The calendar shows it’s spring in Northeast Tennessee and throughout the daytime Friday the sun was brightly shining with temperature in the low 60s. Once darkness arrived the temperature quickly dropped and was on the chilly side, but the action at Kingsport Speedway for Model City Night at the Races was heated.
Zeke Shell was fastest in Late Model Stock Car qualifying at 14.923 seconds, but with an invert of the top four from time trials, Mike Looney and Nik Williams led the 19-car field to green from the front row.
Looney got the advantage over Williams on the start and as they raced down the front straightaway into the first turn, Looney got out of shape and slid up the track between turns one and two, stacking the field up behind him and allowing the third-starting Lancaster to take the lead. Lancaster held the lead back around at the flag stand to complete the opening lap over Looney, Wayne Hale, Ronnie McCarty and Kres VanDyke.
VanDyke drove under McCarty for the fourth spot on lap 12 racing off the second corner and immediately began pressuring Hale for third, while at the same time Shell was working McCarty over trying to wrestle fifth away from him. VanDyke passed Hale on lap 20 racing off the fourth turn and right behind them, Shell drove around McCarty.
Second-running Looney unexpectedly slowed with mechanical issues on lap 24 and headed into the pits to end a strong run, thus moving VanDyke right behind Lancaster. The event’s first caution waved on lap 29 for debris (right-front fender from Shell’s car) on the backstretch.
Lancaster and VanDyke were side-by-side for the double-file restart, with VanDyke taking the lead while opening the door for Shell to pass Lancaster for second place. Behind VanDyke, Shell, and Lancaster, battles were taking place for position involving McCarty, Hale, Robbie Ferguson, Williams, Williams, Derek Lane, Bryson Dennis, Trey Bayne, Joey Trent and Darin Silver.
With the race running clean-and-green, VanDyke pulled out to a 10 car-length advantage over Shell and Lancaster at lap 50 and appeared headed to victory lane. However, the caution waved on lap 52 for debris to erase his lead.
VanDyke chose the outside for the ensuing double-file restart, placing Shell on the inside. As the duo raced down the front straightaway, Shell’s car failed to turn on the cold concrete surface and he locked the brakes up getting into VanDyke’s left-rear quarter panel, with both cars spinning and also McCarty was involved, while the whole field had to take evasive action.
VanDyke, Shell, and McCarty dropped to the back for the next restart, which immediately produced waving of the yellow flag as cars back in the field jammed together and the 14-year-old Bayne climbed up the side of Trent and sailed over the left-front fender and hood.
It’s said in racing that cautions breed cautions, and indeed that scenario played out at “The Concrete Jungle” as the flagman kept the yellow flag close at hand.
The next attempt to get back under green saw Lancaster take the lead over Hale and Ferguson. VanDyke passed Ferguson for third on lap 53, and the following circuit entering the first turn VanDyke got into Hale’s left-rear quarter panel sending the veteran spinning. Both Hale and VanDyke were sent to the rear for the restart.
Only two laps back green flag racing, on lap 56 between turns one and two rookies Dennis and Bayne tangled and spun to bring what would be the final caution out.
The stage was set for a three-lap shootout for the win, and Lancaster came out firing to hold back the hard-charging Ferguson for the victory. However, in post-race technical inspection, Ferguson’s car failed due to a carburetor infraction. With that decision rounding out the top five finishers behind winner Lancaster were Trent, Shell, Hale, and McCarty.
Completing the top 10 finishers were VanDyke, Terry Smith, Williams, Lane, and Silver.
Results:
1. Derrick Lancaster #25-Christiansburg, VA
2. Joey Trent #26-Gray, TN
3. Zeke Shell #1-Johnson City, TN
4. Wayne Hale #19-Bluff City, TN
5. Ronnie McCarty #5-Kingsport, TN
6. Kres VanDyke #15-Abingdon, VA
7. Terry Smith #25-Barbourville, KY
8. Nik Williams #32-Greeneville, TN
9. Derek Lane #28-Kingsport, TN
10. Darin Silver #12-Spruce Pine, NC
11. Trey Bayne #21-Knoxville, TN
12. Bryson Dennis #15-Greeneville, TN
13. Rick Pannell #33-Kingsport, TN
14. Allen Hawkins #14-Kingsport, TN
15. Mardy Roberts #55-Kingsport, TN
16. Dillon Hodge #5-Kingsport, TN
17. Joshua Gobble #97-Abingdon, VA
18. Mike Looney #87-Catawba, VA
DQ – Robbie Ferguson #7-Jonesborough, TN
