FUTLZ RETURNS TO VICTORY LANE

August 3, 2013 - Welcoming in the hot month of August the ever faithful Tazewell Speedway fans and drivers witnessed another wild night filled with door to door racing and flared tempers on and off the track. The Modified Street division would kick off the night with young driver Dakotah Knuckles of Ewing, VA setting fast time in qualifying for the second week in a row. Knuckl...es would draw the pole position on the invert and share the front row with last week's winner Gary Blanken of Morristown. Blanken quickly took the point followed by Knuckles, Cyde Overholt, Robbie Buchanan and Tony Horton. With Blanken taking charge up front the battle was for the top five spots as Horton moved around Buchanan and Overholt to take over third. Knuckles would drop out on lap thirteen with problems giving second over to Horton. A caution with a handful of lap remaining would give Horton a chance to challenge Blanken for the lead. It wasn't enough as Blanken pulled away with two to go and held off Horton to record his sixth win of the season in the Britt's Welding, Morristown Towing and Automotive, Sonny's Collision, Mack's Auto Salvage, West Side Market, DJ's Performance Engine Monte Carlo.

Modified Street
1. 5 Gary Blanken
2. 56 Tony Horton
3. 4 Clyde Overholt
4. 54 Larry Burke
5. 88 Brad Davis
6. 21K Dakotah Knuckles
7. P21 Robbie Buchanan
8. 33 Warren Mcmahan
9. 1 David Clark

Andy Wilder of Miracle, KY would claim his first late model pole with a lap of 12. 859 second in Sportsman qualifying and draw the outside pole for the feature alongside Anthony Burchett. Wilder, who was also looking for his first ever late model win, jumped into the lead followed by Burchett, Steve Carr, Wayne Rader, and Heath Alvey. Just as Wilder was distancing himself from the field he tagged the outside wall in turn three collecting several cars including Burchett, Alvey, Rader and Josh Chesney. Wilder would retire with heavy right side damage and Burchett's night would end as well. Carr would take over the lead followed by Rader and Alvey. The yellow flag would fly on lap five for Horton and Derrick Shockley as they spun on the track. During the caution Alvey would drop out with problems. Caution would fly once again on lap thirteen as Horton made contact with Rader as he was passing for position coming out of turn four. Horton would rebound to finish thrid. Up front it was Carr leading the rest of the way in the Odello Enterprises, Holston Auto parts, Spider Race Engine powered Hopson Race Car.

Sportsman
1. 77 Steve Carr
2. 7 Heath Alvey
3. 56H Jordan Horton
4. 46 Derrick Shockley
5. 01 Wayne Rader
6. XXX Josh Chesney
7. 88 Billy Gordon
8. X Mike Kelley
9. 18 Rick Welch
10. 24 Andy Wilder
11. 18 Anthony Burchett
12. 97 Keith Chapman
13. 8 Larry Moore
DNS 35 Matt Tharp

During a break from the racing action 20,000 nickels were spread out on the front stretch with children 14 and under given the opportunity to gather as many nickels as possible. Special thanks goes to Home Federal Bank for providing the nickels.

The action didn't stop as the 4 Cylinders took to the track for their feature. Last year's point champion Bubby Braden would share the front row with James Collett, Jr. The field would storm into turn one after taking the green with several cars going three wide while battling for position. As Braden was taking the lead down the back stretch he would make contact with James Collete's car sending him nose first into the outside turn three wall. Braden's car would go airborne for a moment before landing on all four wheels and collecting the car of Daris Braden. Bubby Braden would emerge uninjured. Hayston Collett would inherit the lead after the caution followed by Chuck McMcmahan, James Collett Jr., and Brad Pressley. By lap five Kurt Owens had moved into third after starting at the tail of the field. Caution would fly on lap six and on the restart Owens jumped to the bottom to take the lead away from Collett. Owens would hold on to score the win in the fan favorite 7UP Mustang.

