Tazewell Speedway Kicks Off 2008 Season
The 2008 season finally got under way Saturday night after several postponements due to heavy rains. A full night of racing was highlighted by the Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modified series with 21 cars starting the feature paying $2000 to win.
Glasgow, KY driver Kelly warren posted the fastest qualifying time with a lap of 12.485 seconds with the starting field determined by three 8 lap heat races. Joey Kramer, the 2006 and 2007 BoB points champion started on the front row with Paul Bales of Sevierville alongside. Kurt Owens, lasts years Tazewell Speedway 4 cylinder division points champion, started third. After two early cautions, Kramer took the high side to lead followed by Owens, Bales, Kevin Copher, and Kelly Warren. On lap 13 Copher spun out on his own bringing out another caution. On the restart, Don Adams, who started ninth, raced his way into second.
After a brief caution period for a light snow, yes snow, it was Kramer still out front with smoke billowing from a leaking valve cover gasket. The race’s last caution came as five cars tangled on the front stretch. From then it was Kramer’s race to lose as he bested the field followed by Adams, Owens, Warren and Copher. The Hanover, Indiana driver said that he “couldn’t have had a better setup” and that if he “could build a track in his backyard it would be just like Tazewell Speedway.”
Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modified Finishing Order:
The Steel Head Late Model division started off with fours drivers breaking the track qualifying record set last season. Fastest qualifier Travis Fultz, with a lap of 11.841 seconds, started on the front row alongside Jason Trammel. It was Trammel setting pace early with a heavy battle for third between Derrick York, Kip Pearson, and Steve Smith. As Billy Gordon spun on lap number five bringing out the caution, York and Pearson dropped out with engine troubles. On the restart Trammel set his Hatmaker Holdings, Trammel Construction, Tobbler Heating and Air, Fast Lane Signs & Graphics sponsored Warrior Chassis with a Vic Hill Racing engine on cruise control to take the checkers with Fultz finishing second followed by Smith, Steve Carr, and Keith Chapman. In victory lane Trammel said, “the track was the smoothest it had been in several years.”
Steel Head Late Model Finishing Order:
A new racing division debuted at Tazewell Speedway on Saturday night. The FASTRACK sanctioned Crate Late Models use engines that are built by General Motors with drivers not allowed to make any modifications to the motor. Jason Trammel set quick time with a lap of 12.557 seconds. At the start of the feature Clinton, TN driver Mark Leach put his Stone Plus, White’s Total Performance, Stealth Carburetor sponsored DWB Chassis Impala SS up front and never looked back to take his first victory at Tazewell Speedway.
Crate Late Model Finishing Order:
In Modified Street action Jody Horton took the early lead over fastest qualifier Andrew Loving only to succumb to mechanical woes on lap number 8. During the caution Loving dropped out as well giving the lead to Anthony Morgan. After losing an engine, Morgan gave the lead over to Tony Horton who never looked back. The Sneedville, TN driver did a NASCAR inspired burnout on the front straightaway and a dance in victory lane to celebrate his first win of the season.
Modified Street Finishing Order”
In only his second attempt ever on dirt, Josh Brock of Corbin, KY won his first Pure Street feature at Tazewell Speedway over a hard charging Buster Cupp and Daniel Carpenter.
Pure Street Finishing Order
1.17 Josh Brock
2.28 Buster Cupp
3.10 Daniel Carpenter
4. 94 Dustin Eldridge
5.55 Jack England
6.15 Jason Long
7.97 Bo Hall
8.3 Michael Boyd
9.2 Steve Smith
10.M35 Matt Tharp
11.92H Jordan Horton
12.97 Aaron Guinn
13.12 Michael Daniels
14.39 Johnny Miller
15.12X Jerry Green
16.27 Gary Harville
17.45 Ronnie Graves
18.18 Juniorr Cody
19.40 Donnie Brown
20.05 Chris Hickman
21.00 Heather Poore Light On Scales
22.DNS 17 Tim Stevens
In 4 cylinder action it was Chuck MacMahan staring from dead last taking his first feature win at Tazewell Speedway over Brad Pressley and Curtis Jones.
4 Cylinder Finishing Order:
1. Chuck MacMahan
2. Brad Pressley
3. Curtis Jones
4. Bubby Braden
5. Hayson Collett
6. Cheyenne Kite
7. Josh Fields
8. James Parrott
9. David Cawood
Next Saturday night, April 19, we welcome back the Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series for the running of the Thunder Thaw 50 paying $3000 to win. Pit gates will open at 4:00 p.m. and main grandstands opening at 5:00 p.m. For more information you can call 423.626.2222 or visit www.tazewellspeedway.net.