More great racing was witnessed this past Saturday night at Tennessee’s Action Track! In Classic, Adam Engel muscled around Bart Baxter to claim the win. In Street Stock, Jason Ogle held off a strong field of cars to claim the victory. In Mini Stock, Keith Sands and David Singleton dueled virtually the entire feature, with Singleton taking his 10th win of 2012. In NeSmith Crates, Ryan King and Cory Hedgecock duked it out, with Hedgecock ultimately coming out on top. In Thunder & Lightning, the bad luck streak ended as Robbie Comer claimed the checkers. In Topless Modified, Keith Gregory made some noise as he picked up his 6th win of the season. And finally in Limited Late Model action, points leader Josh Collins led until just past halfway when mechanical trouble relegated him to a bad finish. Chase King went on to claim the checkers while Rusty Ballenger decreased his deficit to 10 points as the championship battle is shaping up nicely in Limited Late Model.
This Thursday night we’ve got a great night of racing in store. We’ll have regular prices, with gates opening at 4p with the drivers meeting slated for 6:45. We’ll have racing in Mini Stock, Thunder & Lightning, and Topless Modified, with the highlight of the night being the Crate Late Models vs Limited Late Models as it’ll be a mixed class for the first time this season in a $1,500 winners purse. That’s this Thursday July 26th!
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Classic
Adam Engel and Bart Baxter your front row, ready to roll, GREEN FLAG! Engel hanging tough on the low side, side by side off 4. Baxter takes the lead off turn 2, Engel drops back to 2nd, Mitchell Childress on his rear bumper holding off Marin Ray. Ray closes in on Childress, Engel peeks inside off 2 but falls back in line. Skinner closes to the bumper of Ray, now Engel looking for room around Baxter. Engel closes in on Baxter off 2, gets loose off 4, remains in 2nd. Engel with a slight run off 4, looks to carry it around off 2, pulls to Baxter’s inside off 2. Off turn 4 Engel falls back in line behind Baxter, but now Ray goes around in turn 2, we’ll stay green. Engel hot on Baxter’s heels as we complete halfway. Now Engel moves inside off 4 for the lead, stays inside into 1 but falls in line off 2. Engel has his 18th birthday tomorrow, wants to celebrate with a win, he’ll pull inside again but off 2 but falls in line, as they click off lap 13. Engel all over the bumper of Baxter, gets up in the loose stuff in 1, still trying to find a way around Baxter. Engel inside off 2, gives a bump into 3 and pulls inside off 4, side by side into 1, off 2, Baxter gets the advantage. Engel still inside, completes the pass off turn 4. Baxter now with 4 laps to challenge back, he gets sideways off 2, Engel stretches his lead out. Childress in 3rd has a bobble in 4, Skinner pulls to his inside into 1. Up front, white flag in the air, Baxter gets loose in 1, and Engel cruises to the win. Baxter takes 2nd and 3rd goes to Childress.
Cautions: None
Leaders: 7-Baxter (1-15); 28-Engel (16-20)
Street Stock
Dwayne Fox and Shay Loveday your front row, they’re ready to sling the dirt, GREEN FLAG! Loveday gets loose off turn 2, give the lead to Fox, Jason Ogle in tow, Loveday having trouble getting going here as he’s now back to 5th after starting outside pole. Ogle powers inside on Fox, but Darrin Busler gets high in 4, drills the wall. Driver is OK after briefly catching some air, his night will be done. Looks like Fox has hit the hotpit area from the race lead under this caution.
Green flag back in the air, Ogle fires on the frontstretch at the barrel, Dale Watson looks to his inside off 2, Loveday looking for room around them both, Watson low and sideways, steals the lead off 4, slides up in front of Ogle in 1, Ogle looks inside for a moment off 2, falls in line. Loveday in the 3rd spot, Ray Jarnigan in 4th with Jr Merriman in 5th. Watson hustling his machine around the speedway, Ogle behind him in 2nd, 3rd is Loveday. Loveday closing the ground slightly on Ogle as 6 laps are complete. Now caution flies as Simonic has pounded the wall in turn 1, fluid pouring from his machine, now Watson pulls off with overheating issues it appears under this caution here on lap 7.