4 Cylinder
1. 7UP Kurt Owens
2. 19 Brad Pressley
3. 38 James Collett Jr.
4. 1 Mark Wallace
5. 2A Austin Fancher
6. 72 Rufus Collett
7. 007 Hayston Collett
8. 99 Chuck McMahan
9. 1 Jason Turner
10. B7 Bubby Braden
11. D17 Daris Braden
DNS 21 Chris Reichert
DNS 00 Joey Allen

Tazewell Late Models were up next with points leader Jason Trammell setting quick time. he would share the front row with Travis Fultz. The pair would race side by side down the back stretch on the first lap with Fultz easing into the lead. Steve Smith would slide by Trammell to take over second on lap two and set his sights on Fultz. By lap five Fultz checked out to a eight car length advatage on Smith. On lap ten Smith would suffer a flat right rear tire after making contact with Anthony Arnwine. Trammell would take back second on the restart and tried to use the bottom groove to gain on Fultz. Caution would slow the field again on lap fourteen as Matthew Holt's would go pitside with a flat tire after contact with Smith. Once again Trammell mounted a challenge on Fultz for the lead but it wasn't enough as Fultz cruised to his first win of the season in the Grab Eye Graphics, Reece Monument, Fultz Auto Body, Citizens Bank sponsored, DJ's Performance Engine powered Rayburn Race Car.

Tazewell Late Models
1. T0 Travis Fultz
2. 90J Jason Trammell
3. 3 Steve Smith
4. 22 Matthew Holt
5. 111 J Allen
6. 17 Brian Shockley
7. 24 Allen Holt
8. 56J Jody Horton
9. 11 Anthony Arnwine
10. 18 Michael Rutherford
DNS 63 Josh Collins
DNS 41 Greg Estes

The door banging and paint swapping didn't stop as the Classics Cars took to the track for their feature. Fast qualifier Phillip Thompson would line up beside Matt Tharp on the front row. At the drop of the green Thompson and Tharp race door to door bouncing off of each other on the back straightaway with Tharp taking the lead followed by Thompson, Joel Wolfenbarger, Cameron Skinner and Justin Overton. Thompson would take back the lead on lap two. Several cars tangled in turn two bringing out the caution on lap three. On the restart Tharp was all over Thompson's back bumper. On lap thirteen the duo make hard contact on the back stretch sending Thompson into the outside wall in turn three. With nowhere to go Josh Chesney plowed into the back of Thompson's car ending both their nights. Tharp would hold on to make it two in a row in the Ronald McDonald House, Loving Hands Pet Grooming, Red Eye Rooster Farm, 33 Diner, Kool & Creative Designs sponsored Classic Car. After a post race protest Tharp's car was deemed legal in a post race inspection. Joel Wolfenbarger's car was also protested and was diaqualified after he refused to tear down his motor.

Classic
1. 20 Matt Tharp
2. 74 Justin Overton
3. 3 Jason Beeler
4. 18 Eli Keck
5. 68 Joe Keck
6. 44 Richie Overholser
7. 69 Phillip Thompson
8. 8 Josh Chesney
9. 96 Lawrence McGeorge
10. 33X Cameron Skinner
11. 1 Shane Lockhart
12. 7 John Stevens
14 DQ'd 13J Joel Wolfenbarger

As was the case last Saturday the crowd that stayed to see the last feature were not disappointed as the Pure Street divsion took to the track. Travis Crosby and Appaches Quinton would bring the field to the green. Quinton, Crosby and Jason Long would go three wide in turn two jousting for position. Quinton would take the lead going down the back stretch. On lap two Jason Saylor would make contact with Long on the front stretch sending Long hard into the outside wall ending his night. By lap nine Dustin Eldridge, who started ninth, had dodged and weaved his way up into second. Eldridge used every bit of the track to try and get around Quinton. In the end it was Quinton holding off Eldridge to score the win in the Bump & Grind Motorsports, Custom Effects by Rex, K & J Auto Sales Monte Carlo

Pure Street
1. 21 Appaches Quinton
2. 94 Dustin Eldridge
3. 92T Travis Crosby
4. 97 J.J. Green
5. 5 Jason Saylor
6. 11 Toby Turner
7. 26 Jonathan Miracle
8. 44C Dustin Collins
9. 2 Steve Smith
10. 15 Jason Long

This Saturday night, August 10, we welcome the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Series to the Bad Fast Taz. National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame member Ronnie Johnson will be on hand as drivers from across the southeast will compete for $3,000 to win. For more information call 423.626.2222 or visit www.TazewellSpeedway.net. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.