envy Suspension & Race Consultants/VP Racing Fuels/Steve Williams Enterprises/Warrior Race Cars/No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro, swept both Fastrak Racing Series-sanctioned Pro Late Model features Saturday night for his second and third wins on the season.
Jon Cook of Jonesborough, driving the Bloomingdale Car Care/David’s Engine Shop/Miller’s Tire & Automotive/Dirtwiz Motorsports/No. 0z Chevrolet Monte Carlo, recorded his first Modified Hobby feature win of the season.
Mack McCarter of Sevierville, driving the McCarter Farm/McCarter Lumber/Parkway Liquor & Wine/Liquor & Wine of the Smokies/Ujunkdit.com/Hoosier by Pup/Hypercoils/Ohlins Shocks/Eagle Racing Engines/Performance Chassis ride, captured the Open Wheel Modified feature win in his first-ever start behind the wheel of an open-wheel.
Dale Ball (No. 2), Ricky Moore (No. 75), John Tweed (No. 5), and Jerry Broyles (No. 72) race hard for position in turn two during the Pro Late Model feature.
Tim Byrd (No. 24) and James Cole (No. 5) battle for position during the Pro Late Model feature.
A battle between 88’s – with Vic Chandler (bottom) and Brad Coffey (top) during the Pro Late Model feature.
John Harrell (No. H19) and Jackie Hughes (No. 27) racing hard for position during the Pro Late Model feature.
Pro Late Model action with Todd Brooks (No. T1) and Mike Smith (No. 4).
Jon Cook (No. 0z) looks under Jamie Whitt (No. 1) for the lead on lap 20 during the Modified Hobby feature.
Rick Fillers (No. 21) leads Chuck Kilian (No. 96) for position during the Modified Hobby feature between turns one and two.
Modified Hobby madness with “Chargin’ ” Charlie Bates (No. 27), Jesse Wilder (No. 79) and Chris Gregg (No. 73) running from top-to-bottom between turns one and two.
Jeff Hamby (No. 15) and Wayne James (No. 4) battle for real estate during the Open Wheel Modified feature.
Action between Jimmy Dalton (No. 2) and Pierce McCarter (No. 71) during the Open Wheel Modified feature.
