Jason Trammell successfully defended his Charles Trammell Memorial title by leading every lap of the event named in honor of his grandfather. The third-generation driver from Knoxville also became the first repeat winner of the race that was first held in 2010.
Trammell outbested seventeen Limited Late Model drivers in time trials with a lap of 11.456 seconds. Dakotah Knuckles of Ewing, VA turned in the second fastest time with Steve Smith of Powell qualifying third. Last year’s points champion Josh Collins of Powell had engine woes in hot laps and was a scratch from the event.
With the drop of the green Trammell took the point with Knuckles, Greg Estes of Jonesville,VA and Smith giving chase. The yellow flag would fly on lap three as Knuckles slowed on the speedway with a flat left rear tire. On the ensuing restart Bryan Hendrix of Knoxville made contact with Bobby Mays of Jonesborough sending his car tumbling down the back stretch and landing on it’s top. Mays would walk away from the incident. After the track was cleared the car of Estes was unable to refire and he retired from the event.
Back up front Trammell would set a blazing pace as he pulled away from the field. By the halfway point Trammell was a half track from the second place car of Smith. Trammell would go unchallenged to take the win and the $2,000 top prize in the Fastlane Signs & Graphics, Quality Medical Center, Trammell Construction, Hatmaker Holdings, High Velocity Heads, Integra Shocks, Charlie Brown Screen Printing & Embroidery, Hoosier Tire by Pup sponsored Rayburn Race Car with power from a Vic Hill Race Engine.
Limited Late Models
1. 90 Jason Trammell
2. 3 Steve Smith
3. 5 Bryan Hendrix
4. K37 Mike Weeks
5. 17 Brian Shockley
6. 21K Dakotah Knuckles
7. 144 Chris Barton
8. 79 Josh Sneed
9. B00 Josh Henry
10. 22 Lynn Leach
11. 31 Greg Estes
12. 25 Bobby Mayes
13. 11 Anthony Arnwine
14. 12 Craig Gregg
15. 28 Jerry Williams
16. Super X Mike Kelly
DNS 63 Josh Collins
Michael Boyd of Morristown wasn’t the first to cross the finish line in the $700 to win Sportsman feature yet after a postrace inspection of the top finishers he was declared the winner. Sixteen drivers signed in with Matt Tharp of Luttrell turning in the fastest lap and setting a new Sportsman qualifying record with a lap of 12.037 seconds. Last year’s Classic Car points champion Philip Thompson posted the seconnd quickest time.
On the initial start Tharp and Thompson would make contact on the back stretch with both cars sending. Since no laps had been completed the pair were able to keep their starting spots. After a clean start Thompson would take lead on the first lap followed by Tharp, Heath Alvey of Dandridge, Cody Smith of Barbourville, Ky and Boyd. On lap three Tharp would dive pitside giving up the second spot to Alvey. Two laps later the yellow flag was displayed for debris on the track. As the caution was being displayed race leader Thompson collided with the car of Nick Kniat ending Thompson’s night.
Alvey would inherit the lead with Smith and Boyd battling for the runner-up spot. Leading the rest of the way Alvey pulled his car into Victory Lane yet after refusing to tear down his engine after a protest from Boyd his car was disqualified. During a post race inspection the car of Smith was also disqualified for illegal parts. Boyd was awarded the win and the $700 check in the Boyd and Son Trucking, Warren Stinson DDS, Rex Effects, East Tennessee Fence, Twilight Skating Rink, Shocks by Travis Fultz, Jeff Hurst Horse transport sponsored Rayburn Race car powered by a DJ’s Performance Race Engine.
Sportsman
1. 3 Michael Boyd
2. 50M Jonathan Miracle
3. 34 Phillip Shockley
4. 92T Travis Crosby
5. 15 Wade Howerton
6. K5 Nick Kniat
7. 24 Andy Wilder
8. 00 Chris Raines
9. 1 David Clark
10. 21 Brian Howerton
11. 24 Philip Thompson
12. 5 Josh Chesney
13. 35 Matt Tharp
DNS 97 Keith Chapman
DQ’d 7 Heath Alvey
DQ’d 11 Cody Smith
Open Wheeled Modifieds were also on showcase as it was also announced during the off season that they would be on the weekly racing schedule. Jody Puckett of Melvin, KY in his first ever start on Tazewell Speedway’s high banks posted the quickest lap in qualifying with a lap of 12.504 seconds. East Tennessee racing veteran Billy Palmer of Hardin Valley qualified second. Puckett would pull out to a comfortable early lead yet by lap ten Palmer had caught up. Even though it appeared the Palmer had the quicker car Puckett was able to hold him off to notch the win and the $700. Puckett’s Lightning Chassis race car is powered by a Mullins Race Engine with sponsorship from Tahiti Energy, ABCO Performance, Slicker Graphics and Friends of Coal.
Open Wheel Modified
1. J3 Jody Puckett
2. 36 Billy Palmer
3. 00 Jeff Akard
4. 21 Dustin Duncan
5. 2 Steve Smith
6. 4 Wayne James
DNS 21 Jimmy Crabtree
Eddie Stewart of Manchester, KY held off the heavy challenge from Brad Davis of Tazewell to score the $700 to win Super Stock feature.
Super Stock
1. 119 Eddie Stewart
2. 88 Brad Davis
3. A85 Brandon Hutchinson
4. 83 Cody Thompson
5. 14 Kurt Owens
6. 3 Austin Neely
7. 56 Tony Horton
8. 56 Brad Sturgill
9. 17S Logan Seal
DNS P21 Donnie Petty
John Steven of Wallins Creek, KY led every lap of of the Classic Car feature in the Red Eyes Racing, VFW #1178, Hensley Trucking sponsored sedan.
Classic Car
1. 7 John Stevens
2. 24 Tim Stevens
3. XXX Josh Chesney
4. 4 Brian Saylor
5. 12 Bull Saylor
Randy Dyke held off his good friend Chuck McMahan to score the 4 Cylinder feature win in the Dyke’s Body Shop, Anderson Transport, Henry Trucking Ford Mustang.
4 Cylinder
1. 111 Randy Dyke
2. 99 Chuck McMahan
3. 17 Danny Pennington
4. B7 Bubby Braden
5. 99 Bill Goss
6. A27 Allen Holloway
7. 007 Hayston Collett
DNS 1 Mark Wallace
DNS 72 Rufus Collett
