With remnants of Tropical Storm Cindy bringing threatening weather into East Tennessee to end the week, Volunteer Speedway management gave a valiant effort in trying to get “Fast Friday at The Gap” in the books. But Mother Nature had other plans as heavy rain moved in at conclusion of the third of five scheduled races, leaving remainder of the racing program washed out.
Ross White of Knoxville captured the Crate Late Model victory, while Zach Shannon of Wartburg recorded the Sportsman Late Model win, with Wayne Rader of Parrottsville picking up the Modified Street checkered flag.
Jordon Horton set fast-time in Crate Late Model qualifying at 13.917 seconds to earn the pole position for the Crate Late Model feature, with Rusty Ballenger second quickest at 14.027 to nail down the outside front-row starting berth. But Horton’s race would be short-lived, not lasting past the second turn on the opening lap.
Horton and Ballenger raced off door-to-door into the first turn to begin the race, and Horton spun on exit of the second corner which also collected Danny Yoder and Bryson Dennis. The night was over quickly for both Horton and Yoder, with Dennis returning to his starting position for the second attempt to start the race.
Ballenger jumped out into the lead over Tim Maupin and Ross White, but Maupin was up-on-the-wheel getting around Ballenger on lap 2 as they raced off the fourth turn. Maupin wasted no time in putting six car lengths between himself and Ballenger, while behind them White, Josh Henry, Dennis, Tim Byrd and Adam Tolliver had a good battle for position going. Caution waved on lap 14 when Taran Hurst spun at end of the backstretch entering the third turn.
While Maupin had been in control up to this point, things quickly changed off the restart as White and Ballenger both muscled their way past him. Over the next nine circuits the trio put on a show up front and looked like the stage was being set for a classic finish. But the yellow (flag) waved involving Hurst for a second time on lap 25, and while under caution rain began falling and never stopped.
White recorded his second win of the season over Ballenger, Maupin, Dennis and Henry.
Zach Shannon and Chris Coffey led the Sportsman Late Model field to green from the front row for the 20-lap feature, and over the opening five circuits they raced side-by-side for the lead before Shannon moved out front. Behind them Warren McMahan, Tyler Smith, Rex Coffey, Heath Alvey, Kevin Lewis and Floyd Self were engaged in a spirited battle for real estate.
Coffey got around Smith for the fourth spot on lap 8 racing off the second corner down the backstretch, setting his sights ahead on third-running McMahan. Caution waved on lap 14 when Brandon Starnes spun in the fourth turn.
Back under green Shannon was in command on the point, followed by Chris Coffey and Rex Coffey in the running order. Rex got around Chris for second place on lap 16 between turns one and two, and over the closing four circuits he pulled in behind Shannon hoping to win for the second consecutive week. But Shannon would not be denied his first-ever victory at Volunteer Speedway as he won over Rex Coffey, Chris Coffey, McMahan and divisional points leader Alvey.
Wayne Rader grabbed lead over Chris Rickett and Austin Atkins at start of the 20-lap Modified Street feature, with the event’s first caution waving while working the second lap when Cody Thompson spun between turns one and two. Off the double-file restart Rader once again was showing the way out front, while Rickett and Atkins battled door-to-door for second place. Rickett got out of shape and almost spun between turns three and four on the third circuit, which moved Atkins into the runner-up spot.
Behind the lead trio of Rader, Atkins and Rickett, Jeffrey Melton, Charles Bates, Michael Woods and Willie Busler were jockeying for position. Atkins was glued to Rader’s rear bumper, sticking his nose underneath the leader each lap racing off the corners. While Rader was holding off the challenges from Atkins, Rickett was pressuring Atkins trying to get around him. Caution waved on lap 14 when Randle Self’s engine erupted in smoke at end of the backstretch.
Ready for a six-lap dash to the finish, Rader had both Atkins and Rickett behind him ready to strike should he make a bobble. But he hit his marks each lap and recorded his second win on the season over Atkins, Rickett, Melton and Woods.
With three of the five races final, Fast Friday at The Gap is considered a “complete show.” Everybody will be required to purchase a new grandstand ticket or pit armband for the next racing program at Volunteer Speedway on Saturday, July 8. … Besides running their respective features for the regular scheduled show, both the Steel Head Late Model and Classic divisions will also run their makeup races from tonight’s (Friday, June 23) rained-out segment, with Crate Late Model, Sportsman Late Model and Modified Street also in action.
Volunteer Speedway PR
