A jam packed crowd showed up at Tennessee’s action track to see a combined Street and Steelhead Nationals event. With over 90 cars on hand it was a night to remember as the 2017 season winds down.
The 2017 Sportsman season for Zach Sise couldn’t have gone much better as he won multiple races and the season points Championship. The good fortune continued as he set fast time in qualifying earning the pole for the A main. Trouble was the theme of the night for most classes as this one got off to a rough start with Adam Mitchell and Kenny Ford getting together on the very start of the race. Both drivers would continue with body damage. With the race finally underway it was Sise in control ahead of Jed Emert, Brad Seagle, Jim Couch and Travis Fultz. Sise seemed to have the dominant car but Emert had found some speed using the very top of the racetrack as the laps ticked off. Trouble for Travis Fultz as he slowed ending his strong five run early. Brad Seagle wasn’t done trying to get another win on the season as he had the pressure on Emert for the runner up spot. Emert had one last shot for the lead going into turn three but got up out of the groove allowing Seagle to go by and take the second position away. Sise would hold them both off to pick up another win.
1: #9 Zach Sise
2: #31 Brad Seagle
3: #98 Jed Emert
4: #41 Jim Couch
5: #44 Kip Sawyer
6: #10B Bradley Lewelling
7: #50 Adam Mitchell
8: #61 Kenny Ford
9: #1 Jeremy Shannon
10: #41K James Kelso
11: #3 Floyd Self
12: #8W Paul Whitley
13: #76 Joe Bray
14: #T0 Travis Fultz
15: #D22 DJ Shannon
16: #116 Jake Whitehead
17: #68 Clay Coghlam
18: #21 Bryan Howerton
19: #5 Jimmy Calloway
DNS: #Z1 Zach Shannon
DNS: #1ST Shannon Jeremy
2: #31 Brad Seagle
3: #98 Jed Emert
4: #41 Jim Couch
5: #44 Kip Sawyer
6: #10B Bradley Lewelling
7: #50 Adam Mitchell
8: #61 Kenny Ford
9: #1 Jeremy Shannon
10: #41K James Kelso
11: #3 Floyd Self
12: #8W Paul Whitley
13: #76 Joe Bray
14: #T0 Travis Fultz
15: #D22 DJ Shannon
16: #116 Jake Whitehead
17: #68 Clay Coghlam
18: #21 Bryan Howerton
19: #5 Jimmy Calloway
DNS: #Z1 Zach Shannon
DNS: #1ST Shannon Jeremy
John Stevens is always one of the odds on favorites to win on any night at any track so it was no surprise when he set fast time in qualifying earning the pole for the feature. However it would be Jesse Hickman who took the lead on the start with Stevens, Michael Milsap, Eli Keck and Scott Lacy giving chase on the start. The battle between the top three was amazing for the majority of the race with Stevens and Milsap fighting it out for the the runner up spot. An early caution for Ryan Bailey slowed the pace setting up a restart. Will Carey had picked his way up through the field as he did battle with Josh Chesney. Chesney looked to have a strong run going but would pull off track early with problems. Stevens had gotten past Milsap and into the runner up spot as he chased down the leader. With just a handful of laps left, Stevens and Hickman would get together in turn four sending the leader spinning. The caution would be called on Hickman who went for a spin ending his chances at victory. Stevens would hold off a final charge from Eli Keck to pick up the win.
1: #7 John Stevens
2: #8 Eli Keck
3: #14 Lee Merritt
4: #18 Richie Overholser
5: #69 Jesse Hickman
6: #16 Will Carey
7: #78 Chris Worsham
8: #1 Josh Chesney
9: #24 Scott Lacy
10: #07 Michael Milsap
11: #58 Chris Turner
12: #14M Clyde Mincey
13: #3 Ryan Bailey
2: #8 Eli Keck
3: #14 Lee Merritt
4: #18 Richie Overholser
5: #69 Jesse Hickman
6: #16 Will Carey
7: #78 Chris Worsham
8: #1 Josh Chesney
9: #24 Scott Lacy
10: #07 Michael Milsap
11: #58 Chris Turner
12: #14M Clyde Mincey
13: #3 Ryan Bailey
The Street Stock Nationals were up next as Eddie Stewart put his #119 pole for the 40 lap Feature event. Trouble early for Blake Kelly and Josh Brock as they got together on the start bringing out the caution. Back under green Stewart took the point ahead of last years Street Nationals winner Chris Rickett, and track champion Wayne Rader your top three. Rickett used the low line in turn two trying to get the nose of his #36 inside but Stewart had the drive off the turn and kept the lead. Shannon Emery was fast in hotlaps and qualifying but slowed with mechanical problems ending his night early. Kurt Owens had a great battle with Rader as they were one of the drivers working the high line. Chaos once again showed it’s ugly head as a multi car crash brought out the red flag. Blake Kelly and Robbie Buchanan were among those involved. Buchanan had a lot of damage on the nose of his #P21 machine and had to call it a night. Rickett would slow from the second spot bringing out the caution again. Austin Atkins clearly nailed the setup on his #14 as he picked his way up through the top five all the way up into the third spot. A few laps later he moved past Rader and set his sights on the race lead. Eddie Stewart would hold off Atkins in the final laps to pick up the big win.