Green flag back in the air, Ogle your leader, Jarnigan in 2nd, Merriman in 3rd, Jarnigan looks inside in 3 for the lead, falls in line. Watson has made it back onto the speedway now on the inside of Chris Nix off 2, that’s for 4th position, give it to Watson. Loveday follows him through. Ogle your leader, bobbles in 1, now Fox sends Nix around in turn 2, caution flies here on lap 10.
Green flag back in the air, Ogle with the lead off 2, Jarnigan in 2nd, Watson powers around Merriman for the 3rd position, time limit has expired, so checkers are in the air, Ogle with the win, Jarnigan in 2nd, and 3rd goes to Watson.
Cautions: 2
Leaders: F1-Fox (1); 11-Watson (2-7); 49-Ogle (8-12)
Mini Stock
Green flag in the air for the Mini Stock drivers, Keith Sands sends his machine to the lead off turn 2, David Singleton in the 2nd spot, Robert Lewis in 3rd with a mirror full of Shane Taylor. Keith Sands now under heavy pressure from Singleton, Singleton powers inside in 3, Keith Sands hangs on, 5 laps are complete. Keith Sands under fire for the lead, lap traffic going to factor in, the front 2 split the lap car, Singleton steals the lead into 3. Keith Sands in 2nd, Lewis in 3rd. Lap traffic becoming a factor, flagman wearing out the layover flag tonight in this one. Singleton your leader, Keith Sands in 2nd, Lewis in 3rd with Shane Taylor a long way behind with a lot of lap traffic between them. Singleton now with 2 laps remaining, Keith Sands hot on his heals, any slight mistake would make a huge difference, and now Keith Sands powers inside off 2, falls in line into 3, looks inside off 4, white flag in the air! Keith Sands powers inside off 2, falls in line as lap traffic factors in. Into 3, Keith Sands tries it, can’t make it happen, Singleton with the win, Keith Sands in 2nd and 3rd goes to Lewis!
Cautions: None
Leaders: 99-Sands (1-7); 25-Singleton (8-20)
NeSmith Crate Late Models
Ryan King and Greg Martin your front row, they’re ready to go to work, off turn 4, GREEN FLAG! Martin with the lead off 2, King still on his inside, POWERS into the lead. Martin now off turn 4 doesn’t get going, caution flies as several cars get together, Martin has a flat left-rear and that’s why he was slow in 3. No laps, complete restart minus Martin as he heads for the trailer.
Green flag back in the air, we’ll try it again. King powers into the lead off 2, 3-wide for a moment, Adam Beeler inside Justin Summers off 4, they’re all chasing King. Summers gets a piece of the wall off 2, Beeler still on his inside. Josh Henry around the high side on Cory Hedgecock, King powers away, now there goes the barrel, Summers gets loose off 4, Beeler was to his inside, Beeler goes sliding into the infield. Caution here on lap 2. Caution will be called on Beeler.
Green flag back in the air, King powers the throttle, Hedgecock slips around Curtis Thomas, looks inside Mack McCarter, Beeler trying to power through the field on the high side, runs out of room in 2, now caution flies as Derrick Blair hits the wall in 1 here on lap 3.
Green flag back in the air, King again powers away with the lead, Hedgecock inside McCarter off 2, they’re chasing Summers. Hedgecock inside Summers off 2, he’ll take 2nd. King out front, Hedgecock in 2nd, Hedgecock running down low, King up high. Hedgecock seems to be reeling King in. Summers in 2nd, Thomas on his inside, side by side off 2. King now moves down low, Hedgecock moves inside for the lead, falls in line. King down low in 3 and 4, low again in 1 and 2. Now Hedgecock moves inside, can’t make it stick as King pulls away. Now King up high in 1, Hedgecock pulls inside, falls in line off 2. He’ll have to set him up to get around him, has 8 laps to do it. Summers in 2nd, Thomas in 3rd, now Hedgecock pulls even off 2, steals the lead in 3, can’t complete it off 4. Still inside, King battles back, give King the lead, now Hedgecock inside in 3, washes up, doesn’t quite have King cleared, he’ll crack the throttle, and Hedgecock will power away. Lap traffic may become a factor now as Hedgecock has one running his groove, he slows way down, powers around the lapper up high, but King isn’t able to gain any ground. Now more lap traffic down low, Hedgecock moves up high, but the checkers are in the air, Hedgecock takes the win over King and Summers!
