The first of two Tennessee RV Thursday Night Thunder events is in the books, and it was sure a wild night. 15 Crate Late Models signed in, while 14 Super Late Models, 11 Street Stock, and 6 Topless Modiifeds were also in attendance. We would get the night started off with Bradly Lewelling setting fast time in Street Stock, only to have his time disallowed for refusing to stop in the holding area. Dylan Lowe would have an off-track adventure immediately after his qualifying lap, and he, too, refused to stop in the holding area, which then gave the fast time over to Joe Freels (17.303). In Topless Modified, Mike Lewis set fast time (15.491). Pierce McCarter would set fast time in Crates with 2 identical laps (14.440), while Skip Arp set fast time in Super Late Models (14.000). For the full stories, click on “read more”! Special thanks to Michael Moats of MRM Racing Photos for the excellent story!
Story by:
Michael Moats
MRM Media Services
The first Thursday Night Thunder event of the season took place with a big crowd on hand. When the night was over, “The Professor” held class and took home the $2,500 check.
Fourteen super late models were on hand vying for the night’s top prize. Skip Arp paced qualifying with a time of 14 seconds flat. Jason Cardwell, Brad Lowe, and Brad Hall were the other cars locked into the field. Heat race winners were David Crabtree and Jason Welshan.
The start of the race came to an abrupt end as Crabtree spun in turn 2 after the waving of the green flag. Crabtree also collected Ryan King, Welshan, Adam Beeler, and Rusty Ballenger. Crabtree, King, and Beeler had to retire from the race. Ballenger had a flat left rear tire and had to start the race from the rear.
After another start attempt, Arp used the outside line to zip into the lead over Cardwell. Lowe and Hall battled for third behind Cardwell. Pierce McCarter and Welshan were also in a tight battle that went for most of the race.
Arp had checked out which left the race for second. Cardwell held a comfortable margin for the first half of the race. Meanwhile, the usually late arriving Ronnie Johnson was making his way from the rear. Johnson moved past Welshan for fifth well before the halfway point. Johnson then moved around McCarter and set his sights on Lowe. He got past Lowe and then past Hall a lap later on lap 11.
Johnson tracked down Cardwell in the closing laps. Johnson finally took the second spot from Cardwell. But Arp had a straightaway lead over Johnson.
In the end, Arp cruised to the win in the caution-free race. Johnson, Cardwell, Lowe, and Hall rounded out the top 5.
The NeSmith-sanctioned crate late models were on hand for a $1,500 to win event of their own. Pierce McCarter led the way in qualifying with a time of 14.440 seconds. David Crabtree, Jason Welshan, and Greg Martin were the other drivers locked into the feature. Kayne Hickman and Jake Teague were the heat race winners.
Crabtree got the advantage over McCarter to start the race and take the early lead. Martin followed Crabtree and took over the second position. McCarter and Welshan would start a long battle for third.
The race’s first caution waved on lap 1 for Ryan King who slowed in turn 4 with a flat tire. King would not return to the race.
On the restart, it was Crabtree and Martin leading the way. Crabtree pulled away by several car lengths during the first few laps of the race. As the race went on and the leaders caught slower traffic, Martin reeled in Crabtree. Martin would look under Crabtree for the lead, but could not pull off a pass.
On lap 19, Welshan passed McCarter for fifth. McCarter returned the favor two laps later as smoke began to come from Welshan’s ride. Welshan would park his car one lap later.
Back up front, Crabtree once again pulled away from Martin on a clear racetrack. In the closing laps, Martin reeled in Crabtree once again. The two would battle side-by-side for the lead with a few laps to go. As the field took the white flag, Martin dove under Crabtree for the lead going into turn 1. Martin’s car began to push as they went through turn 2. Martin made contact with Crabtree and sent both spinning into the infield. The caution waved and the lap count was moved back to a green-white-checker finish.
Crabtree suffered a flat left rear tire, but refused to leave the track. Martin was charged with the caution and was sent to the back.
On the restart, Crabtree tried to hold on to the lead with a flat tire, but McCarter and Hickman split Crabtree as the field sailed into turn 1. McCarter came out with the lead with Hickman right off his back bumper. McCarter held off Hickman for the win. Teague was third and Mack McCarter was fourth.
The topless modified race got off to a rocky start as Keith Gregory spun going into turn 1. The field was lined up again. Mike Lewis got the early lead over Gregory. Josh Henry and Dave Lewis battled for third. Mike Lewis and Gregory remained close for the first half of the race. But Lewis eventually pulled away and went on to the win.
Joe Freels and Phil Davis led the street stock feature to the green. Davis got the initial lead over Freels. Bradly Lewelling started at the rear of the field, but was running third when the first caution waved on lap 3. With the field bunched up on the restart, Lewelling wasted no time in getting to the lead. He passed Freels on lap 4 and then passed Davis for the lead on lap 5. From there, it was an easy win for Lewelling, only to be disqualified in post-race tech. Davis originally finished second, but was also disqualified. Todd Merriman was credited with the win.