Ballenger, Helton, Hux, Stevens, Driskill, Griffin capture Volunteer Speedway victories
Ballenger, Helton, Hux, Stevens, Driskill, Griffin capture Volunteer Speedway victories
BULLS GAP, Tenn. (June 15, 2019) — With free grandstand admission for the first 50 dad’s Saturday at Volunteer Speedway in recognition of Father’s Day weekend, fans were lined up before grandstand gates opened for a six division racing program at “The Gap.”
Track owner Landon Stallard vowed on social media he would pay $1,500 to win the Crate Late Model feature if at least a 20-car field was present instead of the regular $1,000 winner’s money, and with 25 cars signed-in competitors were gunning for the increased payout.
Rusty Ballenger of Sevierville and Tyler Arrington started alongside one another on the front row and Arrington took the early lead. But Arrington’s hopes of winning ended on lap 6 when he pulled into the infield pits.
With Ballenger assuming the lead, his run out front was by no means easy as both Brandon Williams and Jason Welshan gave him a battle. Welshan’s strong third place run while racing hard with Williams and Ballenger saw him get into the wall to bring out the caution. After entering the pits to allow his crew opportunity to pull the right-rear quarter panel out away from the tire, Welshan rejoined the race at rear of the field.
Back under green the racing action was good all back through the field, with drivers swapping positions. But out front Ballenger was in command as he drove a mistake-free race to bring home the win over Williams, Zach Sise, Chris Chandler and Bobby Mays.
Jesse Helton of Rogersville led from start-to-finish in capturing his first-ever Sportsman Late Model victory over Adam Mitchell, Clyde Stanton, David Miley and Chris Coffey.
In a very competitive Modified Street feature Eric Hux of Parrottsville got his first win of the season over Wayne Rader, Michael Woods, Kurt Owens and Jeffrey Melton.
John Stevens of Wallins Creek, Ky., won his third straight Classic feature by outrunning Adam Engel, Michael Millsap, Charles Bates and Shane Taylor.
Josh Driskill of Newport earned bragging rights by beating teammate Shawn Henry for the Street Stock victory, followed by David Kerr, Brandon Johnson and Dan Smith.
Rodney Griffin of Kingston won the Mini Stock feature over Chuck McMahan, Chad Manning, Tommy Cameron and Mitchell Fox.
Another action-packed six division racing program is scheduled next Saturday, June 22 at Volunteer Speedway. For more information you may call the track office at (423) 235-5020, visit the website at www.VolunteerSpeedway.com or contact General Manager Doug Gillenwater at (423) 676-9080.
CRATE LATE MODEL (30 laps)
1. Rusty Ballenger #29
2. Brandon Williams #95
3. Zach Sise #9
4. Chris Chandler #8
5. Bobby Mays #25
6. Heath Alvey #7
7. Mike Smith #4
8. Rusty Webb #22
9. Tim Byrd #24
10. Gary Crittenden #18
11. Austin Atkins #14
12. Tim Maupin #3
13. Cameron Skinner #33
14. Jason Welshan #01
15. Randy Kinder #00
16. Philip Thompson #24
17. Jackie Hughes #27
18. Adam Tolliver #28
19. Tyler Smith #32
20. Josh Henry #B00
21. Ross White #0
22. Tyler Arrington #002
23. Kevin Jackson Jr. #20
24. Reece Ogle #11
Did Not Start: Kris Pauley #B54
SPORTSMAN LATE MODEL (25 laps)
1. Jesse Helton #25
2. Adam Mitchell #50
3. Clyde Stanton #c11
4. David Miley #71
5. Chris Coffey #97
6. Brad Dyer #20
7. Lucas Fuller #77
8. Joshua Evans #119
9. Grant Corum #49
10. Floyd Self #3
11. David Bullington #20
12. Chris Long #75
13. Justin Talley #23
14. Billy Galloway #G21
15. Mike Kelley #7E
16. Brandon Waller #71W
Did Not Start: Nicholas Shelton #9
MODIFIED STREET (20 laps)
1. Eric Hux #01
2. Wayne Rader #01R
3. Michael Woods #66
4. Kurt Owens #14
5. Jeffrey Melton #4
6. Kaleb Trent #3
7. Shannon Emery #M2
8. Mike Williams #119
9. Lance Creasman #c8
10. Gary Blanken #05
Did Not Start: Logan Hickey #1
CLASSIC (20 laps)
1. John Stevens #7
2. Adam Engel #J16
3. Michael Millsap #515
4. Charles Bates #27
5. Shane Taylor #42
6. Chris McKinney #113
7. Shaun Sise #35
8. Tim Bounds #11
9. Jim Canning Jr. #31
10. Tony Reed #9
11. Adam Ogle #8
12. Dylan Wolfe #1
STREET STOCK (20 laps)
1. Josh Driskill #D00
2. Shawn Henry #25
3. David Kerr #71K
4. Brandon Johnson #B01
5. Dan Smith #05
6. Austin Lefevers #90
7. Marvin Green Jr. #15
8. Coby Scott #4
9. Caleb Byrd #06
10. Wendell Williams #71
11. Seth Aytes #62
12. Jason Rollins #012
MINI STOCK (20 laps)
1. Rodney Griffin #97
2. Chuck McMahan #99
3. Chad Manning #7up
4. Tommy Cameron #40
5. Mitchell Fox #1
6. Greg Everhart #70
7. Robert Fox #5
8. Walter Walsh #3rd Man
Did Not Start: Stephen Russell #77
