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OFFICIAL RESULTS & RACE NIGHT RECAP Championship Points Race #8
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Thunder & Lightning
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Sportsman
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Street Stock
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Mini Stock
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NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series
3rd Annual J.T. Kerr Memorial 40
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RACE NIGHT RECAP
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Ronnie Johnson claims his second J.T. Kerr Memorial 40 victory Seymour, TN – It was another warm but beautiful Saturday afternoon at Tennessee’s Action Track. We would play host to the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, where the night kicked off with Qualifying for the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS. Jimmy Elliott would claim quick time honors with his lap of 14.553. Next up was heat races for the support divisions and B-Mains for the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS. Feature time rolled around, where Dale Watson was awarded what could be one of the final Thunder & Lightning checkered flags, after winner Dennis Barton was disqualified for having a soft tire. Next was Sportsman, where Terry Poore came from 6th to win. Street Stock was up next, where Bradly Lewelling appeared to be on his way to certain victory, until Jerry Hux made a power move entering turn 1 on the final lap to go on to claim the win. Next was Mini Stock, where Mike Townsend took the early lead, then came John Byers, who was pulling away to the certain victory until mechanical failure would send Byers to the infield, handing the lead to Nick Perry. Perry would hold off Townsend to claim the victory. Capping off the night was the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series 3rd Annual J.T. Kerr Memorial 40. The early leader in this one was Jimmy Elliott, but he had a mirror chocked full of “The Chattanooga Flash” Ronnie Johnson. On the 22nd circuit, Johnson finally got the run he needed and quickly dispatched “The Mohawk Warrior” to the 2nd spot. Johnson would go on to claim his 2nd victory in the J.T. Kerr Memorial 40, becoming the first multiple time winner in the memorial race. Join us this Saturday June 14th as we have a full night of championship points racing action in store for you! The future of the Thunder & Lightning division will be discussed at a meeting to be scheduled at a later date. On June 14th, we’ll have double features in Mini Stock, with more details to follow on this new format. See you all on Saturday fans!
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Thunder & Lightning
Sportsman
Street Stock
Cautions: 1
NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series J.T. Kerr Memorial 40 Ronnie Johnson collected a win in the NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series on Friday night at the Tri-County Race Track after Jason Welshan was disqualified because of a tire infraction. On Saturday night in the J.T. Kerr Memorial at the 411 Motor Speedway, there was no need for a disqualification as the legendary driver took the lead in the middle stages of the race and sailed away for the victory and a $4,000 payday. The night began with Cleveland’s Jimmy Elliott setting fast time in qualifying among the 27 Crate Late Model cars on hand as he posted a lap of 14.553 seconds around the 3/8 mile oval. With the top-10 from qualifying being locked into the feature, Mack McCarter, Ronnie Johnson, Adam Beeler, Greg Martin, Tanner Works, Ryan King, Jacob Anderson, Jensen Ford and Todd Morrow joined Elliott in earning a starting spot though time-trials. Jake Teague and Walker Arthur won the two B-mains used to set the remainder of the field for the main event. Elliott shot to the early lead in what would prove to be a caution plagued 40-lap race. A wreck on the initial start of the feature would cause heavy damage to the car of series points contender Walker Arthur as his and several other cars tangled in turn four before a single lap had been completed. Once the race finally did get underway, drivers stalking the front runner during those early laps would be McCarter, Johnson and Martin. Those four cars would break away from the pack immediately after each restart in the race’s first half. In all, the race would be slowed seven times for incidents on the track, with most of those coming before the halfway point. In between the caution periods, there was great racing throughout the field. Johnson continuously stalked Elliott, except for when he briefly surrendered the runner-up spot to McCarter after losing momentum while challenging Elliott for the lead. Also, the action was fast and furious in the back half of the top-10 as the likes of Anderson, King, Works, Morrow and Ford fought for each of those spots. On lap 22, Johnson was finally able to take advantage of several consecutive green flag laps to make a move on Elliott. The ‘Chattanooga Flash’ rolled around the ‘Mohawk Warrior’ on the outside as the cars worked down the back stretch and through turns three and four to assume the lead. From that point, the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame member never looked back as he was able to pull away in the closing laps. Perhaps the race’s most noteworthy caution came after a lap 27 restart when Martin and Works had their cars get locked together during a battle for the 4th position. That incident brought out a brief red flag as track workers had to get the two machines pulled apart. There would be no more yellow flags after that point and Johnson would drive away from his pursuers to take the win. At the finish, it was Ronnie Johnson, Jimmy Elliott, Mack McCarter, Tanner Works, Ryan King, Chris Noah, Ryan King, Rusty Ballenger, Jake Teague and Adam Beeler taking the top-10 spots. Cautions: 7 |
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