Lonesome Pine: Hale and Gatlin Prevail in Twin Races

Wayne Hale continued his winning ways on Saturday and Lance Gatlin picked up his second victory of the season.

Lance Gatlin and Ryan Stiltner made up the front row for the first 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock feature.

Gatlin and Stiltner would battle from the drop of the green flag with Wayne Hale and Kres VanDyke getting in the mix. Side by side the two battled for the top spot until Gatlin cleared Stiltner the following lap.

The lone yellow flag of the race waved on lap 19 for a spin in turn three. Stiltner would take the lead on the restart with Gatlin under fire from Hale and VanDyke. Hale would dive to the inside of Stiltner with 10 laps remaining to drive into the lead. Hale would lead the remaining laps to capture his second win of the season.

“It feels good to win another one this week,” said Hale after his second win in two weeks. “We had a pretty good run last night [at Kingsport Speedway] and all day today until the second race. We lost forward bite in the second race.”

“Have to thank the crew for all their help and all the fans for coming out.”

Michael Kidd and Adam Gray inherited the front row for the second Late Model Stock race of the night after six position inversion.

Gray took off with the lead at the drop of the green flag. Gray’s car would slide up the banking on lap 5, allowing Kidd to pass for the lead.

A spin in turns three and four by Greg Bohannon, Jr. and Phil Harris would bring out the only yellow flag on lap 14. Back under green, Kidd would return to the lead with VanDyke charging his way into second place. Contact between Kidd and VanDyke as the two raced for the top spot would allow Lance Gatlin to take over the lead completing lap 27.

Gatlin held the lead to win the race with VanDyke and Kidd tangling over second place on the final lap.

“Hat’s off to the entire crew,” Gatlin said after his second win of the season. “Just [had] a great car.”

“We’ve been fighting a miss all night [but] I was somehow able to make it happen,” Gatlin added. “I really, really enjoyed this win.”