Rain stops Volunteer Speedway Southern All Star Racing Series 'Scott Sexton Memorial 52'

By Robert Walden
Volunteer Speedway Media/Public Relations

BULLS GAP, Tenn. (June 1) — The Southern All Star Racing Series made its first visit since 2004 to Volunteer Speedway on Saturday for running of the inaugural Scott Sexton Memorial 52, which honored one of East Tennessee's best to ever wheel a dirt late model.

With a strong field of 27 competitors' present for WhitePerformance.com time trials, the top eight locked into the $5,200-to-win main event. Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., was fastest in Group A qualifying and overall with a time of 12.332 seconds, followed by Billy Ogle Jr., Jimmy Owens and Vic Hill. Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., was fastest in Group B, followed by Mark Douglas, Bret Holmes and Riley Hickman.

The remainder of the 24-car starting field would be determined through two PPM Racing Products Last Chance Showdowns, which would transfer the top seven finishers from each. Chad Ogle won the first LCS over Josh Collins, Mike Weeks, Stacy Boles, Josh Henry, Dusty Carver and Jeff Neubert. Steve Casebolt of Richmond, Ind., won the second LCS over Michael Asberry, Bryan Hendrix, Zack Mitchell, Mark Rosner, Skylar Marlar and Ellery Leake. Using series provisional starting berths in 23rd and 24th, respectively, were Mark Vineyard and Kayne Hickman.

Madden grabbed the lead at drop of the green flag over McDowell racing down the front straightaway, and back around at the start-finish line to complete the opening lap Billy Ogle Jr., Owens and Douglas rounded out top five in the running order. Hill got around Douglas for the fifth spot on lap 8 racing off turn two.

Caution waved on lap 17 when rain began to at first fall lightly, but quickly turned into a red flag situation when the skies opened and rain came pouring down. After about 30 minutes the rain ended, and track vehicles began attempting to work the surface back into shape. Making great progress and anticipation building among fans who knew they would be in for some awesome action around the high banks once the race resumed, suddenly rain began falling again and never stopped.

Series officials and track owners Joe and Phyllis Loven were forced to cancel the night's racing program. They will get together at first of next week to discuss possible reschedule dates, which will see the Scott Sexton Memorial 52 resume on lap 17. Tentative plans call for finishing the Scott Sexton Memorial 52, then another complete racing program will be held the same night.

Fans sitting in the front straightaway grandstands need hold on to their ticket stubs for when the race is rescheduled, as should all in the backside pits and tier-parking keep their armbands. 

Travis Dawson jumped into lead at start of the 15-lap Mini Stock feature and never looked back en route to capturing his first-ever Volunteer Speedway victory over Justin "Goose" Shelton, Jason Shelton, Shawn Henry and Brandon Johnson.

MINI STOCK (15 laps)

1) Travis Dawson #19; 2) Justin Shelton #77; 3) Jason Shelton #7; 4) Shawn Henry #1; 5) Brandon Johnson #B01; 6) Nathan Stepp #66; 7) Chad Manning #14

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Southern All Star Racing Series - www.sasdirt.com
Lynn Acklin - General Manager: (256) 924-4546
Chris Tilley - Race Director: (606) 219-1723
Twitter @SASDIRT
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Volunteer Speedway (Recording Only): (423) 235-5020 www.VolunteerSpeedway.com
Track Office - Weekdays Only 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.: (423) 378-5942
Phyllis Loven - Track Owner: (423) 676-9081
Robert Walden - Media/Public Relations: (423) 928-9644
Robbie Williams - Race Director: (423) 483-4055