Kingsport Speedway is known for a couple of things.  One of those is great car counts in the Late Model Stock Car division since reopening in 2011.  The other is exciting non-stop action on the track known as the Concrete Jungle.

Neither of those materialized during the 2019 season opener. Nine cars started the race, the lowest number of cars to start a race at Kingsport Speedway in the Late Model Stock Car division since it reopened after sitting dormant for eight years.  The action on the track with the short field was nothing short of a snoozer.

What did materialize on the track was a display of domination by multi-time track champion Kres VanDyke.  VanDyke wasn’t the fastest in qualifying but he made up for it when the green flag flew.  The fastest in qualifying was Nik Williams, who set a new track record at a 14.756 with VanDyke flanking him on the outside of the front row.

Nik Williams (32) and Kres VanDyke lead the field down to the green flag for the start of the season opener at Kingsport Speedway. (Kimberly Austin photo)

VanDyke used the high line to get the lead from the start of the 60-lap race and he never looked back.  Williams fell in line behind him and the two drove away from the field.  Through the entire race, there was very little passing and not a single caution flag waved as the field got strung out all over the track.

The battle for third was contended early on as Joey Trent (26) got around Bryson Dennis (15) for the position. (Kimberly Austin photo)

VanDyke would take the win going away with a 2.656 second lead over Williams at the finish.  Joey Trent who ran third much of the race finished there even after falling off the pace late.  Bryson Dennis finished fourth one-lap down and Derek Lane was fifth.

Former track champion Nate Monteith made his return to Kingsport Speedway this weekend driving the Nance Ag entry.  He wouldn’t have the run he was expecting finishing one-lap down in seventh.

Nate Monteith (97) battles Wayne Hale for position during the Model City Season Opener at Kingsport Speedway on March 23, 2019. (Kimberly Austin photo)

One driver who did not start was defending track and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Tennessee State Champion Zeke Shell.  Shell hit the track for the first time on Saturday morning in practice and his engine seized up.  He had attempted to bring a backup car in as he was going to drive Jimmy Acito’s car but that car was unable to start as well.

Results:
1 – Kres VanDyke #15-Abingdon, VA
2 – Nik Williams #32-Chuckey, TN
3 – Joey Trent #26-Gray, TN
4 – Bryson Dennis #15-Greeneville, TN
5 – Derek Lane #28-Kingsport, TN
6 – Wayne Hale #19-Bluff City, TN
7 – Nate Monteith #97-Bristol, TN
8 – Allen Hawkins #14-Kingsport, TN
9 – Rick Pannell #33-Kingsport, TN
10 – Zeke Shell #1-Johnson City, TN (DNS)
11 – Jimmy Acito #57-Kingsport, TN (DNS)