Cautions: 3
Leaders: 30-King (1-14); 23-Hedgecock (15-20)
Thunder & Lightning
Robbie Comer and Gary Blanken your front row, GREEN FLAG! Comer with the lead off 2, Blanken looks to his inside in 3, lays the bumper to him, now Freddy Hillard around Rocky Ogle for the 3rd spot, David Miley looking around Scott Atkins, he’ll chase down Ogle. Comer leading the field off 2, but caution flies in turn 2 as Atkins goes around here on lap 1.
Green flag back in the air, Comer leads the charge into 1. Blanken loses about 4 car lengths off 2, gains that much on Hillard. Ogle now looking for room around Hillard, looks inside, almost lays the bumper to him as Miley is slow down the frontstretch. Comer in command, Blanken in 2nd, Hillard in 3rd as 4 laps are complete. Now Jr Garrett goes around in turn 2, caution flies here on lap 5.
Green flag in the air quickly as Garrett got lined up promptly. Comer drives 4 car lengths away from Blanken off 2 as Ogle finally makes his way around Hillard off 4. Ogle in 3rd, he’s chasing down Blanken. Tommy Huston inside Atkins for position, now Atkins does a crossover as Huston gets loose in 2. Comer out front, Blanken in 2nd, Ogle in 3rd. Ogle with a bobble in 4, Hillard tries to take advantage, but he was a little too far behind to make it count this time. Comer in the lead, Blanken looks to be chasing him down as he clicks off lap 12. Blanken now 2 car lengths behind, this one might get interesting. The handle has went away on the Comer machine, it’s dancing around, Blanken now to his bumper. Blanken looks inside off 4, falls in line as they click off lap 15. Blanken now with a run down the backstretch, peeks inside, Now Blanken pulls inside and Comer gets sideways, they make contact into 3, both drivers continue on. Comer now sideway off turn 2. Checkered flag in the air, Comer hangs onto his machine and the lead, Blanken comes home in 2nd and 3rd goes to Ogle!
Cautions: 2
Leaders: 42-Comer (1-20)
Topless Modified
Paul Johnson and Mike Lewis your front row, the Topless drivers are ready to put a show of their own on, off turn 4, GREEN FLAG! Mike Lewis with the jump off turn 2, 3 wide for 2nd as Keith Gregory pulls inside Johnson. Johnson now back to 3rd here as Mike Lewis clicks off lap 2. Mike Lewis your leader, Johnson inside Gregory for the 2nd spot, Gregory with the high line powers away and sets his sights on leader Mike Lewis. Josh Driskill in the 4th spot as Gregory gets sideways off 4, hangs onto his machine and continues on. Mike Lewis in command as now caution flies as Mike Lewis has a windshield full of Patrick Evans as he’s sitting crossways in turn 2. 5 laps are complete. Now Kevin Lewis hits the hotpits as he has an apparent flat tire, he’ll have 3 laps to get it changed by his crew. His crew gets the job done, he’ll power onto the speedway and line up on the tail just behind Evans.
Green flag in the air once again, Mike Lewis mashes the loud pedal down the frontstretch, powers off 2 with the lead, but now Evans and Kevin Lewis around in turn 2. Caution still here on lap 5.
Green flag back in the air once again, Mike Lewis mashes the loud pedal in 4, now off 2 Johnson pulls inside Gregory, give Johnson the 2nd spot. Gregory makes slight contact in turn 2, his machine is sideways off 4. Mike Lewis your leader, Johnson in 2nd, Gregory 3rd, has a bobble in 3, looks like that machine is loose, but right now the best handling machine appears to be Johnson as he’s right there looking for the lead, pulls inside on Mike Lewis, almost makes contact, he’ll lose 2 car lengths. Now Johnson inside for the lead off 4, falls back in line with 10 laps remaining. Johnson now inside in 3 but Evans is around in 4, caution here on lap 10.
