Volunteer Speedway
June 23, 2012
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Ball doubles his pleasure with Pro Late Model sweep Saturday at Volunteer Speedway

by Robert Walden
BULLS GAP, Tenn. (June 23) — Twin features for the Fastrak Racing Series-sanctioned Pro Late Model division highlighted the night’s racing program, and stepping forward into the spotlight was Dale Ball of Johnson City as he won both races to up his victory total for the season to five.

Ball and Mike Smith brought the field to green in the first 20-lap race from the front row, and Smith narrowly led Ball by a few feet at conclusion of the opening lap, with Jerry Broyles, Tim Maupin and John Harrell in tow. Ball got inside of Smith between turns one and two on the second circuit and the duo raced door-to-door until lap 4 when Smith slid up high exiting the second corner and Ball moved into the lead.

The red flag waved on lap 9 when James Cole got up against the outside concrete wall exiting turn two and then proceeded to flip multiple times down the backstretch. With emergency personnel and track officials quickly on the scene, once Cole took a few minutes to catch his breath he was able to climb from his badly torn-up car to cheers from the stunned crowd.

Going back green Ball led Smith and Broyles, and over the final 10 laps of the event Smith stalked Ball’s every move trying to get around for the lead. But Ball, driving the Smith Brothers Harley-Davidson of Johnson City/Kerry Jones Trucking - Bigfoot Enterprises/Luke’s Pizza of Johnson City/Alan Poyner Enterprises/Jim Schweitzer Inc./Mainline Communications/Twin D Auto & Truck Sales of Johnson City/Advance Auto Parts/Envy Suspension & Race Consultants/VP Racing Fuels/Steve Williams Enterprises/Warrior Race Cars/No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro, never made a mistake to allow Smith to get past him to the front. Ball was chased to the checkered flag by Smith, Broyles, Tim Maupin and Greg Burchett.

Completing the top-10 finishers were Tim Byrd, Ricky Moore, Mark Sant, Todd Brooks and Ken Wilkerson.

Smith was slated to start the second 20-lapper from the pole position but was forced to scratch from the starting lineup, which moved Broyles up alongside of Ball on the front row. Broyles jumped out into the lead over Ball as they raced between turns one and two on the first lap to assume the lead, and they battled close-quarters with Broyles slamming the door shut on Ball several occasions racing up off the corners onto the straightaway. Back behind them, you could throw a blanket over the trio of Byrd, Harrell and Moore.

Ball got around Broyles for the lead on lap 17 and went on to record the victory, with Byrd, Harrell and Moore rounding out the top five finishers.

Completing the top-10 in the rundown were Maupin, Burchett, Sant, Wilkerson and Richard Adkins.

The first attempt to start the Modified Hobby feature produced a multi-car wreck between turns one and two when Robbie Woods spun and was slammed into by Mike Kilian and Eddie Adams, with Jesse Wilder, Chuck Kilian and Kimberly Allen also sustaining damage to their cars. On the next try to get the race under green, Dale Reed jumped out ahead of Jamie Whitt and led the opening lap. But his run out front was short-lived as he looped his car between turns one and two working the second lap to bring the caution flag out.

With Whitt now showing the way out front, he first had to fend off advances from Jon Cook until he retired from the race on lap 9. Putting on a show in racing his way towards the front after starting last in the 17-car field, R.J. Mayes got around Dennis Metcalf for second and then set his sights ahead on the race leader Whitt. Even though Mayes closed to within striking distance, Whitt, from Wise, Va., and driving the B&D Repair/Baldwin Filters/Iron Horse Race Cars/No. 1 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, would not be denied his division-leading fifth Modified Hobby victory over Mayes, Metcalf, Shorty Ledford and Terry Dean.

Keith Gregory of Maryville and Stanley Donahoo battled the entire 15-lap distance during the Open Wheel Modified feature for the lead, but there would be no denying Gregory his first-ever victory at “The Gap.” Gregory, driving the T&J Lawn Care & Landscaping/Outlaw Graphics/Weeks Fabrication/No. 44 mount, won over Donahoo, Wayne James, Tyler James and Chris Long.

Brad Dyer of Mohawk, driving the S&S Millwright/Tolliver Heat & Air/Holzerman Auto &Truck Repair/Korner Market/Jeff Maupin Racing/No. B0 Ford Mustang, got around Shawn Henry for the lead three laps from the Mini Stock feature finish en route to capturing his first-ever Volunteer Speedway victory. Dyer was followed across the stripe by Henry, Michael Jarnigan, Nicholas Shelton and Casey Pittenturf.

PRO LATE MODEL #1 (20 laps)

1. Dale Ball #2-Johnson City,, TN
2. Mike Smith #4-Rogersville, TN
3. Jerry Broyles #72-Jonesborough, TN
4. Tim Maupin #T2-Johnson City, TN
5. Greg Burchett #5-Church Hill, TN
6. Tim Byrd #24-Jonesborough, TN
7. Ricky Moore #75-Mosheim, TN
8. Mark Sant #79w-Piney Flats, TN
9. Todd Brooks #T1-Greeneville, TN
10. Ken Wilkerson #21-Kingsport, TN
11. John Harrell #H19-Surgoinsville, TN
12. James Cole #5c-Sevierville, TN
13. Richard Adkins #73-Bristol, TN

PRO LATE MODEL #2 (20 laps)

1. Dale Ball #2-Johnson City,, TN
2. Jerry Broyles #72-Jonesborough, TN
3. Tim Byrd #24-Jonesborough, TN
4. John Harrell #H19-Surgoinsville, TN
5. Ricky Moore #75-Surgoinsville, TN
6. Tim Maupin #T2-Johnson City, TN
7. Greg Burchett #5-Church Hill, TN
8. Mark Sant #79w-Piney Flats, TN
9. Ken Wilkerson #21-Kingsport, TN
10. Richard Adkins #73-Bristol, TN

Did Not Start: Mike Smith #4-Rogersville, TN; Todd Brooks #T1-Greeneville, TN: James Cole #5c-Sevierville, TN

MODIFIED HOBBY (20 laps)

1) Jamie Whitt #1; 2) R.J. Mayes #6m; 3) Dennis Metcalf #55; 4) Shorty Ledford #41; 5) Terry Dean #47; 6) Jesse Wilder #79; 7) Tyler Smith #32; 8) Ray Jarnigan #77; 9) Jon Cook #0z; 10) Charlie Bates #27; 11) Chuck Kilian #96; 12) Dale Reed #52; 13) Ralph Kilian #95; 14) Robbie Woods #2; 15) Mike Kilian #94; 16) Kimberly Allen #15; 17) Eddie Adams #9

OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED (15 laps)

1) Keith Gregory #44; 2) Stanley Donahoo #00; 3) Wayne James #4; 4) Tyler James #420; 5) Chris Long #50; 6) Jeff Akard #00; 7) Tony Spoon #07

MINI STOCK (15 laps)

1) Brad Dyer #B0; 2) Shawn Henry #0; 3) Michael Jarnigan #2; 4) Nicholas Shelton #21; 5) Casey Pittenturf #52; 6) John Ketron #27