Story by: Langley Austin ~ [email protected]
Coeburn, VA(July 19, 2012) — When the green flag dropped on the 2012 season at Lonesome Pine Raceway, Lance Gatlin put himself at the front of the pack with the season opening win, but now four months later he has won every race held on the 3/8 mile track.
To say that Gatlin is on a roll is an understatement, Gatlin has won all eight events held this season on the Coeburn, VA track including a pair of twins last Saturday night. Gatlin’s roll comes on the 40th anniversary season at Lonesome Pine Raceway and has things a buzz at a track that struggled last season. However this season Gatlin has had plenty of competition and fans have packed the track on occasion to enjoy some of the best racing anywhere.
Gatlin and the rest of the competitors at Lonesome Pine Raceway will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the track this weekend in grand style. The 28-year old, Gatlin will be hoping to hold off all challengers as a $400 bounty has been placed on his head for this weekends race, which will be held just one day short of 40 years to the day of the opener on July 22, 1972. The Jefferson City, TN driver has certainly proven tough to beat, but a host of drivers will be coming after him in this weekends race.
Gatlin also finds himself in second in the ASA National Championship battle and will be hoping to extend his win streak to nine and gain more valuable points as he chases the title. Gatlin, who has been racing for the last 18-years of his life is enjoying his time atop the Late Model division at Lonesome Pine Raceway and will have his Holston River Machine #97 running at full speed this weekend.
If you haven’t been able to get to Lonesome Pine Raceway this season you’ve missed some of the best racing at the track in the last 40 years and this weekend is sure to one of the best as the track officially celebrates it’s 40th anniversary.