Green flag back in the air, 10 down, 10 to go. Mike Lewis again with the loud pedal, now Gregory powers inside on Johnson, they make contact, now Johnson battles back inside, but he’ll go around in turn 2, caution flies here on lap 11.
Green flag back in the air, Gregory looks inside on Mike Lewis, Driskill watching the front battle, now Gregory pulls inside off 4 for the lead, still side by side in 2 as Kevin Lewis is around here in turn 2. Caution here on lap 12.
Green flag Gregory powers away off 2, Johnson inside Driskill for 3rd, now inside Mike Lewis for 2nd, falls in line off 2. White flag in the air, Gregory the leader, Johnson looking for room around Mike Lewis, but he’ll spin in turn 4, but checkers are out, Gregory gets the win, Mike Lewis takes 2nd and 3rd will go to Driskill.
Cautions: 5
Leaders: 15-Lewis (1-11); 44-Gregory (12-15)
Limited Late Model
Josh Collins and Ruben Mayfield your front row, they’re ready to roll off turn 4, GREEN FLAG! Mayfield with the jump off turn 2, Collins hangs tough, side by side off 4, Collins to the point off turn 2 on lap 1. Throw a blanket over the top 4, Mack McCarter now looking inside Mayfield, he’s in 2nd and chasing down Collins. Ryan King inside Rusty Ballenger off 4, chasing Jason Cardwell, now Cardwell looking around Mayfield, Ryan King looks around both of them, Cardwell inside Mayfield, he steals the position. Ryan King now goes to work on Cardwell off 2, as Collins is pulling away. McCarter in 2nd, Chase King in 3rd, Cardwell and Ryan King in 4th and 5th respectively. Now James Parrott goes 4-wheeling through the infield, he’ll continue on however. Collins in command, Chase King inside McCarter off 2, Chase King gets the position in 3, off 4 they have a lapper, Chase King gets by, McCarter doesn’t, he’ll have to slow up, now he’ll go back to work on Chase King. Collins way out in front at this point, Ryan King chasing down Cardwell, makes contact, and around goes Cardwell in 2. Caution here on lap 11.
Green flag back in the air, Collins mashes the loud pedal, Chase King looks inside for a second, falls back in line. McCarter behind him, Cardwell holding off Jason Manley, as he has a mirror full of Ballenger. Ryan King battling back, he’s already halfway through the field, gets sideways in 4, hangs on, continues on. He’s inside Scott Gardner, now he chases Ballenger as Gardner slows to a stop in turn 4. Caution here on lap 14.
Green flag back in the air, Ballenger looks outside, now Mayfield jumps the gun, he will pass several cars, but Gardner drops fluid in 3 and 4 for a caution.
Green flag back in the air, we’ll try it again. Manley inside McCarter into 1, they’ll make slight contact in 3, McCarter powers away, but now Tony Schrimsher around in 4.
Green flag back in the air one more time, Ballenger outside Manley, they bottle up with McCarter, Ballenger POWERS around both of them, he’s now up to 4th! Collins the leader, Chase King in 2nd, Cardwell in 3rd, Ballenger 4th, now McCarter gets a piece of Manley, now Collins slows off turn 4, Chase King assumes the race lead. Cardwell now in 2nd and Ballenger now in 3rd. Chase King now 12 laps away from the victory, but Cardwell wants to make some noise, he’s reeling in the new race leader with 10 laps to go. Cardwell slips, Ballenger closes in off 2, Chase King pulls away. Ryan King now inside Manley for the 4th spot, falls in line. Ballenger now looks inside Cardwell for position, falls back in line. Now Ballenger again looks inside, has to fall back in line. Chase King your leader, he’s got about a turn lead over Cardwell, Manley now closing in Ballenger slightly as there’s 4 laps remaining. Ballenger trying to find room around Cardwell, tries to find a lower line, can’t make it happen. Now white flag in the air for leader Chase King. Ballenger now inside Cardwell into 2, falls in line off 2. Chase King gets the win, Cardwell gets 2nd and 3rd goes to Ballenger. Manley and Ryan King round out the top 5.
Cautions: 4
Leaders: 63-Collins (1-16); 44-King (17-30)