Street Stock Nationals
1: #119 Eddie Stewart
2: #14 Austin Atkins
3: #01 Wayne Rader
4: #14 Kurt Owens
5: #310 Jeremy Howard
6: #66 Michael Woods
7: #06 Wesley Lester
8: #17 Josh Brock
9: #98 Joe Hamm
10: #K5 Blake Kelly
11: 88 Brad Davis
12: #83 Jr Mason
13: #36 Chris Rickett
14: #20X Glen Hounshell
15: #360 James Crowe
16: #92 Faron Robinson
17: #89 Logan Preston
18: #18 Jonathan Whitt
19: #P21 Robbie Buchanan
20: #3 Kaleb Trent
21: #M2 Shannon Emery
22: #14 Charles Devine
23: #D00 Josh Driskill
24: #11 Tracy Wolfe
DNS: #EZ1 Chad McLemore
DNS: #P21 Jonathan Miracle
DNS: #119 Mike Williams
DNS: #1 David Clark
DNS: #06 Wayne Smith
DNS: #85 Jamie Holloway
DNS: #74 Adam Mitchell
DNS: #11D Kyle Moore
DNS: #14 Jeremy Wyatt
1: #119 Eddie Stewart
2: #14 Austin Atkins
3: #01 Wayne Rader
4: #14 Kurt Owens
5: #310 Jeremy Howard
6: #66 Michael Woods
7: #06 Wesley Lester
8: #17 Josh Brock
9: #98 Joe Hamm
10: #K5 Blake Kelly
11: 88 Brad Davis
12: #83 Jr Mason
13: #36 Chris Rickett
14: #20X Glen Hounshell
15: #360 James Crowe
16: #92 Faron Robinson
17: #89 Logan Preston
18: #18 Jonathan Whitt
19: #P21 Robbie Buchanan
20: #3 Kaleb Trent
21: #M2 Shannon Emery
22: #14 Charles Devine
23: #D00 Josh Driskill
24: #11 Tracy Wolfe
DNS: #EZ1 Chad McLemore
DNS: #P21 Jonathan Miracle
DNS: #119 Mike Williams
DNS: #1 David Clark
DNS: #06 Wayne Smith
DNS: #85 Jamie Holloway
DNS: #74 Adam Mitchell
DNS: #11D Kyle Moore
DNS: #14 Jeremy Wyatt
The final race of the night was the 40 lap Steelhead Nationals. This event was scheduled earlier in the year but was postponed due to bad weather. Cory Hedgeccok was the fastest in qualifying earning the top spot over the strong field of 23 cars. Hedgecock took the lead on the start with former track Champion Trevor Sise, Chase King, Ryan King and Jason Cardwell your top five on the start. Chase King and Ryan King battled it out in the always exciting battle of the Kings. It was all Cory Hedgecock up front as he had ran out to a big lead over the battle for second. Eventually Chase King put the #44 ahead of the #30 taking the spot away. The drive to the front continued for King as he moved past Trevor Sise taking the runner up spot. Volunteer Speedway Champion Jason Cardwell had his hands full with Pierce McCarter as they battled it out for the fifth spot. Hedgecock found himself in lap traffic allowing Chase King to erase his lead. Lap 25 saw trouble for Cardwell who went for a spin in turn four. Back to green Jason Manley threw his name into the mix as he was now in the top five. Despite some issues with lap Traffic, Cory Hedgecock would hold on to win his third Steelhead Championship.
1: #9 Cory Hedgecock
2: #44 Chase King
3: #32 Jason Manley
4: #73 Trevor Sise
5: #71 Pierce McCarter
6: #90J Jason Trammell
7: #4 Clyde Overholt
8: #S23 Justin Owens
9: #T6 Tod Hernandez
10: #07 Jason Cardwell
11: #37 Mike Weeks
12: #34 Ellery Leake
13: #25 Eric Webber
14: #4H Levi Hicks
15: #156 Andy Standridge
16: #K15 Kevin Lewis
17: #35 Matt Tharp
18: #39 Eddie King Jr
19: #2X Anthony White
20: #C5 David Crabtree
DNS: #97 Bobby Giffin
DNS: #95 Jason Melton
DQ: #30 Ryan King(Failure to report to scales post race)
2: #44 Chase King
3: #32 Jason Manley
4: #73 Trevor Sise
5: #71 Pierce McCarter
6: #90J Jason Trammell
7: #4 Clyde Overholt
8: #S23 Justin Owens
9: #T6 Tod Hernandez
10: #07 Jason Cardwell
11: #37 Mike Weeks
12: #34 Ellery Leake
13: #25 Eric Webber
14: #4H Levi Hicks
15: #156 Andy Standridge
16: #K15 Kevin Lewis
17: #35 Matt Tharp
18: #39 Eddie King Jr
19: #2X Anthony White
20: #C5 David Crabtree
DNS: #97 Bobby Giffin
DNS: #95 Jason Melton
DQ: #30 Ryan King(Failure to report to scales post race)
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”22″ gal_title=”Street Stock/Steelhead Nationals – 11/11/17″]